Urban Rail: Less To Lease Cars For New Riders

The Public Purpose ranks urban transit projects by cost, and suggests that it would be less expensive to buy a new car for each rider.

1 minute read

November 22, 2000, 9:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

US Dept. of Transportation data indicates that the costs per new rider of all but one of the more than 25 proposed new US light rail and metro systems exceeds the cost of leasing a car in perpetuity. In some cases a luxury car (such as a BMW 740i or Jaguar XJ8) could be leased for less. The formula for calculating the annual cost is the cost per new passenger trip times 450 (each commuter works an average of 225 days and commutes twice daily).

Thanks to The Public Purpose

Read the full story: Urban Rail: Less To Lease Cars For New Riders

Monday, November 20, 2000 in The Public Purpose

Transportation United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

Start Learning

Advertise with us

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.