Light rail transit cost performance: Opportunities for future-proofing. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Love, Peter E.D.; Ahiaga-Dagbui, Dominic; Welde, Morten; Odeck, James
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 100(2017)
• Page Start: 27
• Page End: 39
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: CAPEX performance -- Digitization -- Future-proofing -- Light rail transit -- OPEX; Transportation -- Research -- Periodicals; 388.011
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2017.04.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-8564

Abstract

Highlights: Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems have been prone to incurring CAPEX increases. The cost performance of LRT projects is examined and discussed. Enablers to future-proof LRT systems are proposed. Suggests there is a need for a life-cycle perspective and funding sought from the private sector to ensure their viability. 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.