[sustran] Comprehensive Evaluation of Rail Transit Benefits - Media Release

[Todd Alexander Litman]

MEDIA RELEASE
21 April 2004

Rail Transit Benefits Study:
New study finds that cities with rail transit systems have significantly 
less traffic congestion, lower traffic accident rates, and lower consumer costs

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A new study released today by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute shows 
that rail transit systems can significantly improve transportation system 
performance.

“Comprehensive Evaluation of Rail Transit Benefits” by Todd Litman analyzed 
the impacts of different types of transit on urban transportation patterns. 
The study found that cities with large rail transit systems have on average:
·       400% higher per capita transit ridership.
·       390% higher transit commute mode split.
·       36% lower per-capita traffic fatalities.
·       14% lower per capita consumer transportation expenditures.
·       19% smaller portion of household budgets devoted to transportation.
·       21% less per capita motor vehicle mileage.
·       33% lower transit operating costs per passenger-mile.
·       58% higher transit service cost recovery.


The study calculates that the additional costs of rail transit systems are 
repaid several times over by economic savings provided to governments, 
businesses and consumers from reduced road and parking facility costs, 
vehicle cost savings, reduced traffic accident costs, and congestion cost 
savings.

This study critiques 'Great Rail Disasters,' a report published earlier 
this year by Randal O’Toole of the Center for the American Dream, which 
claimed that rail transit investments are not cost effective. According to 
'Comprehensive Evaluation of Rail Transit Benefits,' O’Toole’s report 
failed to correctly categorize transit systems and violated other basic 
evaluation principles.


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The executive summary is available at: http://www.vtpi.org/railben.htm

The full report is available at: http://www.vtpi.org/railben.pdf


For information contact: Todd Litman
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
Email: litman at vtpi.org
Phone: 250-360-1560
Fax: 250-360-1560
Website: www.vtpi.org


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The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is an independent research 
organization dedicated to developing innovative transportation analysis and 
problem solving. The VTPI website (www.vtpi.org) has many resources 
addressing a wide range of transport planning and policy issues.



PLEASE FORWARD TO ANYBODY INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE




Sincerely,
Todd Litman, Director
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
1250 Rudlin Street
Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, Canada
Phone & Fax: 250-360-1560
Email: litman at vtpi.org
Website: http://www.vtpi.org