In This Section

Elements of Urbanaut^® Project Costs

Cost of Type I Single Elevated Guideway

Example of Cost of Type I Guideway

Cost of Type II Dual Elevated Guideway

Cost of Type III Single Guideway at Surface

Variable Cost Items

Comparison of Cost with Other Systems (Link)

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Cost of any monorail project is quite involved and varies with the location, the geography and the route layout of the monorail guideway, along with the station location and sizes, service and maintenance facilities, switching and total environmental impact on the community. Urbanaut^®has the flexibility to integrate future expansion or deletion, which could reduce planning and construction cost.

The graphical cost illustration shown in Elements of an Urbanaut^®Elevated Monorail Project below is specific to the Urbanaut^® technology. While the "Cost Of Depot" is a relatively small item for the Urbanaut^®, it is large for the straddle-beam type monorails, which require a very large land area with complicated equipment to move the inseparable massive beam ways with the trains on top.

Elements of an Urbanaut^® Elevated Monorail Project

Relative Cost of Each Element

The "Core System" for the Urbanaut^® represents close to 85% of the total project and costs. It embraces:

1.                            The Civil Works (Elevated Guideway)

2.                            The Rolling Stock (Vehicles)

3.                            Signaling (Automatic Control)

The "Fixed E&M" (Electrical & Mechanical) integrates and overlaps with the Civil Works

The "Movable" (Rolling Stock) includes operational trains and vehicles

Cost Estimate Guidelines for 3 Types
 of urbanaut^® Guideways

The following three cost estimate guidelines for an Elevated Single Guideway, Double Guideway and Guideway at Surface are based upon experience on monorail technology by a number of consultants and contractors. A list of variable costs that may apply to any installation is also provided.   

URBANAUT^® INTERMEDIATE SIZE SYSTEM                TYPE I
APPROXIMATE COST ESTIMATE PER MILE (1.6 KM)
OF SINGLE ELEVATED GUIDEWAY
(For USA and Canada)

Fixed Costs:

A.  Elevated Guideway, Including Foundations                                   42%    =    $ 6.30  Mill
B.  Passenger Loading / Unloading Facilities (2 Stations)                10%    =    $ 1.50  Mill
C.  Maintenance Yards & Operational Control Facility                          7%    =    $ 1.05 Mill
D.  Electrical Power, Signals, and Moving Block Control                     6%    =    $ 0.90 Mill
E.  Rolling Stock (3 Single Vehicles or 3 Car Train)                             25%    =    $ 3.75 Mill
F.  Fees & Contingencies of A, B, C, & D                                                10%    =    $ 1.50 Mill
Total cost of INTERMEDIATE SIZE PER MILE (1.6 km)                     100%    =  $ 15.00 Mill

 EXAMPLE OF COST
For 5 Km (3.13 Miles) Urbanaut^® Elevated Single Guideway

 Variable cost items to be determined after a preliminary study of the project.

URBANAUT^® INTERMEDIATE SIZE SYSTEM                TYPE II
APPROXIMATE COST ESTIMATE PER MILE (1.6 KM)
OF DUAL ELEVATED GUIDEWAY
(For USA and Canada)

Fixed Costs:

A.  Elevated Guideway, Including Foundations                       41.8%    =   $11.70 Mill

B.  Passenger Loading / Unloading Facilities (2 Stations)               8.5%    =     $2.40 Mill

C.  Maintenance Yards & Operational Control Facility                     7.2%    =     $2.00 Mill

D.  Electrical Power, Signals, and Moving Block Control                7.2%    =     $2.00 Mill

E.  Rolling Stock (3 Single Vehicles or 3 Car Train)                        26.8%    =     $7.50 Mill

F.  Fees & Contingencies of A, B, C, & D                                            8.5%    =     $2.40 Mill

Total cost of INTERMEDIATE SIZE PER MILE (1.6 km)                    100%    =   $28.0 Mill

URBANAUT^® INTERMEDIATE SIZE SYSTEM                TYPE III
APPROXIMATE COST ESTIMATE PER MILE (1.6 KM)
OF SINGLE GUIDEWAY AT SURFACE
(For USA and Canada)

Fixed Costs:

            A.  Excavation, drainage, sub-ballast, foundation'         22%    =     $2.00 Mill
                  slab, guide rail

B.  Passenger Loading / Unloading Facilities (2 Stations)      4%    =     $0.40 Mill

C.  Maintenance Yards & Operational Control Facility          12%    =     $1.05 Mill

D.  Electrical Power, Signals, and Moving Block Control     10%    =     $0.90 Mill

E.  Rolling Stock (3 Single Vehicles or 3 Car Train)               42%    =     $3.75 Mill

F.  Fees & Contingencies of A, B, C, & D                                 10%    =     $0.90 Mill

Total cost of INTERMEDIATE SIZE PER MILE (1.6 km)      100%    =     $9.00 Mill

URBANAUT^® INTERMEDIATE SIZE SYSTEM

Variable Cost Items Not Included in Cost Estimates for Types 1,2 and 3

1. Land acquisition (if necessary public right-of-way not available)

2. Improvements such as relocation of underground and aerial utilities

3. Aerial right-of-way and underground expropriation

4. Parking lots, park-ride facilities

5. Stations built into existing facilities (buildings)

6. Foundations for poor soil conditions and unforeseen underground conditions

7. Special elevated structures that deviate from standard prefabricated designs

8. Legal fees and feasibility studies

9. Unexpected delays and obstructions encountered

10. Financing, interest and loan costs

11. Mobilization costs (Contracts for Design, Engineering, Built proposal)

FOR COMPARISON OF COSTS WITH OTHER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, SEE COMPARISON (LINK)