Comparison of
Urban Public Transport &
Urban Freeway Full Costs

Mode of Urban Transport Full Cost per Person Mile Notes
New Metro (Heavy Rail) Average $3.430 Atlanta lowest at $0.77
New Light Rail (Trolley) Average $1.420 St. Louis lowest at $0.60
New Commuter Rail Average $0.700 Washington lowest at $0.33
Urban Freeway: 30,000 Person Trips per Mile $0.212 Examples: Buffalo, Kansas City & Pittsburgh areas
Urban Freeway: 40,000 Person Trips per Mile $0.204 Examples: Philadelphia & Orlando areas
Urban Freeway: 50,000 Person Trips per Mile $0.200 Examples: Dallas, Houston & Las Vegas areas
Urban Freeway: 60,000 Person Trips per Mile $0.197 Examples: San Francisco, Atlanta, & Portland areas
Urban Freeway: 75,000 Person Trips per Mile $0.194 Example: Los Angeles area
Calculated from USDOT data. Additional notes at: Rail Costs and Freeway Costs
Includes cost of capital maintenance, operations and private costs of motor vehicle operation and ownership.

(c) 2000 www.publicpurpose.com --- Wendell Cox Consultancy --- Permission granted to use with attribution.
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