US Urban Rail & Bus
Estimated Capital & Operating Costs: 1996

New Rail Systems:

Estimated Rail and Bus Operating and Capital Cost per Passenger Mile: 1996
Metropolitan Area Urban Rail Cost per Passenger Mile Estimated Best Local Bus Operating & Capital Cost per Passenger Mile Rail Cost Compared to Local Bus Rail Cost Compared to National Best Bus
Operating
Cost
Capital
Cost
Capital
Cost and Operating Cost
Capital
Cost Compared to
Operating Cost
COMMUTER RAIL
Los Angeles $0.29 $0.45 $0.74 153.0% $0.27 176.8% 523.9%
Miami $0.30 $0.32 $0.62 106.5% $0.48 28.4% 420.1%
San Diego $0.66 $0.43 $1.09 63.6% $0.47 128.9% 812.7%
Washington $0.20 $0.13 $0.33 64.4% $0.30 10.1% 181.4%
Average $0.37 $0.33 $0.70 90.5% $0.38 86.0% 484.5%
HEAVY RAIL
Atlanta $0.18 $0.59 $0.77 317.8% $0.27 182.3% 549.2%
Baltimore $0.69 $1.88 $2.57 273.2% $0.65 295.9% 2055.9%
Los Angeles $2.63 $9.92 $11.55 339.4% $0.27 4205.3% 9604.1%
Miami $0.41 $0.83 $1.24 205.4% $0.48 157.1% 941.0%
Washington $0.35 $0.67 $1.02 193.6% $0.30 236.1% 759.2%
Average $0.85 $2.58 $3.43 303.1% $0.40 1015.3% 2781.9%
LIGHT RAIL
Baltimore $0.50 $0.77 $1.27 153.5% $0.65 95.5% 964.9%
Buffalo $0.89 $3.17 $4.06 356.1% $0.95 325.6% 3312.0%
Denver $0.56 $0.70 $1.26 124.9% $0.58 115.4% 954.7%
Los Angeles $0.42 $0.72 $1.14 171.6% $0.27 323.9% 855.5%
Portland $0.38 $0.47 $0.85 122.1% $0.54 57.5% 617.6%
Sacramento $0.38 $0.35 $0.73 92.8% $0.35 109.0% 515.1%
San Diego $0.19 $0.47 $0.66 252.6% $0.43 52.1% 453.7%
San Jose $0.88 $1.35 $2.23 152.6% $0.96 132.7% 1777.2%
St. Louis $0.20 $0.40 $0.60 202.1% $0.69 -13.4% 401.9%
Average $0.49 $0.93 $1.42 190.8% $0.60 133.2% 1094.7%
OVERALL
Average $0.56 $1.26 $1.82 223.5% $0.50 367.7% 1427.8%
METHODOLOGY
Annualized rail capital costs calculated by discounting system building costs at 7% over 40 years.

Bus capital costs assumed at 17.6 percent of total operating and capital cost (estimated from National Transit Database).

Most cost effective local bus operation used in local comparison.

*Note: Portland recently opened its second light rail line. It is expected that costs per passenger mile will increase to at least $1.40.

Note: The least costly bus operation (Academy in New Jersey) had costs per passenger mile of $0.119 in 1996.

SOURCES
Sources: National Transit Database, Transit Operators, US DOT Report (1989), Richmond.

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