If we assume that these systems are in dire need of repair (which many of them are), and that they are unreliable (which they frequently are), then it can be a

If we assume that these systems are in dire need of repair (which many of them are), and that they are unreliable (which they frequently are), then it can be a hard sell to ask riders to pay more. Pay more for what? Improvements years from now, when what I really need is reliable transportation to and from my job NOW? Also, if we can continue with the assumptions about these systems, they're not in a position to sustain increased ridership or increased trips, which makes it very hard to capture that revenue in the way you propose.