THE ESCALATION OF URBAN TRANSIT OPERATION COSTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE

This dissertation analyzed operating cost data from five transit systems in Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco to compare the rates of cost escalation over a ten year period. Cost increases were analyzed in both constant and inflated dollars for ten categories of costs. Increases in certain categories lagged behind inflation rates while in other categories, principally fringe benefits to employees, costs increased three to four times as rapidly. Existing models designed to forecast short-range transit operating cost increases were tested against this data set and found inadequate. Scenario building was suggested as a more appropriate technique to predict the impacts of alternative futures on transit operating costs. Suggestions are made to help control transit operating cost escalation including changing subsidy policies to reward efficient and effective transit operations.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of California, Los Angeles

  Los Angeles, CA  United States 
• Authors:
  • Ortner, J D
• Publication Date: 1978

Media Info

• Pagination: n.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Costs; Economic efficiency; Employee benefits; Incentives; Inflation; Measures of effectiveness; Operating costs; Policy; Public transit; Subsidies
• Identifier Terms: Chicago Transit Authority
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost analysis; Effectiveness; Efficiency; Rewards
• Geographic Terms: Los Angeles (California); San Francisco (California)
• Old TRIS Terms: Future policies
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Operations and Traffic Management; Policy; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00377194
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Dissertatn
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 30 1983 12:00AM