Monday, March 13, 2006
Another Great Rail Success Story from Seattle
In 1996, rail advocates promised voters that a commuter rail line from Everett to Seattle would cost $89 million and carry 357,000 riders in 2002, increasing to at least 600,000 by 2010.
In fact, it cost $385 million and carried less than 150,000 riders last year. Including both operating and amortized capital costs, taxpayers are spending more than $250 for each one-way trip.
The commuter train takes two trips a day each way. To boost ridership, transit officials might want to cancel the 30 express bus trips made each day between the two cities. The express buses are just as fast as the trains, take riders closer to their destinations, and cost far less. Obviously there is something wrong with that.
In fact, it cost $385 million and carried less than 150,000 riders last year. Including both operating and amortized capital costs, taxpayers are spending more than $250 for each one-way trip.
The commuter train takes two trips a day each way. To boost ridership, transit officials might want to cancel the 30 express bus trips made each day between the two cities. The express buses are just as fast as the trains, take riders closer to their destinations, and cost far less. Obviously there is something wrong with that.
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