Citation

Khan A. J. Adv. Transp. 1981; 15(3): 213-230.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, Institute for Transportation, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article used a battery of models to simulate the impact of changes in public policy and energy supply on transit ridership, costs, revenues and subsidies in the Ottowa-Carleton (Canada) regional area. The following policy variables were tested: transit fare adjustments, transit (in-vehicle) travel time reduction, increased parking charges, and increased petroleum costs. It was found that exogenous variables, especially automobile ownership, were the most important determinants of transit ridership, with fares, level of service and parking charges relatively less significant. In the short run, transit patronage would rise as a result of increased petroleum prices, but this effect would be minimized by longterm improvements in automobile fuel efficiency. The effects of increased transit ridership in the off-peak were favorable to both economic and energy efficiency objectives. Operating revenue/total expense for transit systems could be increased by raising petroleum prices and decreasing transit in-vehicle travel time. In relative terms, the most effective measure for increasing the revenue/cost ratio was that of allowing petroleum price increases coupled with transit fare increases. Total expenses/passenger were lower in cases where petroleum price was increased without transit fare adjustments and in the case of in-vehicle travel time reductions resulting in higher system productivity. Provincial subsidy per passenger was also lowest for cases in which the productivity of the system was increased through in-vehicle travel time reductions.