Efficiency and Spatial Equity Impacts of High-Speed Rail on the Central Plains Economic Region of China
Efficiency impacts can be assessed based on improvements in accessibility promoted by the high-speed rail (HSR) project, focusing mainly on major urban areas. Spatial equity impacts originate from changes in the distribution of accessibility levels observed across such cities. This study uses the we...
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doaj-f6161f57bd714efc9513e084b1a857a62020-11-25T03:27:03ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502019-05-01119258310.3390/su11092583su11092583Efficiency and Spatial Equity Impacts of High-Speed Rail on the Central Plains Economic Region of ChinaXiaomin Wang0Wenxin Zhang1Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaFaculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaEfficiency impacts can be assessed based on improvements in accessibility promoted by the high-speed rail (HSR) project, focusing mainly on major urban areas. Spatial equity impacts originate from changes in the distribution of accessibility levels observed across such cities. This study uses the weighted average travel time and coefficient of variation to explore the impact of HSR on efficiency and spatial equity within the Central Plains Economic Region (CPER) and to build an “efficiency-equity” model to identify optimal upgrading of conventional rail (CR) lines to improve the accessibility of the CPER and mitigate regional disparities. The results indicate that since the operation of HSR, accessibility levels across the CPER have improved by roughly 24.56%, and the spatial distribution of gains has been uneven since the most significant improvements have occurred in HSR cities and large cities. Inequality in regional accessibility has increased by 28.12%, creating a more heterogeneous pattern of accessibility. With goals of “efficiency” and “equity”, an examination of the upgrading of CR as an approach shows that “Xinxiang-Jiaozuo” and “Xinxiang-Jiaozuo-Sanmenxia-Yuncheng” are the best upgraded lines for improving the efficiency of the CPER and limiting regional disparities. The results of this study serve as supportive information for the planning and construction of HSR lines and networks and for underdeveloped regional transport system policymaking.https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/9/2583accessibilityefficiency impactsspatial equityhigh-speed rail (HSR) |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Xiaomin Wang Wenxin Zhang |
spellingShingle |
Xiaomin Wang Wenxin Zhang Efficiency and Spatial Equity Impacts of High-Speed Rail on the Central Plains Economic Region of China Sustainability accessibility efficiency impacts spatial equity high-speed rail (HSR) |
author_facet |
Xiaomin Wang Wenxin Zhang |
author_sort |
Xiaomin Wang |
title |
Efficiency and Spatial Equity Impacts of High-Speed Rail on the Central Plains Economic Region of China |
title_short |
Efficiency and Spatial Equity Impacts of High-Speed Rail on the Central Plains Economic Region of China |
title_full |
Efficiency and Spatial Equity Impacts of High-Speed Rail on the Central Plains Economic Region of China |
title_fullStr |
Efficiency and Spatial Equity Impacts of High-Speed Rail on the Central Plains Economic Region of China |
title_full_unstemmed |
Efficiency and Spatial Equity Impacts of High-Speed Rail on the Central Plains Economic Region of China |
title_sort |
efficiency and spatial equity impacts of high-speed rail on the central plains economic region of china |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sustainability |
issn |
2071-1050 |
publishDate |
2019-05-01 |
description |
Efficiency impacts can be assessed based on improvements in accessibility promoted by the high-speed rail (HSR) project, focusing mainly on major urban areas. Spatial equity impacts originate from changes in the distribution of accessibility levels observed across such cities. This study uses the weighted average travel time and coefficient of variation to explore the impact of HSR on efficiency and spatial equity within the Central Plains Economic Region (CPER) and to build an “efficiency-equity” model to identify optimal upgrading of conventional rail (CR) lines to improve the accessibility of the CPER and mitigate regional disparities. The results indicate that since the operation of HSR, accessibility levels across the CPER have improved by roughly 24.56%, and the spatial distribution of gains has been uneven since the most significant improvements have occurred in HSR cities and large cities. Inequality in regional accessibility has increased by 28.12%, creating a more heterogeneous pattern of accessibility. With goals of “efficiency” and “equity”, an examination of the upgrading of CR as an approach shows that “Xinxiang-Jiaozuo” and “Xinxiang-Jiaozuo-Sanmenxia-Yuncheng” are the best upgraded lines for improving the efficiency of the CPER and limiting regional disparities. The results of this study serve as supportive information for the planning and construction of HSR lines and networks and for underdeveloped regional transport system policymaking. |
topic |
accessibility efficiency impacts spatial equity high-speed rail (HSR) |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/9/2583 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT xiaominwang efficiencyandspatialequityimpactsofhighspeedrailonthecentralplainseconomicregionofchina AT wenxinzhang efficiencyandspatialequityimpactsofhighspeedrailonthecentralplainseconomicregionofchina |
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1724589695285854208 |