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Light rail transit cost performance: Opportunities for future-proofing

Author

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  • Love, Peter E.D.
  • Ahiaga-Dagbui, Dominic
  • Welde, Morten
  • Odeck, James

Abstract

The cost performance of Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems have been scrutinized by the popular press and public sector infrastructure agencies as they have been prone to incurring cost increases in their capital expenditures (CAPEX). In tackling such increases, emphasis is placed on mitigating strategic misrepresentation and optimism bias, which has hindered the public sectors ability to embrace innovation, particularly with regard to the justification and adoption of LRT. More often than not, operational expenditure (OPEX) is neglected, and is not considered a part of the transportation cost performance literature. The aim of this paper is to examine the equivocality that surrounds the determination of cost performance of LRT projects. It is suggested that the public sector should move beyond focusing on strategic misrepresentation and optimism bias, as many governments worldwide now have in place mechanisms to address such issues, and instead focus on future-proofing their assets. It is suggested that the key enablers of future-proofing LRT are (1) private finance; (2) delivery strategy (e.g. design-build-finance-operate); (3) digitization (e.g. building information modelling); and (4) asset management (e.g. smart technologies). If the public sector is to provide an LRT system that is cost effective and able to respond to the demands imposed by climate change, then it needs to be considered from a life-cycle perspective and funding sought from the private sector to ensure its viability.

Suggested Citation

  • Love, Peter E.D. & Ahiaga-Dagbui, Dominic & Welde, Morten & Odeck, James, 2017. "Light rail transit cost performance: Opportunities for future-proofing," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 27-39.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:100:y:2017:i:c:p:27-39
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2017.04.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Xinjian & Love, Peter E.D. & Luo, Hanbin & Fang, Weili, 2022. "A systemic model for implementing land value capture to support urban rail transit infrastructure projects," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 90-112.
    2. Love, Peter E.D. & Ika, Lavagnon A. & Matthews, Jane & Li, Xinjian & Fang, Weili, 2021. "A procurement policy-making pathway to future-proof large-scale transport infrastructure assets," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    3. Christiono Utomo & Sulfiah Dwi Astarini & Dewa Made Satriya Wibawa Mertha & Yani Rahmawati & Aqsha & Cahyono Bintang Nurcahyo & Maulita Nahdiyah, 2022. "Decision Factors of Stakeholder Integration in Connected Construction for Circular Economics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, December.
    4. Savindi Caldera & Sherif Mostafa & Cheryl Desha & Sherif Mohamed, 2021. "Exploring the Role of Digital Infrastructure Asset Management Tools for Resilient Linear Infrastructure Outcomes in Cities and Towns: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-25, October.
    5. Zhao, Jianfeng & Liu, Henry J. & Love, Peter E.D. & Greenwood, David J. & Sing, Michael C.P., 2022. "Public-private partnerships: A dynamic discrete choice model for road projects," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PA).

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