Assessing the impact of the new Mexico cable car on air pollution

Abstract

The impact of traffic on air quality has prompted many cities to implement policies such as driving and parking restrictions, congestion fees, or investing in public transport infrastructure. This paper focuses on the effects on pollution levels of a new cable car system in Mexico City, a very polluted megalopoly. This cable car system provides transportation to historically marginalized communities situated in a mountainous area at an altitude high enough to make metro connectivity impossible. The study uses official NO2 level data to estimate a Diff-inDiff model. The results show a drop in NO2 levels of approximately 13 \% not only in the stations closest to the Cablebus, but also in areas located further away. Our results suggest that the potential environmental benefits of new green transport infrastructures should be taken into account by policymakers when making decisions related to public transit systems.