Papers by Frederick Salvucci
Transportation Research Record, 2016
This paper describes analysis of whether the public transit sector suffers from Baumol's cost dis... more This paper describes analysis of whether the public transit sector suffers from Baumol's cost disease. The evolution of labor productivity and average labor costs across transit agencies in the United States was assessed compared with other industries. It was found that (a) labor productivity in the transit sector was mostly stagnant over the period 1997 to 2013, more so in bus operations than in rail operations (0.0% and 0.7% average labor productivity growth rates, respectively), and even more so when output was measured as vehicle revenue miles rather than as passenger miles traveled; (b) the transit sector was highly labor-intensive, because it represented on average 64% of total costs (operating and capital) for bus and 40% for rail; (c) compensation per employee rose at a faster pace than inflation in 85% of the agencies analyzed; and (d) compensation per employee rose at a faster pace than the average local wage rate in 65% of the agencies analyzed. These findings support the hypothesis that not only does the transit sector suffer from Baumol's cost disease but also that additional factors contribute to spiraling labor costs. Although no antidote to the disease is clear, policy makers should recognize that, as the economy becomes more productive overall, it can continue to support growing levels of transit service in recognition of the growing external benefits, despite the sector's inherently stagnant productivity growth.
Transportation Research Board 96th Annual MeetingTransportation Research Board, 2017
This report is the sixth in a series produced for the FTA and the FHWA by the Volpe National Tran... more This report is the sixth in a series produced for the FTA and the FHWA by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (VNTSC), Research and Special Programs Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. It presents a formal, comprehensive review of the planning process in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Twin Cities metropolitan area that was conducted by the FHWA and FTA Headquarters and regional staffs (Appendix 1), with input from state, regional, and local transportation entities. The purpose of the review is to allow the FHWA and FTA to determine how successfully the Urban Transportation Planning Process (UTPP) addresses broadly defined regional transportation needs, and whether the planning process meets the criteria established by the Federal planning requirements. Another purpose of the review is to assess the ability of the existing planning process to address the broader responsibilities described under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the reauthorization of the surface transportation legislation, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA).
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the in... more This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for itscontents or use thereof.
Transportation Research Record, 1983
This research is part of an interconnected series of research products about the complexity of ec... more This research is part of an interconnected series of research products about the complexity of economic development, land use densification, and mode share change in the Cambridge area which is undergoing rapid transformation and growth in a context of capacity constraints in affordable housing, transit capacity, roadway capacity, and parking availability. The series of research projects is called the Massachusetts Avenue Living Laboratory. This research project has resulted in added insights into the unique high tech development cluster now underway in Kendall Square Cambridge, and the Seaport Innovation District in Boston, as well as the Inner Belt development district in Somerville, providing input into the ongoing revision of zoning requirements in the cities involved.
Transportation Research Record, 2017
Transportation Research Part D-transport and Environment, Aug 1, 2021
Abstract Sea level rise (SLR) poses increasing flood risks to coastal cities and infrastructure. ... more Abstract Sea level rise (SLR) poses increasing flood risks to coastal cities and infrastructure. We propose a general framework of engineering resilience for infrastructure systems in the context of climate change and illustrate its application for the assessment of SLR impacts on the rail rapid transit network in Boston. Within this framework, projected coastal flood events are treated as exogenous exposure events, which interact with both physical and topological endogenous network characteristics. We consider contextual aspects of resilience by assigning relative importance to links based on passenger flows. Resilience is computed assuming a linear recovery model, neglecting recovery strategies. Using a reference 1–100 year coastal flood event we show decreasing resilience of the rail transit network as projected SLR increases. The proposed framework can be readily extended to consider more sophisticated performance models, recovery strategies, other perturbation events, and additional contextual factors, such as equity considerations.
This research is part of an interconnected series of research products about the complexity of ec... more This research is part of an interconnected series of research products about the complexity of economic development, land use densification, and mode share change in the Cambridge area which is undergoing rapid transformation and growth in a context of capacity constraints in affordable housing, transit capacity, roadway capacity, and parking availability. The series of research projects is called the Massachusetts Avenue Living Laboratory. This research project has resulted in added insights into the unique high tech development cluster now underway in Kendall Square Cambridge, and the Seaport Innovation District in Boston, as well as the Inner Belt development district in Somerville, providing input into the ongoing revision of zoning requirements in the cities involved.
Transportation Research Record, 2001
A model is presented that describes the life of large transportation projects. The model has six ... more A model is presented that describes the life of large transportation projects. The model has six stages, each one devoted to a different part in the life of the project: prehistory of the project, project development, procurement, implementation, operations and maintenance, and long-range impacts and economic restructuring. This six-stage model should help planners and project promoters go through the task of developing and implementing large transportation projects. The model describes the different issues in each stage and embedded in the discussion are ways for addressing them. The political, institutional, as well as technical aspects are addressed, and they are linked to show how they affect the evolution of the project. The analysis presented in the six-stage model can be inter preted as a call for planners and project promoters to acknowledge that large transportation projects are very complex and that planning and implementing them requires planners and promoters to behave in a strategic way that includes intertwining technical and political issues.
Competitive contracting is becoming increasingly popular around the world by transit operators. T... more Competitive contracting is becoming increasingly popular around the world by transit operators. The need to produce more service with fewer resources is making competitive contracting an attractive and realistic option. There is growing interest in the United States among transit operators in privatization, even though the progress of competitive contracting has been slow and uneven. This paper identifies some of the obstacles and then outlines strategies that may allow transit authorities to show the benefits of competitive procurement for operations. Fundamentals required when designing competitive contracting process are also discussed.
This report, the fifth in a series, presents the formal, comprehensive review of the planning pro... more This report, the fifth in a series, presents the formal, comprehensive review of the planning process in the Houston metropolitan area conducted by the FHWA and FTA headquarters and regional staff, with input from state, regional and local transportation agencies. The purpose of the review was to allow the FHWA and the FTA to determine how successfully the urban transportation planning process (UTPP) addresses regional transportation needs, and whether the planning process meets the requirements of the joint planning regulations. Another purpose of this review is to assess the ability of the existing planning process to address broader concerns described in the guidelines implementing the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the re-authorization of the surface transportation legislation, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. This report is an evaluation of transportation planning in the Houston metropolitan area. It summarizes the results of the review and includes a series of suggestions. Based on requirements in effect prior to ISTEA, the MPO conducts a competently managed and organized continuing cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) planning process, adequate planning products, and uses acceptable planning tools.
This three-part report represents an effort by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to pro... more This three-part report represents an effort by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide technical assistance to State and local governments in preparing energy contingency plans to respond to future energy shortages. These strategies are particularly focused on transit, paratransit, and ridesharing (TPR) services. The report provides guidance to those involved in the planning and implementation of TPR initiatives. This study also provides insight and recommendations on how to approach contingency planning. This report, Part 1, describes the organizational process that will help State, regional, and local officials develop a basic component of energy contingency plans; namely, the preparation of various transportation options. The report seeks to provide perspective on the overall transportation contingency process.
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Papers by Frederick Salvucci