Do Urban Subway Openings Reduce PM2.5 Concentrations? Evidence from China

Abstract

With the fast-growing consumption of automobiles in China, vehicle fumes appear to be one of the major contributors to PM2.5 (fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less) emissions. As a type of green transportation, Chinese urban subway transit has developed rapidly in recent years. This paper estimates the effect of urban subway openings on PM2.5 concentrations in Chinese cities. Using daily air quality data for 29 Chinese cities from 2013 to 2018, and using regression discontinuity design, we find that new subway openings reduce PM2.5 concentrations by an average of 18 μg/m3. The potential mechanism for this emission reduction is due to the offset in on-road transportation, and the use of cleaner energy. Also, central heating in winter, population scale, and city tier play crucial roles in the emission-reducing effect of subway openings. A series of robustness tests are conducted to support the fundamental empirical results. Targeted policy implications, such as optimizing the planning of urban subway construction and road network, fostering awareness of green travel, and promoting the innovation of emission-reducing technologies, are suggested for sustainable development in Chinese cities.