I would like to add a couple of points of clarification to your comment: 1. Subway rides for most commuters are money-makers for the MTA, it's rides late at ni

I would like to add a couple of points of clarification to your comment: 1. Subway rides for most commuters are money-makers for the MTA, it's rides late at night or at the ends of lines that lose money (full trains are obviously more cost effective). I suspect LIRR costs work out similarly though I have not seen enough of their data to know. 2. The NYC bus system is massively subsidized. The subway could operate (less frequently, and to fewer places) and make a profit, the bus system could not. I can probably find my old sources for that if anyone is terribly interested.