[Willie Green]

Speaking of phoney numbers, I notice you didn't post a rebuttal showing a rail system that wasn't subsidized, now did you?

Here's one for you:

Public transit becoming part of Vegas experience

So many passengers pay their $2 fares to ride public buses round-the-clock on the congested Strip that the bus route turns a profit --

And when the Las Vegas Monorail, the nation's first monorail built as a public transit project and funded by private industry, begins gliding along a 4-mile Strip route in a couple of years, even more Vegas visitors will be turning to transit.

As far as other communities who CHOOSE to subsidize their public transit service, I have no problems with that. Although I would prefer seeing service funded by fares as much as possible, I've also repeatedly stated the benefits communities recieve for providing such subsidies. Sure, there are many local systems that are poorly planned and operated ineffectively. Transit systems require continuous monitoring and adjustment of routes/schedules to provide optimum service. But I don't allow the bogus figures of anti-transit obstructionists skew my judgement that mass-transit is a vital component of our nations transportation infrastructure.

[jimt]

So many passengers pay their $2 fares to ride public buses round-the-clock on the congested Strip that the bus route turns a profit --

First, this is a bus, not a rail system. Second, it is a bus ROUTE, not a bus system.

There may even be a bus ROUTE in Houston that's profitable. That doesn't change the fact that the bus system loses hundreds of thousands of dollars DAILY. And when our toy train goes into operation, the bleeding will increase dramatically.

Buy the riders new Cadillacs every three years. It's cheaper. Of course when rail gets going we can hire chauffeurs for the Cadillacs and still be ahead.

[WOSG]

"As far as other communities who CHOOSE to subsidize their public transit service, I have no problems with that. Although I would prefer seeing service funded by fares as much as possible, I've also repeatedly stated the benefits communities recieve for providing such subsidies."

Willie, you have to realize that in many communities, the socialists have taken the levers of power and use is to push their agenda now matter what the people say. we've had 2 elections on light rail, both times light rail lost, but they will keep putting in on the ballot until the 'right' answer is given. At the same time, our transit authority is collecting and extra .25% sales tax without voter approval.

whatever happened to no taxation without representation??
I dunno, the situation stinks and is HIGHLY prone to cretin of taxpayer funded boondoggles. Some social engineer. As far as other communities who CHOOSE to subsidize their public transit service, I have no problems with that. Although I would prefer seeing service funded by fares as much as possible, I've also repeatedly stated the benefits communities recieve for providing such subsidies.