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Portland is a PR machine for light rail & streetcar

Here are Some Facts About Portland Oregon          

“It must always be remembered how cost-effectiveness works in the public sector: the cost IS the benefit.” - author unknown




Annual cost of owning a car* for various household income levels

data from: Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2010- www.bls.gov/cex/2010/share/income.pdf


Household income   

All

$5-9,999

$10-14,999

$15-19,999

$20-29,999

$30- 39,999

$40-49,999

$50-69,999

$70,000 up

Avg. Annual Expenditures

$48109

$18297

$19909

$24935

$29158

$35556

$40616

$47966

$80708

All transportation

16.0%

12.6%

13.1%

15.3%

16.7%

17.5%

17.5%

16.2%

15.7%

Vehicle purchase

5.5%

2.5%

2.6%

3.5%

5.4%

6.0%

5.6%

5.0%

5.8%

Public transportation

1.0%

.8%

.6%

.7%

.8%

.8%

.7%

.8%

1.3%

vehicles per household

1.9

.8

.9

1.2

1.5

1.7

2.0

2.2

2.7











Calculate (see below for details)


Transport Without transit(1)

15.0%

11.8%

12.5%

14.6%

15.9%

16.7%

16.8%

15.4

14.4%

Total transportation $(2)

$7216

$2159

$2489

$3640

$4636

$5,938

$6823

$7387

$11622

Total for one car(3)

$3798

$2698

$2765

$3034

$3090

$3492

$3412

$3358

$4304

Purchase expenditure all cars $(4)

$2646

$457

$518

$872

$1574

$2133

$2275

$2398

$4681

Purchase expenditure One car$(5)

$1393

$571

$576

$726

$1049

$1255

$1137

$1090

$1734

Operate one car (no purchase)(6)

$2405

$2127

$2189

$2308

$2040

$2237

$2275

$2268

$2570

Purchase + Operate one car (5+6)

$3798

$2698

$2765

$3034

$3089

$3492

$3412

$3358

$4304

Purchase + Operate one car /month

$317

$225

$230

$252

$257

$291

$284

$280

$359











Cost to own & operate ONE car for average incomes from $5000 to $69.999

Average cost of car (7): $3121  ($260/month)


Average cost per mile of car (8): 27.6 cents per vehicle-mile

Average cost per passenger-mile of car (9): 16.5 cents per passenger-mile


Incremental cost to operate already owned car for average incomes from $5000 to $69.999

Average cost to operate ONLY one car (10): $2206  ($189/month)


Average cost to operate ONLY per mile of car (11): 19.5  cents per vehicle-mile

Average cost per passenger-mile of car (12): 11.7 cents per passenger-mile


Details of the above Calculations

1:

Transport Without  transit %


Transportation  percent- Public Transit percent

2:

Total household transportation expense $


Without transit percent x Avg. Annual Expenditures

3:

For one car $


Transportation expense divided by number of cars

4:

Purchase expenditure all cars$


purchase percent x Avg. Annual Expenditures

5:

Purchase expenditure One car$


Purchase expenditure all cars divided by number of cars

6:

Operate one car (no purchase)


Average cost of car -  Purchase expenditure One car

7:

For one car, average of incomes $5000-$69.999


Sum $5000 to $69,999 income columns divided by 7

8:

Cost per mile (based on 11,300 miles;

TRANSPORTATION ENERGY DATA BOOK: EDITION 30—2011, table  8.9)


Average cost of one car divided by 11,300 miles

9:

Cost per passenger-mile (based on 1.67 passengers/vehicle)


Cost per Vehicle-mile divided by 1.67

10:

Average cost to operate ONLY one car


Sum of Operate cars for $5000 to $69,999 income columns divided by 7

11:

Average cost to operate ONLY per mile of car


Average cost of one car divided by 11,300 miles

12:

Average cost per passenger-mile of car


Cost per Vehicle-mile divided by 1.67

Actual Cost of Owning a Car  from Bureau of Labor Statistics

Cost to own & operate ONE car for average incomes from $5000 to $69.999

Average annual cost of a car:


$3121  ($260/month)

Average cost of a car per mile:


27.6 cents per vehicle-mile

Average cost of a car per passenger-mile:


16.5 cents per passenger-mile




Incremental cost to operate already owned car for average incomes from $5000 to $69.999

Average cost to operate a car:


$2206  ($189/month)

Average cost to operate a car per mile:


19.5  cents per vehicle-mile

Average cost to operate a car per passenger-mile:


11.7 cents per passenger-mile

For comparison here is the frequently cited AAA cost (it is based on new cars, not average cars)

Data & Calculations to support the above conclusions

* The BLS data lumps all household vehicles into one category under transportation. Public transportation is listed separately, but no distinction is made between vehicle types such as car, van, sport utility, pickup, other trucks and motorcycles. For simplicity we just call them cars, which is probably an accurate reflection of all personal vehicle travel.