FTA study: Rail, bus systems need $77.7B in repairs

WASHINGTON — A Federal Transit Administration (FTA) study estimates the cost of bringing the nation’s rail and bus transit systems into a state of good repair at $77.7 billion.

In addition, a yearly average of $14.4 billion would be required to maintain the systems.

FTA’s National State of Good Repair Assessment Study, requested by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood as a follow-up to the 2009 Rail Modernization Study report to Congress, provides a comprehensive analysis of the costs required to bring the nation’s rail and bus transit systems into good operating order. The 2010 study is based on data provided by 36 additional rail and bus operators in both rural and urban areas.

While most of the $77.7-billion backlog can be attributed to rail, more than 40 percent of the nation’s buses are also in poor to marginal condition.