Those costs are a drop in the bucket compared to Medicaid, education, and pensions.
None the less, there is a broad-spread list of things those gas tax dollars are stolen to pay for. And we're not talking about one major city's transit system. We're talking about major and minor city systems across California (and the nation). And now as I understand it, the Bullet Train to nowhere has now been green-lighted to receive that gas tax increase voters suckered for earlier this year, because they were promised the money would be spend on highways.
Now they'll be whining because they don't have enough gas tax dollars AGAIN, because cars are so efficient these days. Never mind that there are twice the cars on the road there used to be.
So then they demand toll roads and bridges to offset the shortfall, (ahem, diverted funds). And even here people will say it's necessary and reasoned.
I mention the buses and light rail, because the people that ride them are not paying their own way. That gripes me. Raise the fees or close those lines down. Leave the money for what it was intended to pay for, upkeep and creation of new highways.
In Los Angeles, we're more than likely subsidizing transportation costs for a high percentage of riders who are illegal aliens. (the buses in particular) Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr...
Are you aware that BART (founded on September 11, 1972 LINK) in San Francisco has never turned a profit. That's closing in on half a century. LINK
"Like other public transit agencies, BART doesn’t make a profit or cover its costs. But it comes closer than most. In 2014, the most recent year comparable statistics were available, BART’s fares paid for 78 percent of its costs, more than similar systems in the U.S. New York City was second at 63 percent, with Washington Metro third at 62 percent."
Imagine how bad the other transit agencies are, 4-10.