TECHNICAL PAPERS
Mar 1, 1983

Developing Bus Operating Cost Models: A Methodology

Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 109, Issue 2

Abstract

This paper presents a methodology for developing transit bus cost models to assist in state‐level subsidy planning. Aggregate and disaggregate unit cost models for 25 bus companies operating in New Jersey are developed and evaluated. A method is presented for stratifying the bus companies by size of operation, type of service, location, and subsidy status. The stratification process indicated that model accuracy can be enhanced, that diseconomies of scale existed, and, that a carrier's subsidy status did not tend to affect the cost of operation.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

1.
“Bus Route Costing for Planning Purposes,” Arthur Andersen and Co., prepared for Transport and Road Research Laboratory, United Kingdom, 1974.
2.
Ferreri, M. G., “Development of a Transit Cost Allocation Formula,” Highway Research Record, Vol. 285, 1969, pp. 1–9.
3.
Gambaccini, L. J., “On Taking the Bus and Leaving the Driving to the State,” The New York Times, Feb. 25, 1979, p. 18.
4.
Guttman, I., Wilks, S. S., and Hunter, J. S., Introductory Engineering Statistics, 2nd ed., John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1971.
5.
Miller, D. R., “Cost Functions in Urban Bus Transportation,” thesis presented to Northwestern University, at Chicago, Illinois, in 1967, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
6.
Simpson and Curtin, “Standard for Bus Service Contract Payments and a System of Incentives,” Final Report to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, Dec., 1976.
7.
“Trends in Bus Financial and Operating Characteristics 1960–1975,” Control Data Corporation and Wells Research Company, prepared for U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C., Sept., 1978.
8.
Wells, J. D., et al., “Economic Characteristics of the Urban Public Transportation Industry,” Institute for Defense Analysis, prepared for the Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C., Feb., 1972.
9.
Wilson, H. G., “Forecasting Bus Transit Operating Cost,” PB‐262‐634, Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, Philadelphia, Pa., Nov., 1975.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Transportation Engineering
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 109Issue 2March 1983
Pages: 273 - 285

History

Published online: Mar 1, 1983
Published in print: Mar 1983

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Reggie J. Caudill
Asst. Prof. of Civ. Engrg., Princeton Univ., Princeton, N.J. 08544
Richard A. Kaplan
Student, Albany Law School, Albany, N.Y.
Anne Taylor‐Harris
Research Asst., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Princeton Univ., Princeton, N.J.

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share