I agree with Lion about restoring surface streetcar operation to Manhattan. Third Avenue Transit was forced by politicians to go to an all bus system, despite its earning a slight profit during the Depression running streetcars. Its lines had enough patronage to pay for track upkeep and renewall, and it was moving toward a modern, if bare-bones, easy-to-maintain fleet with its homebult cars. The Broadway 42nd Street line with its nickle fare served as a horizontal elevator for the many eating establishments, shops, and entertainment places along its route, turning the enture Manhattan upper-west-side into one huge department store. The replacement by the M104 bus was a tragedy, and 1/3 the patronate dissapeared, most walking, some using the IRT local trains.
We could have discount fares with a DSS or welfare card and full fares for everyone else. Or we we could go the Progressive Lady Route with discounts for everybody.
There is nothing wrong with taxpayers subsidising the transport of the poor. It gets them to and from their jobs, schools, and shoping where BTW, they will spend their money in your stores. Every passenger that you put on a bus reduces the number of cars on the streets, which in turn reduces the cost of infrastructure upkeep.
In a city like New York, you have the rich and the poor alike using the subways. Remember that subways in the New York model, were not designed to replaces cars, but rather to replace horses. Generations of New Yorkers grew up never owing a car or a horse.
My neice lives in Manhattan (in a very pricy apartment in a pricy part of town) and she owns no car. She traves by taxi or subway, and if she needs to go out of town she can rent a car. And if she is smart (her bank accounts proclaim that this is so) she would rent a car in New Jersey and avoid the Manhattan traffic.
The RICH should pay full fare (say $3.00), and those who qualify for a lower fare should be able to get that, subsidised by Human Services or the Board of Education. There is no reason why the MTA should be a welfare agency.
The cost of operating a system is borne by the farebox and the taxbox, and you, the tax payer get to decide what the proportion shall be.
LION would attempt to remove private automobiles from the central business district of Manhattan. Him would not toll the free bridges, him would CLOSE them except to trucks, beese and cabs. Have the correct EZ-pass or you do not get on. Obviously peoele who actually live in Manhattan, and can deomstrate that this is their primary residence, AND that they have a place to park their cars would get these permits. Others, for whatever arrogant reason MUST come into Manhattan will have to use the tunnels at full toll, or pay a toll when moving south of 60th Street (Direct routes to the tunnels excepted.) Other EZ-Passes might be available to those who own or rent an off street parking place.
Of course this comes with the LION'S other project, the introduction of LRVs to Manhattan. In the CBD, these will run north and south on selected avenues, and they will be free. It is preseumed that you will either pay a fare when bording Heavy Rail or a Bus, or are just circulating in the CBD, which is good for business.
NYC was never designed for cars, it was designed for pedestrians, and should be returned to that model of movement.
LRVs running east and west, on say 23rd, 34th, 42nd, 59th, 86th and 96th Streets should also be free. Again the preseumption is that people will transfer to the Subway if they are leaving the CBD.
NO CARS!
LIONS cannot eat cars, so there is no point on letting them clutter up the city!
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
There are mixed feelings- some think that it will help the poor who need to commute into their jobs in the Seattle CBD, while others feel that only the poor ride transit, and so this is essentially a fare cut for bus riders at the expense of the taxpayer.
I gather that you, as a visitor, are recommending something for real New Yorkers to impliment. I'm pleased that my posting finally drew a comment, but I did not post the Seattle news item to indicate either that I was in favor of it or against it. I think Lion and I would be happy to hear from people in the New York area that would be effected by his proposal. Also anyone working for any of the coummuter railroads or the TA.
LION favors RAISING subway Fares, perhaps to $3 per trip. (That after all is the same 30c fare with inflation.) Poor? Students, even commuters... Special Fares!
The BOARD OF ED is responsible for the transport of students, let them subsidize student fares. Are people poor, there are always poor, and there is no reason why Human Services cannot subsidise their fares.
COMMUTERS... such as those who are already puying commutation tickets on the railroads: a Reduced fare good only between NYP/GCT/PABT and their place of work. The card is only good at the station and ONE designated "Work Station" (the first station used when first purchased) Not good at any other stations.
Same deal for city residents buying a commutation ticket: Only good between two designated stations.
Deals also for multi-trip tickets:
Instead of stored value the ticket is good for x number of trips. You are buying trips, 10, 20,30, 60, 100 at what ever discount prices are appropriate.
UNLIMITED tickets are sold by the day. That is it is good for unlimited use on an x number of DAYS. You are not charged a day on which the ticket is not used. You can buy 10, 20, 30, and 60 days at whatever discount price is appropriate.
When you refill these cards you are either buying a number of trips or a number of days.
In Seattle, a new program discouints fares fro families under the Federally determined poverty level, typically from about $2.50 per ride to $1.50.
It is a Washington State supported p;rogram.
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