[PRCo] Re: PATrain

[Derrick Brashear]

> Public agencies never have the fortitude it takes to raise fares with inflation because it might offend the voting constituency.  The last thing a local politician wants is a protest march or angry letters to the editor over a fare hike.    Inflation has pushed costs up about 7.7 times since PAT took over from Pittsburgh Railways.   That would suggest that the transit fares today should be about $2.30 for a one zone ride if we had the same load factors we had in 1963, maybe $4 for a ride from Drake.  A special transfer should also be somewhere around 4.00.  Again, if the buses were just as full as they were in 1963.

Gas taxes haven't gone up either, especially when you consider average
fleet economy numbers. I spent a lot of quality time with I-70 today.
I doubt it turned a profit, though.

"So?"

Of course, we're about to lose a bunch of service, there are plenty of
letters, marches, and the politicians seem to just be wringing hands
(local) or saying "tough" (state).



-- 
Derrick