Comments on: Higher Fares and Fees Proposed for Next Year’s MTA Budget http://www.rescuemuni.org/2008/03/30/higher-fares-and-fees-proposed-for-next-years-mta-budget/ A transit riders' association for San Francisco Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:40:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Rescue Muni » Blog Archive » Time To Order Your Fast Pass http://www.rescuemuni.org/2008/03/30/higher-fares-and-fees-proposed-for-next-years-mta-budget/#comment-773 Rescue Muni » Blog Archive » Time To Order Your Fast Pass Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:02:10 +0000 http://www.rescuemuni.org/2008/03/30/higher-fares-and-fees-proposed-for-next-years-mta-budget/#comment-773 [...] Policy « Higher Fares and Fees Proposed for Next Year’s MTA Budget [...] […] Policy « Higher Fares and Fees Proposed for Next Year’s MTA Budget […]

]]> By: haighterade http://www.rescuemuni.org/2008/03/30/higher-fares-and-fees-proposed-for-next-years-mta-budget/#comment-760 haighterade Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:48:40 +0000 http://www.rescuemuni.org/2008/03/30/higher-fares-and-fees-proposed-for-next-years-mta-budget/#comment-760 Like Don, I don't have a huge problem with raising fares--Muni is priced below most transit systems in the area and in the country, and service cuts aren't a plausible political option outside the TEP framework. But this suggestion seems really dumb. Even setting aside the effect of cash customers on the boarding process, a transit-first city ought to be setting up a fare structure that encourages people to ditch their cars for short trips within the city. In the eternal conflict between the pain of Muni and the pain of parking, FastPass holders are almost certainly more likely to opt for the former. I'd be happy with $2 cash fares, $18 weekly passes, and $55 FastPasses. There's nothing sacred about $45; the financial incentive for buying a pass is more important, imho. Like Don, I don’t have a huge problem with raising fares–Muni is priced below most transit systems in the area and in the country, and service cuts aren’t a plausible political option outside the TEP framework.

But this suggestion seems really dumb. Even setting aside the effect of cash customers on the boarding process, a transit-first city ought to be setting up a fare structure that encourages people to ditch their cars for short trips within the city. In the eternal conflict between the pain of Muni and the pain of parking, FastPass holders are almost certainly more likely to opt for the former.

I’d be happy with $2 cash fares, $18 weekly passes, and $55 FastPasses. There’s nothing sacred about $45; the financial incentive for buying a pass is more important, imho.

]]> By: Don http://www.rescuemuni.org/2008/03/30/higher-fares-and-fees-proposed-for-next-years-mta-budget/#comment-759 Don Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:19:46 +0000 http://www.rescuemuni.org/2008/03/30/higher-fares-and-fees-proposed-for-next-years-mta-budget/#comment-759 Raising the fast pass fare is reasonable. For commuters the pass will still be less than the cash fare. But raising the cash fare also seems reasonable. Daily commuters are working men and women and many are subsidized by their employers with commuter checks. I am not clear on ECadovate's point. Raising the fast pass fare is reasonable. For commuters the pass will still be less than the cash fare. But raising the cash fare also seems reasonable. Daily commuters are working men and women and many are subsidized by their employers with commuter checks. I am not clear on ECadovate’s point.

]]> By: ECadvocate http://www.rescuemuni.org/2008/03/30/higher-fares-and-fees-proposed-for-next-years-mta-budget/#comment-757 ECadvocate Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:14:29 +0000 http://www.rescuemuni.org/2008/03/30/higher-fares-and-fees-proposed-for-next-years-mta-budget/#comment-757 This is all really very nice and I agree with what you have said. Now what can we DO about it? How do we mobilize? Would a click action campaign be useful? I get the feeling this issue is really talking to the choir because in this town, the "pass" is seen as a yuppie convenience and it's price is ok to increase, but the "working man" who pays each time, oh, no, we should NOT increase THAT ticket - god forbid. "We are socialist! We should only charge the rich who can afford a fast pass that costs less than a single ticket used 5 days a week!" How ridiculous. This is all really very nice and I agree with what you have said. Now what can we DO about it? How do we mobilize? Would a click action campaign be useful? I get the feeling this issue is really talking to the choir because in this town, the “pass” is seen as a yuppie convenience and it’s price is ok to increase, but the “working man” who pays each time, oh, no, we should NOT increase THAT ticket - god forbid. “We are socialist! We should only charge the rich who can afford a fast pass that costs less than a single ticket used 5 days a week!” How ridiculous.

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