Cross-Town Bus Routes as a Solution for Decentralized Travel: a Cost-Benefit Analysis for Monterrey, Mexico.

An urban transportation planning simulation model is used to analyze the viability and sustainability of 16 cross-town routes introduced in Monterrey, Mexico to accommodate the increasing decentralized employment and travel patterns. The model shows that the new route reform results in net time and monetary savings for travelers during the morning peak hour, most of which accrues to cross-town bus users. One of the main attractive features of the route reform is the negligible cost associated with its implementation. No new investment in buses has been made as some buses were withdrawn from the radial routes and redeployed to the cross-town ones. As a result of the route reform, radial route users face slightly longer trip times; automobile users were not affected in any significant way and bus operators stand to lose due to the elimination of full-cost-transfers. The net welfare gain indicates that losers can be compensated, if necessary.