Smart Growth Challenge: Automobile Competitive Public Transport

Smart Growth Challenge
Highway and Public Transport Infrastructure Costs

Nearly five years ago, Demographia principal Wendell Cox challenged members of a Sierra Club e-mail list to identify any public transport rail project that was less expensive per passenger kilometer than a highway project over the same route. This challenge has subsequently been repeated, including in debates with anti-sprawl and public transport spending advocates (a public transport spending advocate is one who advocates public transport strategies that are not the most cost effective for addressing a particular need).

A few responses were received, but each attempted to change the subject, rather than responding directly to the challenge. Demographia does not necessarily believe that there are no public transport projects more cost effective than competing highway projects, but has not yet seen one.

This challenge is now being issued more formally.

HIGHWAY-PUBLIC TRANSPORT CHALLENGE

To identify the total direct construction and operating costs per incremental person kilometer of a public transport rail project that are lower than the direct costs per incremental person kilometer of a competing highway project.

Incremental person kilometer (person miles) means future person kilometers on a common date minus present person kilometers.

Links or sufficient detail (including a delineation of capital and operating costs) must be provided for the response to be evaluated.

Responses may be sent to transit-choice-hwy@demographia.com

Serious, professional responses will be answered, reported and evaluated on this site. Anonymity may be requested.

Demographia is Affiliated with The Public Purpose, A Top National Journal Internet Site

Demographia is "pro-choice" with respect to urban development.
People should have the freedom to live and work where and how they like.

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