These slides accompany the class discussion for 4 November 2010.

Because visual aids are only one component of a lecture, these may
be a poor encapsulation of the lecture and an inadequate
substitute for notes.
Commuting in America
Public Transit in the Late 20th Century
Public Transit in Cities

Among the largest 38 cities, 80% of the mass transit passanger

miles were ridden in just eight cities:
I New York
I Chicago
I Los Angeles
I Washington
I San Francisco
I Boston
I Philadelphia
I Seattle
Commuters considerations

I Monetary Costs (fares, fuel, parking costs)

I Travel time
I Value of travel time
Modal choice
Ridership demographics

Figure 11-1 on page 285

Designing mass transit system

Two many tradeoffs:

1. Integrated or mainline system
2. Station/stop spacing
What are the advantages? Disadvantages?
Population Density

The tradeoffs can be less severe in areas of high population density.

I a denser population means more riders close to the mainline

I a denser population means more riders served by the same
number of stops
The lower collection and distribution costs allow denser areas to
support a higher level of transit service.
Subsidies for Transit

Potential reasons to subsidize:

I substitute away from negative externalities of car travel
I redistribution motives
I decreasing average cost industry
What are arguments against subsidizing or oversubsidizing mass
transit?