SPKid Wrote:
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> 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.

The question simply comes down to this... What are you willing to pay for to help the community? I pay for the police and the fire department... and they are used a huge amount each year, making no money on their use. I have not called the police for myself in years and it's been even longer since I called the fire department.

I pay for all the roads to be paved in my town, but I do not use the majority of them.

I pay for the street lights all over my town, but they are usually lighting areas that I am not at.

I pay for every plane that takes off from LAX.

I pay for every truck that tears apart the I5 and I710.

The honest question is, when does the public good have enough value that it is worth my taxes, not did I get a personal gain from that tax payment (because in the end, I do benefit from the police, fire, and even Caltrain, being there).

Charles Freericks