> The Federal Transit Administration found that public transit systems have a backlog of $86 billion in critical maintenance nationwide.
I wonder how that backlog is allocated: e.g., how BART's backlog compares to NYC, Boston, and DC.
DC and BART are about the same age (1972 vs. 1976), but DC has 68% more riders[1] and an operating budget that's almost double[2]. (So, yes, WMATA also spends more per rider.)
Everyone's hurting for investment in general.
[1] Weekday Daily Ridership from Wikipedia: 423,120 (BART) vs. 712,843 (WMATA).
[2] FY16 Annual Operating Budgets: $900k (BART) vs. $1.8B (WMATA)
But is that an apple to apple comparison? Operating budget means only so much -- it ignores major costs like pension and benefit obligations and debt service (BART is among the worst at both).
It's just a data point. I have no idea how they really compare, or which one is in "worse" shape. As a DC resident, I know the impending metro shutdown is going to be a disaster.
I wonder how that backlog is allocated: e.g., how BART's backlog compares to NYC, Boston, and DC.
DC and BART are about the same age (1972 vs. 1976), but DC has 68% more riders[1] and an operating budget that's almost double[2]. (So, yes, WMATA also spends more per rider.)
Everyone's hurting for investment in general.
[1] Weekday Daily Ridership from Wikipedia: 423,120 (BART) vs. 712,843 (WMATA). [2] FY16 Annual Operating Budgets: $900k (BART) vs. $1.8B (WMATA)