Particularly for Sam: My estimates are reallly guesses. The 120,000/day figure is not a guess or estimate but is from the article. I also realize my estimated costs for JLRT construction is for what the rail infrastructure and equipment cost. |n addition, the City paid for the Cavatrava Bridge of Strings, for new roadways, moving or demolitioning certain builldings, replanting trees, etc. And utility relocatioh. These measures probablly doubled or tripled the overall total cost. But how much of this should be charge dto JRLT and how much to general welfare is also a good question. Jeerusalem's main street, Jaffa Road, looked pretty decrepit and like the street in a 3rd Wold County. Now it is beautiful.
Of course the number of bus passengers is greater than the light rail, because there are some 55 bus routes that serve Jerusalem ad its suburbs mainllly for commuters. Proabablly a majority of trips to not concern work or study in the CBD. There are many educational institutions and places of employment outside the CBD. My dailly commute does not involve JRLT, onlly buses and walking. Except for crossig the tracks, with the 68 bus crossing ithem three times because of the layout of a transfer station. But anytime I go downtown I use the JLRT.
Headways on Egged Jeerusalem bus lines vary from 6 to 30 minutes during rush hour, most 20 to 20. On JLRT 5 or 6 minutes. The 48 bus serving our Yeshiva has only 11 trips each day, and walking is the substitute. When the time of the 48 isn't conveniet, if I want to go directly downtown from the Yeshiva I use the 75 Arab bus to Damascus Gate and then the Light Rail. The 75 Arab bus usually has a ten minte headway. I do no know the total Arab bus ridership, but I would guess about 350,000 each day.
According to the article, the line is starting to show a profit. In other words, investors are staring to get some income plus the city is being paid back for its share of construction costs. I woiuld estimate the total cost ran around 79 milllion dollars. But that is an estmate. Bus travel has picked up because of traansfer to light rail and parking lots are well used. The maximum estimated weekday travel was only 70,000, so the system is doing much bettert han predicted, but costs are also greater.
The system does not run on the Jewish Sabbath, shuts down Friday afternoon and opens again after Sundown on Saturday. Also the major Jewish holidays. This is also true of the local Egged buses, but not true of the Arab bus system.
you aare correct that kost riders are counted for two journeys each day. Thosse of us with monthllly passes can use the system as a horizontal elevator for shopping, entertainmet, and food in the downtown area.
daveklepper Up to 120,000 journeys average each weekday. Jerusalem Post, this past Friday
Up to 120,000 journeys average each weekday. Jerusalem Post, this past Friday
What was the cost of the Jerusalem Light Rail System? How much is the annual operating cost? What percentage of the total cost is recovered through the farebox?
Would most of the 120,000 average weekday journeys be one person making two trips, i.e. to work in the morning and to home after work?
What is the average weekend usage?
It was in the Friday Jerusalem Magazine section and may nnoit have been inclluded in the Overseas Edition. I have scanned it and if you contact me at daveklepper@YAHOO.COM, i WILL ATACH IT TO THE REPLY.
I suspect Egged has about 400,000 per day for Jerusalem and suburbs, and I would guess that 60 or 70% of JLR riders also use Egged. I would guess about 1,800,000 for Egged nationally, and double that for all non-charter regular buses, including Dan, Superbus, Connex.
I couldn't find your article in the Jerusalem Post, Dave. I did find another interesting article about the experience of an American visitor learning to use it. The Newark Light Rail is less crowded; you never have a problem getting on. Other than that the problems are similar: A confusing ticketing process until you learn it. Here is a link to the article I found:
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-Ed-Contributors/The-Jerusalem-Light-Rail-and-me
PS. In some ways Israelis seem to be like Americans. There are a lot of fare beaters.
John
Joe Staten Island West
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