As Washington cities consider whether light rail is right for them, this study on the performance of the six existing systems on the West Coast provides factual, real life examples of what taxpayers could expect here. Policymakers and the public should consider whether diverting transportation taxes away from other programs and services is worth the opportunity costs. Based on the data, this analysis concludes that it is not.

Often, public agencies try to estimate, with little success, how such a system in Washington would perform. Through unrealistic modeling and ambitious assumptions, they typically underestimate operating and capital costs, and overestimate revenue and passenger demand.

This is especially true with light rail systems.

For example, in 1996, Sound Transit officials in the Seattle area promised its first light rail segment would be completed by 2006 and would cost about $5 billion. Today, Sound Transit says the total cost is about $15 billion and the segment will not be finished until around 2020.

Analyzing the performance of existing light rail systems sidesteps these guesses and offers a factual picture.

Read More: The Facts on Light Rail