01342534

Component

In all of the debate about financial difficulties in the transit industry, little has been said about the performance and challenges that small local bus systems have to face. Yet, they usually have the same or even bigger financial difficulties compared with many large transit agencies. This study investigates the effects of two common policy alternatives – fare hikes and service cuts on closing the budget hole for small local bus systems in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area from 2002 to 2008. The models tell that a fare hike seems more efficient than service cuts to reduce the transit deficit for these small local bus systems over this time period. The study hopefully will stimulate more ideas and discussions to help small local bus service providers survive the financial challenges.

The DVD lists the title of this paper as: Fare Hikes or Service Cuts? Response to Transit Funding Crisis: Case Study of Small Bus Systems in Greater Washington, D.C., Area.

01329018

11-1894

English

15p

2011

Transportation Research Board 90th Annual Meeting

DVD

Figures; Maps; References (18) ; Tables (4)

Bus transit; Bus transit operations; Case studies; Fares; Financial analysis; Local transportation; Policy making; Public transit; Service discontinuance; Transit operating agencies

Service providers

Washington Metropolitan Area

Finance; Policy; Public Transportation; I10: Economics and Administration

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2011 Paper #11-1894

TRIS, TRB

Feb 17 2011 5:58PM