THE COST-REVENUE SQUEEZE IN AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSIT

This article is an examination of the operating cost crisis facing the American transit industry. First, some historic roots of the current problems are examined, indicating that the problems are not as recent as is often asserted. Second, some of the causes of operating losses are examined and explained. Trends in operating costs and their components are examined among four specific transit operations in the United States, in order to illustrate the fact that causes of recent trends are complex, and that attempts to explain them in terms of one or two simple generalizations are inadequate. Based on these findings, some tentative conclusions of relevance to transit policy makers are presented.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Published in Urban Transportation Perspectives and Prospects.
  • Corporate Authors:

    Newcastle University, Australia

    Department of Community Programmes
    Newcastle, New South Wales 2308,   Australia 

    Eno Transportation Foundation

    P.O. Box 2055, Saugatuck Station
    Westport, CT  United States  06880-0055
  • Authors:
    • Ortner, J
    • Wachs, M
  • Publication Date: 1982

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00399701
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: HS-037 987
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Oct 31 1985 12:00AM