COST COMPARISON OF BUSWAY AND RAILWAY RAPID TRANSIT

Costs of bus-on-busways and train rapid transit systems were compared at varying passenger capacities on hypothetical new routes using both current and future vehicle equipment. Th calculations indicated that fast transit service could currently be provided at comparable costs by either buses or trains at about 2,000 to 5,000 passengers per peak hour, based on equipment and facilities of recent design. Improved or enlarged designs of current bus and transit equipment tend to shift the bus-train equivalence or crossover region another 1,000 or 2,000 passengers per hour and to somewhat reduce the modal differences in costs between bus and train below that capacity. Above these capacities, rail systems provide lower total costs. The study concluded with a prognosis of future developments in transit and bus technology that will enhance the quality of service while affording some possibilities for cost reduction.