Project description

While billions of dollars are spent on public transit infrastructure, equilibrium implications of these investments are poorly understood. We build a model that combines key features of transportation models and quantitative spatial equilibrium models in order to be able to produce more precise predictions of the effects of transit improvements. Our quantitative model features thousands of spatial units populated by commuters who choose locations of residence and work, as well as transportation mode and route to commute between these locations. We estimate our model using unique cell phone data that tracks individual trips and routes. We use our model to estimate the effects of recent transit improvements in Los Angeles, the K Line and the Regional Connector. We also show how our framework can be applied by policymakers and planners in any urban area in the United States to evaluate the impact of transit improvements.