Transportation Policy Effects on Urban Fuel Consumption and Energy Reduction

摘要

This study establishes a simplified system dynamics model with a time frame from 1995 to 2025 tosimulate the effects of urban transportation management polices and to explore their potential toreduce vehicular fuel consumption and mitigate CO_2 emissions. Kaohsiung City was selected as acase study because it is the second largest metropolis in Taiwan and an important industrial center.Results of the simulation indicate that a fuel-tax policy will reduce by 13.2% the number of motorvehicles driven in the city, and by 11.0% the amount of gasoline required for their use. Aparking-management policy will reduce both vehicles and fuel consumption by 21.7% and 6.0%,respectively. Finally, an extensively implemented free bus service will reduce both by only 2.3%and 0.8%, respectively. Therefore, both the fuel tax and parking management policies are suggestedas potentially the most effective methods for restraining the growth of the number of privatevehicles, the amount of fuel consumption and CO_2 emissions. The information herein proves usefulfor urban transportation management managers and policy makers of city government.