Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) Before/After Cost Effectiveness Study

摘要

San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) undertook a retrofit of a fixed-block signaling system with a communications-based train control (CBTC) system in the subway portion of their light rail system (Muni Metro subway) in 1998. This report presents the findings of an in-depth study of the effectiveness of implementing the project. Along with a project narrative, two forms of analysis are provided: a quantitative cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and a qualitative analysis. The CBA considers factors such as passenger wait and trip times, capital costs, and operations and maintenance (O&M) costs which can be monetized without overly onerous assumptions. The CBA is presented in 2010 dollars and is useful as a reference to evaluate potential investments in a similar CBTC application. The qualitative analysis considers additional factors which are not easily monetized.