Posted on 06/04/2015 7:31:15 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Though many public transit systems across the U.S. have increased fares in recent years, chances are your local transit system still isn’t breaking even on your ride: According to a Hamilton Project (THP) post, of the more than 1,800 mass transit systems in the United States—including those running trains, buses, or other transport modes—only about two percent reported that fare revenue exceeded operating expenses in 2013.
And when it comes to metro rail systems across the U.S.—which include heavy rail, such as subways and elevated trains, and light rail, which operates at street level—all U.S. systems reported operating at a loss.
So just how much money are they losing? In general, average losses per trip are smaller for larger metro systems. For instance, riders in the five largest systems—New York, Washington, DC, Boston, Chicago, and the San Francisco Bay Area—pay about a dollar less than the actual cost of each trip. But when it comes to the smaller systems in cities like Seattle, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, riders end up paying approximately four dollars less than the cost of each trip.
Overall, these 10 metro rail systems are losing the most money per passenger ride:
10. Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFT Metro), NY Average loss per passenger ride: $2.83
9. Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), MD Average loss per passenger ride: $2.90
8. San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI), CA Average loss per passenger ride: $3.13
7. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), OH Average loss per passenger ride: $3.23
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
AFAIK, all rapid transit systems lose money. That’s why they are subsidized with government handouts.
No worries. All the union dues are being collected.
Woo Hoo! We’re #3 (Port Authority of Allegheny County). Losing five bucks a passenger, mainly because drivers retire by age 50 and we are paying out more to the ones who sit home than those who actually are driving the buses.
Ping.
I might give Niiagara and Hampton Roads a pass on the basis that the bus service encourages local tourism. If it is locally (and not federally) subsidized, that’s their call.
It should go without saying that such systems should be privatized. Government is never efficient.
They're subsidized by people who pay taxes, who won't use mass transit out of concern for their personal safety.
VTA is #2...
Blue states, losing money to government-union, union-built, blue-city transit systems serving just a few elite democrat areas. For the “feel-good” of a few democrat politicians paid by the regions red and blue taxpayers NOT in the city.
I’m surprised Boston isn’t on the list. The whole state is hack-o-rama.
All publicly funded ones do.
Privately owned transportation companies can’t force taxpayers to keep them in business.
this is key. only 2% were net positive. 2% !!
mass transit is just a boondoggle for union flunkies looking for easy taxpayer cash via the govt
how very commie
The short article with the list states that the loss might be justified for the benefits.
In Cleveland, I've been taken advantage of reduced senior fares to avoid congestion and parking fees. It's surprised me how crowded those buses can get, even when it's not commuter hours.
A lot of the riders couldn't afford much more than the current cost. What would happen with them without the bus?
SCAT - Sun City Area Transit
Reality - Shuttling Chicanos Around Town
Paging Willie Green
I’m typically against this stuff. But, if these people don’t take mass transit, congestion will get worse for autos. So in this particular instance, subsidies don’t only affect the riders. And as the onion pointed out, 98% of people surveyed wished other people took mass transit.
http://www.theonion.com/article/report-98-percent-of-us-commuters-favor-public-tra-1434
Surprised the SF system loses so much money. It seems a convenient alternative in a pretty dense SF to get around than by car.
Interestingly, in Japan the commuter rail companies are (for the most part) moneymakers, mostly because they figured out the bright idea of hosting shopping centers and office space around major stations. That’s why the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) makes money (look at the gigantic shopping options on station property at Tokyo, Ikebuburo, Shinjuku and Shibuya Staitons in the Tokyo area). The Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) makes money because they own the operations on the world’s busiest high-speed passenger rail line, the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka, in addition to developing shopping around major stations.
Don’t forget in Pittsburgh they also get free family health care for life when they retire after 25 years. If I remember that right and they pay nothing for it or any copays. They have changed some of this for new hires, but there are more drivers retired then currently driving and they get to vote themselves goodies even when they no long work. Such a deal!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.