Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Events

Seminar: Transit Regulation and Privatization: The European Experience

A Rudin Center Visiting Scholar Seminar by Dr. Matthew G. Karlaftis, National Technical University of Athens

The past few decades have seen transit patronage decrease in all Western countries, including Europe and the United States, lagging far behind the substantial growth in mobility that has occurred during the same period. This is in part due to rising levels of real income and the decreasing relative costs of private travel. As well as, large budgetary deficits faced by many countries in recent years necessitating fiscal constraints that have led to a significant reduction in transit subsidization. In an effort to address operational shortcomings and reduce operating deficits, and increase productivity the public transit sector has been moving - in many European countries - away from public ownership and operation and towards private sector participation.

In this presentation, Dr. Karlaftis will discuss three parameters in the transit privatization debate:

    • Financial constraints, including budget cuts for transit subsidies, justification for subsidization, and possible solutions.
    • Empirical findings from 38 European transit systems over a 15 year period on whether privatization improves transit efficiency.
    • Other factors influencing privatization's effects on efficiency, including market structure and competition, and contract development and tendering systems.

Matthew G. Karlaftis, Ph.D. is Associate Professor in the Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering of the School of Civil Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece, in the field of Transportation Systems and Public Transportation. He has civil engineering diplomas from the University of Miami (1993 and 1994) an MS in applied mathematics (1994) from the University of Miami and a Ph.D. (1996) in Civil Engineering from Purdue University.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New Yorkers Threaten Legal Action If Eric Adams Makes Bedford Ave. Less Safe for Cyclists

Brooklyn cyclists pledged to sue the city if they are killed or injured on Bedford Avenue after Mayor Adams makes it less safe.

July 15, 2025

E-Bike Fans and Foes Agree: Adams’s 15 MPH Speed Limit Won’t Make Streets Safer

A public hearing about the mayor's proposed speed limit devolved into a debate about e-bike licensing, naturally.

July 15, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Wet Wet Wet Edition

New York City experienced its second rainiest hour in history. Plus more news.

July 15, 2025

Civic Panel Dings Adams For Cutting Bike and Bus Lanes Out of Fifth Av. Redesign

Mayor Adams's scaled down redesign of Fifth Avenue isn't a "real solution" to safety issues on the packed retail corridor, Manhattan Community Board 5 said.

July 14, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: E-Bike Regulations Edition

Monday is a big day for the future of e-bikes in the Big Apple. Plus more news.

July 14, 2025
See all posts