Re: BRT vs. Dinky costs: regardless of how NJT calculated the costs of the Dinky to make it look bad vs. bus rapid transit, I have found that BRT is much cheaper than rail, at least when I served on a local commission that tried to decide between BRT and light rail for a mid-length corridor. BRT was chosen for the project because BRT was so much cheaper. The main benefit of rail is that it would attract people who wouldn't take a bus--not that rail was cost-competitive.
And if other groups would bid on the Dinky, why not let them? That would save $15 million in conversion costs.
I would be curious for more numbers that would show that a LRT Dinky would be profitable. Would costs come down by 25%, and would ridership go up by 50%? With stable fares, something like that would have to happen.
And if other groups would bid on the Dinky, why not let them? That would save $15 million in conversion costs.
I would be curious for more numbers that would show that a LRT Dinky would be profitable. Would costs come down by 25%, and would ridership go up by 50%? With stable fares, something like that would have to happen.