POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF ELIMINATING FEDERAL TRANSIT OPERATING SUBSIDIES

The Reagan Administration's proposal to phase out federal transit operating subsidies by 1985 has prompted a range of forecasts, some predicting that the transit industry will become more efficient and productive while others portend a much grimmer future. The ultimate effects of the federal cuts depend largely on the actions transit agencies take to make up lost dollars-fare increases, service cuts, increased local/state financing, or in-house efficiency improvements. Probable fare, service, and equity effects of the federal cuts among different types of transit operators are examined. A national survey of 99 transit agencies is used to develop a scenario of how federal cuts will affect transit operators. Overall, it is expected that fares will increase about 7 percent, service will decrease approximately 3 percent, and ridership will decline approximately 6 percent because of the federal cuts. Moreover, the poor will bear the brunt of fare increases, service cuts, and increased local and state taxes caused by the phaseout of federal operating assistance.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1983/936/936-007.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=POSSIBLE+EFFECTS+OF+ELIMINATING+FEDERAL+TRANSIT+OPERATING+SUBSIDIES&author=R.+Cervero&author=G.+Black&publication_year=1983
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • 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. Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Public Transportation Planning and Development.
• Authors:
  • Cervero, Robert
  • Black, Gary
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 25-31
• Monograph Title: Public transportation and transit operations planning
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 936
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic elasticity; Equity; Fares; Federal government; Financing; Low income groups; Public transit; Service discontinuance; Subsidies
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00387634
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309036526
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 28 1984 12:00AM