* Scott Dier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [040325 22:47]: > * [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [040325 18:01]: > > I assume there are some laws or regulations that prevent these companies > > from offering service in the Metro Area? Maybe that should be changed? > > It seems to me that bus service could easily be offered by private > > enterprise, and subsidized by taxpayers. > No. there isn't. 'Burbs use opt-out taxpayer funds the MetroTransit > would get to operate their service.
[some of this is more of a monologue, not a rebuttal. please don't take it as one completely.] Yikes, I was rushed and didn't have a chance to see what I wrote. Let me fix that here. No, as far as I know there isn't a rule against it. Subarban routes are operating merely because they have labor from other unions or privately that are not part of this strike. I'm unsure it could be offered by private enterprise at reasonable cost. Most other modes of transportation than Rail and Bus afford huge subsidies that reduce their overall cost. Many people don't pay what the full cost of parking is, most get it free when there is a hard cost for maintaining the lot. Simply saying that transit users are being subsidized -- when they are paying many of the same taxes everyone else does -- is oversimplified. A large amount of funding from property and income taxes build and maintain roads -- far less goes to transit. It's arguable that transit dependent get less for their tax dollar because of their chosen mode of transporation. And that is *exactly* why we don't have a transit system that reduces congestion -- we never let it get to that point, there is still a far way to go. It isn't impossible however -- I would be hard pressed to see BART in the Bay Area go out of service for a month and expect it to be the same. Expecting a huge jump in my property taxes next year (at least a 15% jump -- if not more.) -- I hope that we end up getting more transit in the form of commuter rail. This area won't be getting much for major road construction for over a decade. -- Scott Dier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> KC0OBS http://www.ringworld.org/ -- http://www.railworks.org/ -- http://publictransportation.org/ -- Stop "playing political splat ball," support the Northstar Train! _______________________________________________ Twin Cities Metropolitan Issues Forum http://www.e-democracy.org/tcmetro Rules: Sign posts with real name. You may not post more than twice a day.
