Assistant Professor Steven Spears recently contributed an article to the London School of Economics' USA Politics and Policy (USAPP) blog. It is based on his recent publication in the July 6, 2016 issue of Urban Studies which he coauthored with Marlon G. Boarnet of the University of Southern California, and Douglas Houston of University of California, Irvine.

The blog article, “Investing in light rail can reduce how much people drive – but only for those close to stations,” is based on his research that looks at the impacts of new light rail expansions taking place in Los Angeles. He examines the potential for light rail as a more sustainable transportation option and its impact on changing resident car usage. This longitudinal study is one of just a handful in the US that use experimental and control groups to study light rail behavior change, and the results have implications for policies designed to reduce driving and greenhouse gas emissions.

USAPP’s mission is to promote policy-relevant and internationally-oriented scholarship to meet the growing demand for fresh analysis and critical debate on the United States. Their focus is broad-based and multidisciplinary, covering all aspects of governance, economics, politics, culture and society in the United States, and in its continental neighbors, Canada and Mexico. It is run by the London School of Economics’ United States Centre, a hub for global expertise, analysis and commentary on America.