5 ms·

Where I live, revenue from fares makes up ~11% of the total. (The largest chunk of revenue is from local sales tax.) Making transit cheaper would be relatively

by mvexel 7y ago

Where I live, revenue from fares makes up ~11% of the total. (The largest chunk of revenue is from local sales tax.) Making transit cheaper would be relatively painless and highly effective: we have a 'free fare day' every year where 25-65% more people board a bus or train than on regular days. A new frequent bus service connecting train stations and major destinations sees as many boardings as existing light rail; it is free to ride. A small sales tax hike is palatable to enough people that it is politically viable, whereas a $2.50 fare every time you board a bus or train makes more people not ride transit who otherwise might.

CydeWeys 7y ago
It wouldn't even cost 11% of the total to make public transit free because you can save money by not having to collect payment at all. No gates or ticket machines to maintain, buses go faster because no one is waiting in queues to pay at the door, etc. Now admittedly more people would start using it if it were free, but that's a feature not a bug. And the marginal cost of higher ridership is much lower than the sunk capital costs of constructing the system in the first place.
- eMSF 7y ago
  >buses go faster because no one is waiting in queues to pay at the door Well, you could always not accept payment at the door. But more passengers doesn't equal faster buses; after a point the service will bog down as the buses bunch up, and increasing the number of buses will not solve that. A small base fare goes a long way to persuade people to walk short distances instead of catching the bus.
vonmoltke 7y ago
> Where I live, revenue from fares makes up ~11% of the total Where is this? 11% would put your system near the bottom of farebox recovery ratios for major systems. See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farebox_recovery_ratio https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farebox_recovery_ratio
- mvexel 7y ago
  Utah. UTA has a pretty poor reputation when it comes to its administration. Overpaid executives who like to spend lavishly on international travel, and a history of shady deals with real estate developers. Some recent coverage: https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/05/02/are-utahns-once-again/ https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/05/02/are-utahns-o... 2019 budget: https://www.rideuta.com/-/media/Files/About-UTA/Budget_Book_Final_1_29_19.ashx?la=en https://www.rideuta.com/-/media/Files/About-UTA/Budget_Book_... page 57 Despite all that, we really have a pretty decent transit system for the metro size. I have reliable 15 minute service to downtown and it only takes me twice as long to take the bus to work than it takes me to drive.

by mvexel 7y ago

CydeWeys 7y ago

It wouldn't even cost 11% of the total to make public transit free because you can save money by not having to collect payment at all. No gates or ticket machines to maintain, buses go faster because no one is waiting in queues to pay at the door, etc. Now admittedly more people would start using it if it were free, but that's a feature not a bug. And the marginal cost of higher ridership is much lower than the sunk capital costs of constructing the system in the first place.

eMSF 7y ago
>buses go faster because no one is waiting in queues to pay at the door Well, you could always not accept payment at the door. But more passengers doesn't equal faster buses; after a point the service will bog down as the buses bunch up, and increasing the number of buses will not solve that. A small base fare goes a long way to persuade people to walk short distances instead of catching the bus.

vonmoltke 7y ago

> Where I live, revenue from fares makes up ~11% of the total Where is this? 11% would put your system near the bottom of farebox recovery ratios for major systems. See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farebox_recovery_ratio https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farebox_recovery_ratio

mvexel 7y ago
Utah. UTA has a pretty poor reputation when it comes to its administration. Overpaid executives who like to spend lavishly on international travel, and a history of shady deals with real estate developers. Some recent coverage: https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/05/02/are-utahns-once-again/ https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/05/02/are-utahns-o... 2019 budget: https://www.rideuta.com/-/media/Files/About-UTA/Budget_Book_Final_1_29_19.ashx?la=en https://www.rideuta.com/-/media/Files/About-UTA/Budget_Book_... page 57 Despite all that, we really have a pretty decent transit system for the metro size. I have reliable 15 minute service to downtown and it only takes me twice as long to take the bus to work than it takes me to drive.