Everyone knows mass transit is a loosing proposition. Basically taxpayers subsidize discounted rides for those few that find public transit useful. The only question in the case of CalTrain is how much per passenger does it cost on average to transport a daily commuter, 21 days a month from San Jose to San Francisco. The commuter pays $225 per month, or less, but the cost to the taxpayer is probably twice that or more per month. The total operating cost by passenger mile, or cost per boardings would be interesting to know, and would move the discussion from emotional to fiscal reality.
Be assured I like trains, and as a kid I enjoyed riding the Pacific Electric, and I’ve even enjoyed riding some of the modern public transit system as an adult. But, I’m not sure I’m so benevolent as to want to subsidize the commute of others. And with the budget shortfall in government budgets, they too have become less benevolent. So, how much would the fares have to be raised to come closer to covering the actual cost? And, if the trains to AT&T Stadium are so popular, whey are they also not profitable, or at least breaking even? In all cases, government subsidies pervert rational cost benefit assessments when alternatives are considered.