Accounting for Emissions in the Measurement of Transit Agency Efficiency: A Directional Distance Function Approach

Authors

B Starr McMullen
Dong-Won Noh

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2007

Subject Area

mode - bus, mode - mass transit

Keywords

Transit operating agencies, Transit lines, Transit buses, Public transit lines, Private sector, Private enterprise, Pollutants, Mass transit lines, Intracity bus transportation, Government agencies, Emissions, Efficiency, Bus transit operations, Bus transit

Abstract

This paper uses a directional distance function approach to demonstrate the importance of considering a transit agency's goal of reducing vehicular emissions as well as production of passenger or vehicle-miles, when measuring agency efficiency. This is especially critical given the increased emphasis policymakers may place on efficiency in the allocation of scarce public resources. The analysis includes 43 single mode US bus transit agencies for the year 2000. Results show only five agencies performing efficiently when emission abatement is not included in the analysis, but 22 firms are identified as efficient once emission abatement is considered. Consistent with previous studies, public agencies are found to be less efficient than private agencies, regardless of the efficiency measure used.

Comments

Transportation Research Part D Home Page: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13619209

Recommended Citation

McMullen, B, Noh, Dong-Won, (2007). Accounting for Emissions in the Measurement of Transit Agency Efficiency: A Directional Distance Function Approach. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Volume 12, Issue 1, pp 1-9.