USE OF PRODUCTIVITY FACTORS IN ESTIMATING LRT OPERATING COSTS

Estimation of annual operations and maintenance (O&M) costs is an important component of the alternatives analyses for proposed light rail transit (LRT) systems. UMTA's recommended method for estimating O&M costs involves developing productivity-based cost models. In this paper, data are assembled on several key productivity relationships--those most central to LRT O&M cost models--from existing LRT systems over several years, and the implications of these data for estimating O&M costs of proposed systems as part of the alternatives analysis procedure are considered. Operations and maintenance productivity rates are compared among LRT properties, and the year-to-year stability of rates within properties are examined. Two basic data sources are used: the annual UMTA Sectionn 15 data base and the results of research conducted among a group of new and old LRT properties to refine the information provided in Section 15 and other published sources. Analysis of the Section 15 data reveals wide apparent divergences in productivity rates among systems, as well as substantial year-to-year instability in the productivity data of several LRT systems. Several explanations are offered for these patterns, and implications for LRT O&M cost estimation methods are discussed.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1989/1221/1221-008.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=USE+OF+PRODUCTIVITY+FACTORS+IN+ESTIMATING+LRT+OPERATING+COSTS&author=D.+Miller&author=I.+Hirschman&author=K.+Kleinerman&publication_year=1989
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1221, Research in Bus and Rail Transit Operations. 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:
  • Miller, David R
  • Hirschman, Ira J
  • Kleinerman, Kenneth
• Publication Date: 1989

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 71-76
• Monograph Title: Research in bus and rail transit operations
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1221
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Estimating; Light rail transit; Maintenance practices; Operating costs; Productivity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Operation and maintenance
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00494729
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309048168
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 30 1990 12:00AM