Here in Denver, the public transportation is heavily subsidized by sales taxes. Depending on whose statistics you listen to, 20-40% of the cost of running RTD c

Here in Denver, the public transportation is heavily subsidized by sales taxes. Depending on whose statistics you listen to, 20-40% of the cost of running RTD comes from farebox revenue (the rest comes from mostly a sales tax levy and some from federal grants). City route buses get about 4mpg, and they use so much fuel that every 1/10 of a cent rise in diesel comes out to $100,000 annually. The worst waste is required by ADA. AccessiRide (those short buses for the severly handicapped) cost RTD about $45 per trip.