Low Capital Cost

Costs estimates for PRT construction range from seven to tem million dollars per one-way mile of guideway including stations and vehicles. This compares favorably to light rail (40 million/mile) and new roadways (10-30 million/mile).

Low Operating Costs

Estimates place the operating cost of PRT at 15 cents/vehicle-mile or less. Compared to over 50 cents/passenger-mile for busses or 40 cents/passenger-mile for light rail, a PRT system will require less public subsidy per rider and under many circumstances could be operated at a profit.

Low operating costs are primarily due to not needing to pay a driver, which accounts for about 70% of the operating costs of a transit bus.

Little Taxable Land Used

With small, elevated guideways and very small stations, a PRT system requires far less valuable urban real estate be used for the system than either expanded roads or rail systems. Less land removed from local tax rolls means higher tax revenues or lower tax rates to generate the same revenues.