Urban Transportation Financing

Urban Transportation Financing
Author: Mark w. Frankena
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
Total Pages: 242
Release: 1982-12-15
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1487597207

This is an economic analysis of pricing and subsidy policies for urban roads and urban public transit in Ontario. Professor Frankena demonstrates the benefits of evaluating the economic merits of policy alternatives, and attempts to determine whether existing policies waste resources or lead to undesirable income transfers among different groups in the population. He concludes that resources are being wasted because the use of urban roads is substantially underpriced during periods of peak demand. He also finds that while there are sound economic justifications for substantial public transit subsidies, the allocation of subsidies by the Ontario government on the basis of capital expenditures can be expected to waste resources, as can the maximization of ridership which is likely to lead to detrimental fare and service policies. In conclusion, Frankena suggests improvements in the systems for charging people for the use of roads and public transit and in the ways that governments provide subsidies.

Innovation in Public Transport Finance

Innovation in Public Transport Finance
Author: Shishir Mathur
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 190
Release: 2016-05-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1317116437

With all levels of governments currently, and for the foreseeable future, under significant fiscal stress, any new transit funding mechanism is to be welcomed. Value capture (VC) is one such mechanism, which involves the identification and capture of a public infrastructure-led increase in property value. This book reviews four major VC mechanisms: joint development projects; special assessment districts; impact fees; and tax increment financing; all of which are used to fund transit in the United States. Through the study of prominent examples of these VC mechanisms from across the US, this book evaluates their performance focusing on aspects such as equity, revenue-generating potential, stakeholder support, and the legal and policy environment. It also conducts a comparative assessment of VC mechanisms to help policy makers and practitioners to choose one, or a combination of VC mechanisms. Although the book focuses on the US, the use of the VC mechanisms and the urgent need for additional revenue to fund public transportation are world-wide concerns. Therefore, an overview of the VC mechanisms in use internationally is also provided.