ScholarLens Back to search
1979•Unpublished venueRequires access

WASHINGTON'S METRO IS THE SOLID-GOLD CADILLAC OF MASS TRANSIT

Herman W. Nickel

Open publisher page 0 citations

Abstract

Citing overdesign and planning mistakes, the author points out that the Washington Metro's capital cost of $7.2 billion exceeds that of the five other systems under construction in the U.S. in the 1970s and has ended up with a disproportionate share of federal mass-transit funds. The processes of benefit-cost analysis and alternatives analysis are discussed with reference to the Washington situation. Effects of political pressures are also described.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Citing overdesign and planning mistakes, the author points out that the Washington Metro's capital cost of $7.2 billion exceeds that of the five other systems under construction in the U.S. in the 1970s and has ended up with a disproportionate share of federal mass-transit funds. The processes of benefit-cost analysis and alternatives analysis are discussed with reference to the Washington situation. Effects of political pressures are also described.

Why it matters

A significance statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

Citing overdesign and planning mistakes, the author points out that the Washington Metro's capital cost of $7.2 billion exceeds that of the five other systems under construction in the U.S. in the 1970s and has ended up with a disproportionate share of federal mass-transit funds. The processes of benefit-cost analysis and alternatives analysis are discussed with reference to the Washington situation. Effects of political pressures are also described.

Key concepts: Transit (satellite), Rapid transit, Capital (architecture), Capital cost, Business, Public transport, Transport engineering, Economics

Related papers

Related paper 1Related paper 2Related paper 3
Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
WASHINGTON'S METRO IS THE SOLID-GOLD CADILLAC OF MASS TRANSIT — Research Paper | ScholarLens