PRIVATIZATION OF URBAN MASS TRANSPORTATION: A DISSENTING VIEWPOINT. 13TH AUSTRALASIAN TRANSPORT RESEARCH FORUM, CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND, 18-21 JULY 1988; FORUM PAPERS. VOLUME 1 AND 2

This paper describes briefly the historical events that led to the almost total shift of the ownership of urban mass transportation in the United States from the private sector to the public sector between the period prior to world war I and the end of world war II. The reasons for the gradual public takeover of ailing mass transportation undertakings are explored. The paper then describes the process currently underway in the United States to turn over portions of the mass transportation system to private enterprise, the organizational and procedural aspects, and the rationale for the privatization of urban mass transportation. The primary rationale of saving money while maintaining service levels is discussed. The paper then describes some of the outcomes desired of privatization and discusses the extent to which these are likely to be realized from the long term and short term effects of privatization. In particular, it examines the potential fragmentation of service within an urban area and recalls the historic perspective of the evolution of public transportation from private ownership to public ownership in the first half of this century. The paper concludes with a look to the longer term future with respect to privatization, acknowledging that privatization is likely to gain in popularity and extent of application over the next several years. The extent to which the benefits of privatization are likely to accrue over the long term are discussed and compared to the potential disbenefits. The paper concludes that the basis for privatization is at least somewhat mythical and is likely to lead eventually to a return to full public ownership. record of the forum, see IRRD no 814688. (Author/TRRL) (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0477052096
• Corporate Authors:

  Ministry of Transport, New Zealand

  38-42 Waring Taylor Street, P.O. Box 3175
  Wellington,   New Zealand 
• Authors:
  • Stopher, P R
• Publication Date: 1988

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 19-33
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Ministry of Transport, New Zealand
  • Publisher: Ministry of Transport, New Zealand

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Applications; Conferences; Costs; Economic benefits; Economic factors; History; Level of service; Local government; Management; Private enterprise; Public transit; Time duration; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Long term
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Finance; Highways; History; Public Transportation; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00492881
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• ISBN: 0-477-05209-6
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1990 12:00AM