April, 21 2004 - 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.

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@vtpi.org
Phone: 250-360-1560
Fax: 250-360-1560
Website: www.vtpi.org

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.