Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

While Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed budget, released last week, does not include cuts to transit, a spokesman for a San Francisco transportation and planning agency cautioned that a fuel tax swap approved last year may take $2.5 billion from transit.

The $1.4 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2012 maintains the current level of rail, bus and paratransit services. The agency is doing more, while becoming more resource efficient. More than 91 cents of every Metro operating dollar directly funds core services, with only 9 cents funding support functions.

After an attempt by the Delaware River Port Authority to sell its commuter train line failed last month, the agency considered selling the line to a private buyer. Officials say that with $45.3 million in operating costs and only $24.8 million in revenue projected for 2011, the outlook is not promising.

Transit officials knew that The Tide project would cost more than the $232 million figure they gave to the government back in 2007.

The Charlotte Area Transit System’s planned light rail extension could cost as much as $1.1 billion. Officials are looking at cutting stations, amenities and three-car platforms.