Efficiency analysis of public transport systems: Lessons for institutional planning

The transport system of the Recife Metropolitan Area is under change. As a subsidy to its change an efficiency analysis is done with the purpose of highlighting characteristics of the efficient systems. Twelve transport system from several countries in Europe and seven from Brazil are analyzed: nine from Europe and only one from Brazil were found efficient. These system are characterized by very different power structure and tariff structure. Efficient ones adopted a more democratic power partition among communalities and established a more broad system of tariffs. Among other lessons it is suggested that RMR adopts a structure that allows a more equal partition of the several municipalities comprising the Metro Area including representatives of users groups like workers associations and syndicates. Also it should adopt a more flexible tariff systems giving advantages to usual users at the same time that decreases costs and improves the operational efficiency.