T fare going up (Boston, Cambridge: insuring, buying, depreciation)

[G-fused]

Well, looks like MBTA fares are going up July 1st. I ride the T almost every day, 2x/day.

Although my link pass is subsidized by my employer, I still feel like the cost is too high already for what I use it for. Maybe I should move at the farthest end of a subway line and then I'll feel like I am getting more value. And those commuter rail costs...holy mother of mercy!

Do you think the Fare is fair?

[robr2]

It all depends on your perspective. My wife takes the commuter rail everyday. Her pass is $222 a month but she pays less as her company subsidizes it. She spends appx. 1.5 hours a day commuting. If she were to drive into Boston everyday, parking would run at least $100 a week, spend much more on fuel, and she would spend close to 2 hours a day commuting. For her, it's a no brainer.

[timberline742]

I think they should have raised it more and put the money into the system. It should be at least on part with SF which has like 5 train stops in the entire city, and Chicago which has an equivalent system (though I found the MBTA buses to be a bit more reliable).

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by timberline742

I think they should have raised it more and put the money into the system. It should be at least on part with SF which has like 5 train stops in the entire city, and Chicago which has an equivalent system (though I found the MBTA buses to be a bit more reliable).

Agreed. Many will argue that the MBTA is adding further financial burden to users who are already heavily burdened, but at some point the MBTA needs to operate more like a free market business. Compared to an Uber ride or buying, registering, insuring, operating, and maintaining a vehicle ... it's a screaming deal and should command more $$$.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

Agreed. Many will argue that the MBTA is adding further financial burden to users who are already heavily burdened, but at some point the MBTA needs to operate more like a free market business. Compared to an Uber ride or buying, registering, insuring, operating, and maintaining a vehicle ... it's a screaming deal and should command more $$$.

My zone 4 pass is going up to $263/month plus $4/day for parking. It's a rip off at that price.

Thankfully my employer pays half of the pass but still that's over $2,400/year to commute. At a certain point they will just bleed the ridership dry and force people to carpool.

[Cantabridgienne]

As I recall, it was either raise the fare or eliminate certain bus routes/commuter rail frequency. Neither are great choices, but I'll take the fare hike if they are the only options.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

As I recall, it was either raise the fare or eliminate certain bus routes/commuter rail frequency. Neither are great choices, but I'll take the fare hike if they are the only options.

Commuter rail frequency is a joke as it is. If they cut it anymore they won't have any riders left.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by Dm84

My zone 4 pass is going up to $263/month plus $4/day for parking. It's a rip off at that price.

Thankfully my employer pays half of the pass but still that's over $2,400/year to commute. At a certain point they will just bleed the ridership dry and force people to carpool.

A rip off compared to what? A rip off implies you can get equal services for less elsewhere. I'm not seeing how this is possible without a ride share scenario.

I'm going to assume, based on the zone 4 comment, your commute is roughly 23 miles one way. If you assume 49 working weeks, that's ~11,300 miles a year. Assuming a generous 30mpg average and gas prices in the low $2.XX range, that's ~$900 just in gas. Add vehicle depreciation, tolls (if any), Boston parking, and time lost (for those grinding out creative contractor jobs). I'm not sure you'll come out ahead.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

A rip off compared to what? A rip off implies you can get equal services for less elsewhere. I'm not seeing how this is possible without a ride share scenario.

I'm going to assume, based on the zone 4 comment, your commute is roughly 23 miles one way. If you assume 49 working weeks, that's ~11,300 miles a year. Assuming a generous 30mpg average and gas prices in the low $2.XX range, that's ~$900 just in gas. Add vehicle depreciation, tolls (if any), Boston parking, and time lost (for those grinding out creative contractor jobs). I'm not sure you'll come out ahead.

I've done the drive (work in Cambridge). It takes about the same amount of time as the commuter rail and I wouldn't be beholden to a horrible schedule and completely random delays that happen way to frequently.

For sure driving wouldn't be a picnic and probably wouldn't save much money but driving would give me a bit more flexibility than I currently have.

My biggest issue is every fare increase results in worse service.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by Shrewsburried

Agreed. Many will argue that the MBTA is adding further financial burden to users who are already heavily burdened, but at some point the MBTA needs to operate more like a free market business. Compared to an Uber ride or buying, registering, insuring, operating, and maintaining a vehicle ... it's a screaming deal and should command more $$$.

I don't think public transportation should be a free market business. It is a public good and it benefits even those who don't use it, as it eases the traffic burden. It's also always nice to have the public transportation system available, even as a backup. I've lived in places with no public transportation, and it is awful. We need much more public transit in this country.

I think the fare increase is fair. There is a cost to operating the system