SELF-SUSTAINING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. VOLUME II. TECHNICAL REPORT

The study examines three systems of urban transportation services which are self-sustaining (cover at least operating costs from the farebox). The three systems selected for the study are: (1) the Philadelphia-Lindenwold Hi-Speed Line, a rail rapid transit line operated by the Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO); (2) the express bus services in the City of New York, with routes operated by both the Metropolitan Transit Authority as well as private bus companies; and (3) the suburban railroad service in the Chicago metropolitan area of the Chicago and Northwestern Transportation Company (formerly C&NW Railway). These services are characterized by high fares; high service quality including a high probability of obtaining a seat and attention to consumer comfort and safety; travel times comparable to those on alternative modes, including the private car; service between residential areas and CBDs; market areas composed primarily of middle-to upper-income inhabitants; and costs not necessarily lower than comparable service by other operators. All three, until recently, have covered at least operating costs from the farebox. That two of them no longer do so is attributable to explicit policy decisions, and not to a failure in the viability of the service. The research concludes that although self-sustaining services are clearly appropriate only for certain markets, within those markets they have potential as a means of relieving the increasing scale of transit deficits.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also Volume 1, PB80-196140.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Pennsylvania Law School

  3400 Chestnut Street
  Philadelphia, PA  United States  19104

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Morlok, E K
  • Viton, P A
  • Sudalaimuthu, P
  • Waldo, J
  • Hessami, M S
• Publication Date: 1979-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 239 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Buses; Central business districts; Comfort; Commuter service; Express buses; Fares; Level of service; Markets; Metropolitan areas; Operating costs; Profitability; Public transit; Quality of service; Railroad commuter service; Railroads; Rapid transit; Safety; Transportation planning; Travel time; Urban transportation
• Identifier Terms: Chicago and North Western Transportation Company; Lindenwold Line; Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Services
• Geographic Terms: Illinois; New York (State); Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)
• Old TRIS Terms: Rapid transit railways
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00318183
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-PA-11-0017-80-2Final Rpt.
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 16 1982 12:00AM