How much will it cost to operate the Red Line?
In general, operating expenses for transit systems include the salaries of vehicle operators (drivers) and supervisors; maintenance of the vehicles (shops and mechanics); maintenance of the guideway (track and power systems); utility bills for vehicles and stations, and cleaning of vehicles and stations. The specific costs to operate the Red Line would depend on the length of the final alignment selected and the operating speeds of the line. The faster the system operates the fewer number of trains or buses would be required to operate the same level of service. A slow system costs more to operate and attracts fewer passengers. Based on the alternatives considered to date, the estimated operating cost for the Red Line ranges from $17 million to $31 million per year. This compares to the existing operating costs of about $37 million per year for the Light Rail and $44 million for the Metro subway.
