MERCER SLOUGH

SUMMARY BASED ON BALAKER REFERENCE:

COST RESULTS BENEFIT RESULTS

LIGHT RAIL STARTUP COSTS 3 TIMES

AN EQUIVALENT BUS RAPID TRANSIT

SYSTEM (BRT).

OVERALL TRAFFIC CONGESTION

IS VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED BY

LIGHT RAIL.

TRANSIT OPERATING TAX SUBSIDIES,

ON A PER PASSENGER MILE BASIS,

ARE 120 TIMES LARGER THAN BRT

THE % OF AUTO TRIPS IS

PREDICTABLY UNCHANGED BY

THE ADDITION OF LIGHT RAIL.

TOTAL, FINAL $$ ARE TYPICALLY

MULTIPLES OF THE ORIGINAL $$ - -

DUE TO UNDERESTIMATES OF COST

AND OVERESTIMATES OF RIDERSHIP.

TOTAL COMMUTER TRIP TIME IS

OFTEN UNCHANGED AND EVEN

INCREASED FOR USERS OF

LIGHT RAIL.

BASED ON PREDICTORS SUCH AS

POPULATION DENSITY, SEATTLE-

BELLEVUE LIGHT RAIL WOULD NOT

BE SUCCESSFUL.

SINCE AUTO RIDERSHIP IS

UNCHANGED, AUTO POLLUTION

LEVELS ARE SIMILARLY

UNAFFECTED