Citation

Levinson D, Gillen D, Kanafani A, Mathieu JM. Indian Highw. 1996; 268 p..

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Indian Roads Congress)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study evaluated the full cost of three modes of intercity transportation: air, highway, and high speed rail. The evaluation is done within the context of the California Corridor, connecting the Los Angeles Basin and the San Francisco Bay Area. The purpose of evaluating full cost is to compare the economic implications of investment in, or expansion of, any of these three modes. The scope of the analysis is full transportation cost. Full transportation cost includes external, or social cost, in addition to the internal costs of construction, operation and maintenance. Estimates of four types of external, social costs are included: accidents, congestion, noise, and air pollution. The results of this study indicate that the full cost of air transportation for the California Corridor ($0.1315 per passenger-kilometer traveled) is significantly less costly than the other two modes. The full cost of high speed rail and highway transportation are approximately the same: $0.2350 per passenger-kilometer traveled by rail and $0.2302 per passenger-kilometer traveled by highway.