Photo from Jack M. Turner at trainweb.org
As reported on CNN.COM, mass transit ridership is up, especially in the more transit-averse areas of the country (Seattle - 15%, Miami - 13%, even in Dallas and Denver). According to the video, ten billion trips were taken on mass transit in this country in the 2007 calendar year. There is no surprise that this current increase being discussed has much to do with the recent and steady climb of gas to the over-$4-per-gallon mark. However, there is something else at work here methinks, and it’s that something I suspect has transit budgets being cut (or fares being raised) nationwide.
You see, transit is a public good, usually subsidized heavily by the taxpayers. Now that ridership is up, there seems to be a belief that revenues at the fare box should cover more of the cost (capital and operational) of these transit systems. Politicians make the false argument that precisely because ridership is up, public subsidy of public transit should be slashed (witness the current threatened cuts in funding of Tri-Rail, and of Metrobus routes here in Miami-Dade County). Road, highway, and even AIR transport, however, appear to be held to a different standard: funding to those gets increased when there is an increase in demand for these services.
What, pray tell, is behind this difference in standards? More importantly, what action should we, as a community, take to alter this difference?
Alas, raising transit fares in MD-County is a good thing…here’s why……
They haven’t been raised since 1990, and are way below fare rates in other major cities…The low rates have contributed to the poor maintenance of our Metrorail system, why in turn is why the Feds don’t want to give us money to build new Metrorail lines, being as how we obviously can’t even afford to take reasonably good care of the system we have.
Most importantly, the feds evaluate a transit system’s financial stability by, among other things, the percentage of operating expenses versus fares generated. Our system is bad, and getting worse
by this measure. The new fare increases will help solve this problem, and automatically increase with inflation every 3 years, thus removing the politically unpopular task of raising fares, or so the theory goes.
The new rate structure might also raise parking rates in Metrorail staion parking lots, which would also be a good thing.
Even with the fare increases, Transit will still be the cheapest ride in town, no need to give away the store (although I must admit I
like the free metromover rides)