Citation

Najafi F. J. Transp. Res. Forum 1990; 30(2): 352-359.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Transportation Research Forum)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The provision of comprehensive current cost information concerning the capital, operation and maintenance of highways versus transit in urban areas is a difficult task. This paper compares the government costs of new highways in relationship to the development of a rapid rail transit system along a heavily congested urban corridor in Florida. The study corridor is the Tri-County Commuter Rail (TCCR) system which services Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Counties. The rehabiliation of the 67-mile long TCCR has been completed at a cost of $66 million. In considering the right-of-way costs, the transit alternative is more cost-effective than a highway since a transit system requires substantially less right-of-way width than a six-lane highway. This is particularly applicable in the TCCR region where land is less available for development and right-of-way costs are extremely high. Other highway cost factors considered are law enforcement, liability, etc. Urban Mass Transportation Administration Cost-Effectiveness indices were analyzed and modified further for the inclusion of relevant infrastructure costs in selecting alternative systems.