March 17th 04, 11:02 PM
|
|
|
Mike Coslo wrote in message ...
Larry Roll K3LT wrote:
In article , PAMNO
(N2EY) writes:
European fuel prices are that high in large part because of very high taxes.
The tax revenues are used for the roads and also to subsidize bus, transit
(Metro) and rail service. Unlike the USA, public transportation in Europe is
not expected to make money or even to meet its own expenses.
Jim:
Don't look now, but ALL public transit in the United States exists mainly due
to state and federal subsidies which provide virtually all of the funding
needed
for the procurement of vehicles, facilities, communications systems, and most
of the operating costs. If public transit had to "pay it's own way," I, for
one
public transit employee, would not have a job. I drive Paratransit in Kent
County, Delaware, and the cash I turn in from my fare box at the end of the
day would not pay for an hour's worth of my wages. At best, a few of our
more heavily utilized fixed-routes in Wilmington might just possibly pay for
the fuel consumed and other routine expenses, but wouldn't even come close
to covering all of the essential overhead.
Here is my take on Public Transit, Larry:
Is public transit a good thing, or a waste of taxpayers money? Is the
subsidy of public transit a liberal plot to undermine America's core
values, or what? (hehe, kind of melodramatic there!)
But Mike, w/o public transit, Larry would have a hard time telling us
his "Favorite Black on the Bus..." stories.
|