State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State College Digital Commons at Buffalo State Applied Economics Theses Economics and Finance 12-2020 Cost-Benefit Analysis of Constructing and Operating a Streetcar System in Buffalo, NY Daniel Kevin Zielinski State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State College,
[email protected] Advisor Bruce Fisher, Ph.D. First Reader Bruce Fisher, Ph.D. Second Reader Frederick Floss, Ph.D. Third Reader Nicole Hunter, Ph.D. Department Chair Frederick Floss, Ph.D. To learn more about the Economics and Finance Department and its educational programs, research, and resources, go to https://economics.buffalostate.edu/. Recommended Citation Zielinski, Daniel Kevin, "Cost-Benefit Analysis of Constructing and Operating a Streetcar System in Buffalo, NY" (2020). Applied Economics Theses. 43. https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/economics_theses/43 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/economics_theses Cost-Benefit Analysis of Constructing And Operating a Streetcar System in Buffalo, NY Daniel Zielinski An Abstract of a Thesis in Applied Economics Submitted in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts DecemberAugust 2020 Buffalo State College State University of New York Department of Economics and Finance i. Abstract In about 30 of the largest 300 US metro areas, fixed-rail electric streetcars have been reintroduced or refurbished after 75 years of policy favoring petroleum-powered buses. Unlike buses, new streetcar systems are designed to enhance or regenerate economic activity along their routes in urban centers that lack the population density to support subway systems. This paper assesses the criteria utilized by the US Department of Transportation in its decision-making process for supporting streetcar projects.