Estimation and assessment of cost allocation models for main transit systems operating in Cairo

This paper reviews the main characteristics of the provision of urban trans it systems in Cairo, namely buses, minibuses, river buses, trams and surfac e metros, all being currently operated by Cairo Transport Authority (CTA). It presents some generic types of indicators to compare and assess the perf ormance of the five main urban transit systems provided by CTA. The CTA bud get plan for the Financial Year 96/97 is reviewed. The absence of any form of cost modelling as an integral part of CTA budget plans is identified. He re, an attempt is made to develop cost models for the main urban transit sy stems operated by CTA. Four generic approaches for estimating cost models f or transit services are comparatively reviewed, namely the causal factor, c ost allocation, regression and temporal variation methods. Cost allocation methods are particularly applied in this research to estimate different cos t models for the main transit systems operated by CTA. These models are mea nt to assist in predicting and showing the relative magnitude of expected c hanges in various cost categories, resulting from systems/services expansio n or down-sizing for the transit modes operated by CTA. The development of such models is thought to contribute in raising the cost consciousness in C TA with the ultimate benefit of maximizing system efficiency.