ECONOMIC CRITERIA FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH SPEED GROUND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN CANADA

The orderly development of high speed ground transportation services for meeting the evolving needs of Canada can take place only if the economics of such services are balanced with national goals. A study of system development involving multimodal alternatives for the Windsor-Quebec City corridor suggests that profitability criterion is inappropriate for modernizing passenger services. The incorporation of user benefits and in special cases other appropriate societal benefits in the assessment of services, it is suggested, is in line with the real meaning of economic efficiency. Comments are also made on the criteria for modernization of freight services. A closer scrutiny of efficiency and competition, the major themes of the 1967 National Transportation Act, suggests that a narrow definition of these themes coupled with inappropriate tools for implementing the policy has resulted in an ineffective policy. Suggestions for a forward looking policy are made in this paper which mostly center around balanced policy perspectives, effective planning for modernization and increased governmental control.

• Corporate Authors:

  Planning Transport Associates, Incorporated

  P.O. Box 4824, Duke Station
  Durham, NC  United States  27706
• Authors:
  • Khan, A M
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 237-253
• Serial:
  • High Speed Ground Transportation Journal
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue Number: 3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economics; Federal government; High speed ground transportation; Transportation planning; Transportation policy
• Identifier Terms: Canadian National; Canadian National Railways; Canadian Pacific
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• Subject Areas: Economics; Policy; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080778
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: High Speed Ground Transportation Journal
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 27 1975 12:00AM