This report summarises estimates of transit benefits and costs, identifies how these are distributed between users and society, and develops a framework for evaluating these impacts in transport planning and policy making. There are two major categories of transit benefits. Mobility benefits result from increased travel choices, particularly for people who cannot own or drive a personal automobile. Since non-drivers tend to be economically, physically and socially disadvantaged compared with drivers, this also increases equity. Efficiency benefits result from reduced automobile use. This includes user savings, congestion reduction, parking cost savings, reduced accidents, and a variety of environmental benefits. Both mobility and efficiency benefits are substantial, and vary considerably depending on the situation and analysis perspective. Transit benefits are often understated, either because significant benefit categories are omitted, or due to weaknesses in the analysis framework. (A)
Abstract