Comments on: NY Assembly proposes $.50 rush-hour subway fare to combat congestion pricing http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/ A New York City Subway Blog Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:15:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Stinky Wizzerteets http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-698 Stinky Wizzerteets Fri, 22 Jun 2007 23:07:18 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-698 While I agree Sheldon Silver is a complete scumbag (and please for the love of baby jesus pass congestion pricing), I am of the opinion the subway should be 100% free. I won't bore you with my argument why - This is a classic textbook economist question. Btw, free works for the staten island ferry. While I agree Sheldon Silver is a complete scumbag (and please for the love of baby jesus pass congestion pricing), I am of the opinion the subway should be 100% free. I won’t bore you with my argument why – This is a classic textbook economist question. Btw, free works for the staten island ferry.

]]> By: Benjamin http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-700 Benjamin Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:09:26 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-700 How do we know (a) that the $8/$21 congestion pricing revenue will actually be dedicated to mass transit improvements, and (b) that this revenue will actually be sufficient for mass transit improvements? So far, the only thing I hear or read is vague promises by Bloomberg, who is not even going to be running for reelection as mayor. How do we know (a) that the $8/$21 congestion pricing revenue will actually be dedicated to mass transit improvements, and (b) that this revenue will actually be sufficient for mass transit improvements? So far, the only thing I hear or read is vague promises by Bloomberg, who is not even going to be running for reelection as mayor.

]]> By: Subway Congestion Fare: 50 Cents : SUBWAYblogger.com: Blog from the New York Subway http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-699 Subway Congestion Fare: 50 Cents : SUBWAYblogger.com: Blog from the New York Subway Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:19:48 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-699 [...] so this proposal was announced last week, and…well…I needed a few days to ponder my reaction. No matter how hard I thought about [...] [...] so this proposal was announced last week, and…well…I needed a few days to ponder my reaction. No matter how hard I thought about [...]

]]> By: Marc Shepherd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-701 Marc Shepherd Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:25:22 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-701 You could definitely make an argument that subsidized subway fares are in the public interest. But based on past experience, it's likely that government would not truly subsidize the subway enough to maintain a state of good repair. We would see a return to the days when there was only minimal maintenance, and the system was near collapse. The other problem is that, while you can lower the rush-hour fare from $2.00 to $0.50 with the stroke of a pen, you cannot so easily build the capacity needed to handle all of the extra passengers that the lower fare would attract. You could definitely make an argument that subsidized subway fares are in the public interest. But based on past experience, it’s likely that government would not truly subsidize the subway enough to maintain a state of good repair. We would see a return to the days when there was only minimal maintenance, and the system was near collapse.

The other problem is that, while you can lower the rush-hour fare from $2.00 to $0.50 with the stroke of a pen, you cannot so easily build the capacity needed to handle all of the extra passengers that the lower fare would attract.

]]> By: Gary http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-703 Gary Thu, 14 Jun 2007 19:43:52 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-703 That is among the worst ideas I've ever heard. People have been waiting weeks for THAT? I favor reducing subway fares across the board as good public policy - get people off the roads, and fund transit for all the societal benefits it offers. The fare hike from $1 to $2 was essentially a regressive tax hike, and a hike to $3 would be even worse. I think the mention of a $3 fare was mere saber-rattling to get people on board with congestion pricing / knock out the false "regressive tax" argument by the CP foes. I believe IRUM is working on a study on the effects of eliminating fares altogether, which will be interesting. That is among the worst ideas I’ve ever heard. People have been waiting weeks for THAT?

I favor reducing subway fares across the board as good public policy – get people off the roads, and fund transit for all the societal benefits it offers.

The fare hike from $1 to $2 was essentially a regressive tax hike, and a hike to $3 would be even worse. I think the mention of a $3 fare was mere saber-rattling to get people on board with congestion pricing / knock out the false “regressive tax” argument by the CP foes.

I believe IRUM is working on a study on the effects of eliminating fares altogether, which will be interesting.

]]> By: Streetsblog » Assembly Considers Bankrupting MTA to Reduce Congestion http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-702 Streetsblog » Assembly Considers Bankrupting MTA to Reduce Congestion Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:54:50 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-702 [...] WCBS-TV via Second Ave. Sagas:The pressure has been mounting on the legislature to pass the mayor's [congestion pricing] [...] [...] WCBS-TV via Second Ave. Sagas:The pressure has been mounting on the legislature to pass the mayor’s [congestion pricing] [...]

]]> By: The Real Alex http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-704 The Real Alex Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:25:31 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-704 The answer is where the lines cross. The answer is where the lines cross.

]]> By: wayne's world http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-705 wayne's world Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:35:44 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/06/14/ny-assembly-proposes-50-rush-hour-subway-fare-to-combat-congestion-pricing/#comment-705 I do like the idea of charging a premium at tolls during rush hours. It would be a nice supplement to the congestion fee. While it's true that some traffic would shift to the less busy hours, I also think that some drivers who do not have that flexibility would not drive at all. I do like the idea of charging a premium at tolls during rush hours. It would be a nice supplement to the congestion fee. While it’s true that some traffic would shift to the less busy hours, I also think that some drivers who do not have that flexibility would not drive at all.

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