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Quote by: Morgan_Freeman Show me the cost-benefit analysis studies and then we can talk. |
Morgan: There is one I found that supports NOT investing in LRT. It is at:
This is the html version of the file
http://www.macalester.edu/qm4pp/Math...enefitWest.pdf. I am certain there are others that support NOT investing in LRT at yesterdays fuel costs. Perhaps as fuel goes higher the benefits becomes closer to the cost?
The study above is a left over study from the Clinton Era. No wonder it is a loser.
This is all assuming government will pay for LRT. Perhaps private industry can build and operate this system more effeciently than government? I would like to see a cost benefit analysis on this level. However I doubt we willl find one. It is too radical an idea. Ridership has to fund the cost of the system. I would not support an Amtrak type LRT. As the system is set up now, I would be in favor of tax credits for people who used LRT on a monthly ticketed basis.
. The studies I could find all use gasoline at lower price levels we find today. It is only logical that there will come a day when gasoline will be so expensive that LRT will be a reasonable alternative to driving in the city. Psychologically, people will be convinced to use the system because they are used to cheap gas under $3 per gallon. Not to mention the reason for not clogging cities with autommobiles.
When the cost of gasoline runs over $100+++ per barrel, the current cost benefit will probably be meaningless. Less cars and less fuel = less fuel consumption. The day is coming when the average commuter will not be able to afford to commute into the cities from the suburbs. When less people come into the cities, economically speaking, well do I really need to go into it?
Hey you are probably correct that LRT is a loser in today's market. But soon, in major cities, it may not be the case. There is coming a day when driving into cities is going to be a loser for most folks. Fuel, traffic, parking, crime, etc will make a mass transit system preferable to driving in to the major cities.
I suppose I should have not been so general in my statement with regard to LRT. But that's what we are all here for now isn't it?