ECONOMICS OF COMMUTER EXPRESS BUS OPERATIONS

With the recent cuts in federal subsidies for transit operations, planners are looking for ways to reduce their operating costs. One way of doing this is to allow the private sector to provide commuter express bus service at little or no subsidy. A study of commuter express bus operations is summarized in which it is concluded that the operating cost for a private carrier is only about half that of the public carriers in Southern California. After 22 public bus lines had been evaluated, the conclusion was that more than $5 million per year in subsidy could be eliminated if the 22 bus lines were operated by private carriers. The cost savings are attributed to more favarable work rules and the ability to use less costly equipment. One other factor is that private operators will continue operation of a bus only if it is is nearly full. The analysis was based on operating budgets for the two transit districts in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and on a survey of private agencies in the region.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1983/915/915-003.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=ECONOMICS+OF+COMMUTER+EXPRESS+BUS+OPERATIONS&author=B.+Williams&author=B.+Wells&publication_year=1983
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309035589
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Bus Transit Systems. 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:
  • Williams, Brad
  • Wells, Bill
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 13-18
• Monograph Title: Urban buses: planning and operations
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 915
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus transit; Commuters; Express buses; Operating costs; Private enterprise; Subsidies; Work rules
• Old TRIS Terms: Bus services
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Finance; Highways; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Society; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00382305
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309035589
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 30 1984 12:00AM