Using Visual Information to Determine the Subjective Valuation of Public Space for Transportation: Application to Subway Crowding Costs in NYC

PROJECT DETAILS

Author(s)
Dr. Ricardo A. Daziano
Dr. Linda Nozick
Universities
Cornell University
Publication Year
2017
Publication Type
Project Brief
Project
Using visual information to determine the subjective valuation of public space for transportation: application to subway crowding costs in NYC

Subway demand in NYC has been on the rise, reaching 1.8 billion trips in 2014. Overcrowding delays have extended to non-peak hours and weekends; weekend overcrowding delays grew 141.2% in 2014-2015 (NY Daily News, 2015). In addition to delays, nonmonetary crowding costs include discomfort and a loss in security that play against overall perceptions of public transportation. In fact, subway crime has also been on the rise (NY Daily News, 2015). The evaluation of projects such as investment in open gangway cars (MTA is planning to spend $52.4 million on 10 of these cars; Wired, 2016), which are expected to increase capacity up to 10%, requires correct measurement of crowding externalities.