COST COMPARISON OF BUSWAY AND RAILWAY RAPID TRANSIT

Costs of bus-on-busways and train rapid transit systems were compared at varying passenger capacities on hypothetical new routes using both current and future vehicle equipment. Th calculations indicated that fast transit service could currently be provided at comparable costs by either buses or trains at about 2,000 to 5,000 passengers per peak hour, based on equipment and facilities of recent design. Improved or enlarged designs of current bus and transit equipment tend to shift the bus-train equivalence or crossover region another 1,000 or 2,000 passengers per hour and to somewhat reduce the modal differences in costs between bus and train below that capacity. Above these capacities, rail systems provide lower total costs. The study concluded with a prognosis of future developments in transit and bus technology that will enhance the quality of service while affording some possibilities for cost reduction.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1973/459/459-001.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309021928
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Busways and Bus Lanes. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Miller, D R
  • Goodwin, B C
  • HOFFMAN, G A
  • Holden, WHT
• Discussers:
  • Deen, Thomas B
• Conference:
  • 52nd Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1973-1-22 to 1973-1-26
• Publication Date: 1973

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: pp 1-12
• Monograph Title: Evaluation of bus transit strategies
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 459
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Bus lanes; Bus transportation; Costs; Economics; Passenger service; Railroad transportation; Rapid transit; Technology
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Highways; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00050859
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309021928
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 15 1981 12:00AM