BUS TOLL LANES – A TRANSIT/TOLL SOLUTION FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

摘要

In the United States, operating costs for transit are often the stumbling block for development of effective transit solutions. While there are significant Federal programs for transit capital costs such as New Starts and Small Starts, the burden of funding operating costs for transit predominately falls on local and state governments. As fare box revenue traditionally covers only a fraction of operating costs, finding a sustainable source of operating funds is often exceptionally challenging. The Bus Toll Lane (BTL) concept is a new idea to address the financial needs of public transportation and the challenges of urban traffic congestion by combining the resources of public transit and toll agencies. The BTL idea brings transit and tolling agencies together as equity partners to fund a multi-modal solution. By combining the capital funding resources of transit with the long-term revenue strength of tolls, a more effective and sustainable public transportation system can be developed sooner than either mode could produce on its own. The subject of this paper, the Bus Toll Lane Concept Feasibility Study (BTL Study) was undertaken to examine the operational and financial viability of this new idea. This paper presents the results of that study.