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Start making people who brings kids/babies/infants on the train pay their fair share. Even if it's 1/4 the price of a regular fair, babies and children take up room and resources. Just throwing it out there as an alternate source of revenue. It's very unfair to those of us that choose not to breed and have to share the morning subway commutes these days with people bringing their 2000 dollar strollers on the train hogging up all that space. If you can afford to raise kids in the city, you can afford to pay their fares. "child fares" make it like 50 cents?
Actually, it's the transit riders who are doing the pocket picking. They're getting a ride a well below the cost of that ride being provided.
The MTA should just bite the bullet and raise fares so that they cover at least 100% of operating costs, and at least some of the capital costs.
Bingo. Everyone wants a handout... How about raising to 120% of costs so we can actually pay for new transit improvements and investments, like what was done before the government got involved in the business.
Bingo. Everyone wants a handout... How about raising to 120% of costs so we can actually pay for new transit improvements and investments, like what was done before the government got involved in the business.
And how many people would actually use the system?
And how many people would actually use the system?
Well it would solve overcrowding issues. The MTA kept prices on the trains low for so long that it led to deferred maintenance and by the 80s the system was literally falling apart. Maintaining the system costs money, and it has to be paid either via fares or taxes on everyone else. Either way there is no free lunch. Keeping fares low means that the state levies taxes on things such as real estate (this leads to higher rents and the higher cost of good and services) and on gasoline (everything delivered goes up because trucks are paying more due to the gasoline tax).
Actually, it's the transit riders who are doing the pocket picking. They're getting a ride a well below the cost of that ride being provided.
The MTA should just bite the bullet and raise fares so that they cover at least 100% of operating costs, and at least some of the capital costs.
Never fear, with price increases every two years the MTA will get there. The MTA should also maximize leasing out it's real estate portfolio. In recent years they've gotten better at renting out space in their stations. This needs to dramatically increase.
The MTA gets income from Hudson Yards. Sunnyside yards should similarly be decked over and developed.
Well it would solve overcrowding issues. The MTA kept prices on the trains low for so long that it led to deferred maintenance and by the 80s the system was literally falling apart. Maintaining the system costs money, and it has to be paid either via fares or taxes on everyone else. Either way there is no free lunch. Keeping fares low means that the state levies taxes on things such as real estate (this leads to higher rents and the higher cost of good and services) and on gasoline (everything delivered goes up because trucks are paying more due to the gasoline tax).
People are still driving even with the low fares. I think raising the fares as high as some are calling for would mean even more congestion.
Given the fact that the system is running at or over capacity at peak times, there is no need to give people incentives to use the system. In point of fact, there's really no alternative to using the system. Given traffic and parking costs, no one is going to trade transit for driving, even at higher fares. What will happen is that people who can't afford it will be squeezed out of the city. This would be a good thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pierrepont7731
And what good would that do? The idea is to give people an incentive to
actually use the system.
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