Not quite. The private subway companies signed contracts in 1913 fixing the rates at 5 cents. Then WW1 started and caused inflation. The private rail lines put themselves out of business by agreeing to a deal they couldn’t uphold. That’s capitalism baby!
You are right that I support free fares because it doesn’t make that much anyway. The cost or charging includes the digital pay system management contract of the OMNY system, the purchase and maintenance contract for the turnstiles themselves, the pay and benefits costs of MTA employees and police stationed at each stop to prevent fare jumpers, the cost of trial and potential jail for fare jumpers, and probably other ancillary costs associated with charging fares.I can’t begin to calculate these costs. How would I even calculate the cost of something more esoteric like the environmental cost of the people who drive that would instead take the train if it were free?
Most people drive because the service is not useful. Take your free fares for the rich and use the money instead to give them service so good they will use it. Sure some will drive no matter what but most drive because transit isn’t useful for their trips. Since money isn’t the limit in the first place free won’tiget them to ride.
I don’t think it’s crazy to think a previously pay service will see some degree of increase in isership if it becomes free. Maybe it would be a little, maybe it would be a lot. That’s why estimating the cost savings is hard.
That’s a fair argument. It’s hard to say which would create the greater social benefit. There is no reason both can’t happen if we realign our national priorities.
Not quite. The private subway companies signed contracts in 1913 fixing the rates at 5 cents. Then WW1 started and caused inflation. The private rail lines put themselves out of business by agreeing to a deal they couldn’t uphold. That’s capitalism baby!
You are right that I support free fares because it doesn’t make that much anyway. The cost or charging includes the digital pay system management contract of the OMNY system, the purchase and maintenance contract for the turnstiles themselves, the pay and benefits costs of MTA employees and police stationed at each stop to prevent fare jumpers, the cost of trial and potential jail for fare jumpers, and probably other ancillary costs associated with charging fares.I can’t begin to calculate these costs. How would I even calculate the cost of something more esoteric like the environmental cost of the people who drive that would instead take the train if it were free?
Most people drive because the service is not useful. Take your free fares for the rich and use the money instead to give them service so good they will use it. Sure some will drive no matter what but most drive because transit isn’t useful for their trips. Since money isn’t the limit in the first place free won’tiget them to ride.
I don’t think it’s crazy to think a previously pay service will see some degree of increase in isership if it becomes free. Maybe it would be a little, maybe it would be a lot. That’s why estimating the cost savings is hard.
you will get a lot greater increase in usage by spending the money on better service.
That’s a fair argument. It’s hard to say which would create the greater social benefit. There is no reason both can’t happen if we realign our national priorities.