M1EK's Bake-Sale of Bile

Mr. Cortez asked me to adjust Metrorail for the relatively low capital outlay.

Well, here is a comparison of data with the Hiawatha (now Blue) Line in Minneapolis - this is relevant to me as I visit the Twin Cities fairly often. To me - both as a user and as an amateur analyst - the winner here is obvious.

Blue Line

Capital cost to state/local: $291m (1)

Boardings/day: 31,400 in 2010 (peak was 35,500 in Summer 2008) (1, 2)

Operating loss/rider: $1.45 (3)

MetroRail

Capital cost to state/local: "$120-200m" according to Ben Wear (4)

Boardings/day: 1700-1800 (4)

Operating loss/rider: $33.25 (5)

Sources:
1. http://www.startribune.com/local/west/123722719.html

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiawatha_Line

3. http://hizeph400.blogspot.com/2011/07/lets-eliminate-transfers-or-1-fare-plan.html

4. http://www.austin360.com/this-is-austin/traffic-may-be-bad-but-austin-increasing-other-1632896.html?printArticle=y

5. http://www.dahmus.org/blogimg/2011redlineopsubsidies1.png