UC Berkeley

This thesis develops methodologies to evaluate the ancillary but non-negligible impacts of high-speed rail (HSR) and unmanned aircraft systems (NAS), especially from the aspect of efficiency, accessibility and safety. HSR and UAS represent two distinct but impactful advancements in modern transportation. This paper investigates their potential by examining three key aspects: the economic benefits of HSR in reducing air delay costs, the accessibility improvements brought by HSR for employment and education opportunities, and the safety enhancements enabled by UAS integration into the National Airspace System (NAS). Using innovative methodologies, this study aims to complement traditional cost-benefit analysis by addressing gaps in evaluating these emerging technologies. While the individual studies are disparate, the common theme is that deployments of new transport technologies generate spillover impacts on legacy systems and performance dimensions, and that careful analysis is required to assess these impacts in order to inform deployment decisions.In Part I Chapter 1, we explore the economic benefits of HSR in California by analyzing its potential to reduce air delays resulting from shifts in passenger preferences from air travel to rail. Using HSR ridership forecasts, machine learning models, and delay-cost monetization methods, we estimate delay cost savings of $51–88 million in 2029 and $235–392 million by 2033. These findings underscore the substantial economic benefits of HSR compared to traditional equivalent capacity analysis methods. In Part I Chapter 2, we assess the accessibility improvements brought by HSR to California’s Central Valley, with a focus on communities of concern (CoC) characterized by socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Accessibility measures, calculated using Open Street Map and Google Map APIs, reveal substantial gains for CoC populations after HSR operation, alongside a reduction in spatial inequalities for employment and education access. However, these benefits are unevenly distributed across census tracts, necessitating additional measures such as enhanced transit connectivity and equitable pricing strategies to maximize inclusivity. In Part II Chapter 3, we investigate the integration of UAS into the NAS, proposing refined frameworks for quantifying safety benefits. Two methodologies—the substitution model and the frequency model—are introduced to evaluate the safety implications of UAS applications. Case studies, including agricultural applications and infrastructure monitoring, demonstrate how UAS technologies can significantly mitigate risks and improve safety in operational contexts, offering an underexplored dimension of their utility. This study emphasizes the importance of considering secondary impacts in transportation planning and policy. By highlighting the ancillary benefits of HSR and UAS, the findings provide actionable insights for policymakers, planners, and stakeholders to build more inclusive, efficient, and safe transportation systems. These results advocate for a holistic approach to evaluating emerging technologies, addressing gaps in traditional frameworks, and ensuring their broader societal relevance.