Bus Versus Rail: Meta-Analysis of Cost Characteristics, Carrying Capacities, and Land Use Impacts
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
2009
Subject Area
operations - capacity, land use - impacts, mode - bus, mode - rail
Keywords
Rail transit capacity, Rail transit, Meta-analysis, Land use, Intracity bus transportation, Costs, Bus transit capacity, Bus transit
Abstract
Whether to develop bus- or rail-based mass transit has long been a topic of policy debate. Recent developments in bus rapid transit and light rail transit throughout the world add to heated discussions on the comparative advantages of bus- versus rail-based transit systems. The metastudy discussed in this paper synthesizes current understanding of the cost and operational characteristics as well as land use impacts of bus versus rail mass transit in the framework of land use and transit integration. The study’s main purpose is to provide a balanced view on bus and rail. Such a retrospective review is timely; for many cases, the debates of bus versus rail are narrowly focused or based on opinion and lack adequate supporting materials and evidence.
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Ming, (2009). Bus Versus Rail: Meta-Analysis of Cost Characteristics, Carrying Capacities, and Land Use Impacts. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2110, pp 87-95.
