Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/322518 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 11956
Publisher: 
CESifo GmbH, Munich
Abstract: 
We analyze how self-driving vehicles (SDVs) influence commuter behavior and returns to long-lived public transit investments. Using a commuting mode model estimated on detailed home and work location data from Greater Boston, we simulate the widespread entry of SDVs, which offer passive travel similar to transit but use existing road networks. We find that SDVs increase vehicle miles by 40% while decreasing public transit use by about 10%. Transit improvements continue to moderately boost revenues and lower miles driven, but their effects on mileage are small compared to SDVs. These findings highlight planning challenges posed by the emergence of SDVs.
Subjects: 
self-driving vehicles
public transit investment
infrastructure planning
transportation economics
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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