[ConservativeStatement]

More people on packed public transportation and those who work have to pay more to subsidize large pensions and assist those who are "low-income"? Is that the summary?

[nascarnation]

[Adder]

So low income riders will somehow pay for the increased operating costs?
The increased costs include more wear and, new equipment without the ticket revenues.
That’s not going to work.

[RetiredTexasVet]

I assume that none of these geniuses have ever successfully completed any business courses.

[saminfl]

Is Charley still riding?

[daniel1212]

If the MBTA set the qualifying income at 200% of the federal poverty level, between 50,000 and 90,000 new commuters would ride the subway or bus every year

Figure sounds dubious, yet if it was free even more would, or if the government gave everyone free money.... The point is that getting more people to ride the T every year is not going to solve the problem of the MBTA running a $5.0 billion in outstanding debt, resulting in about 25 percent of the MBTA's annual budget going toward paying that down.

With about 380,900,000 people riding the MBTA each year, what kind of difference will 50,000 new commuters make, when they pay even less than others who pay less than what is needed for the T to run within its budget without a deficit.

[cherry]

you'll see...the people who don't work will ride the buses all day....the homeless...the druggies...they'll destroy suburban malls and parks....

and then the govt will scream that they need more property tax money for this tremendous increase in people riding the bus, isn't it wonderful.....

[Do_Tar]

We lose money on every sale.
But we make it up in volume!