Dear Editor:
Recently a JeffTran fare increase was rejected. The figures associated with JeffTran are interesting.
2014 ridership was 329,703; 2015 fare revenue (budget) $227,000; 2015 operating expense (budget) $2.4 million; 2015 capital purchases $0; Fixed route fares $1; Handi-Wheels fare $2; 2014 actual cost per fixed route fare $5.43 (taxpayer subsidy $4.43 per ride); 2014 actual cost per Handi-Wheels fare $20.69 (taxpayer subsidy $18.69 per ride)
While doing research on this issue I came across an interesting quote. "Much of the federal spending for transit systems comes from the Highway Trust Fund, which has financial problems of its own. For fiscal 2015, about 15 percent of what's spent from the fund will go to transit and 85 percent to highways, according to the Congressional Budget Office." http://www.rollcall.com/news/mass_transit_loved_by_locals_but_tough_for_feds-242159-1.html
The next time you hear a politician cry about the state of our crumbling highway system you might want to ask him/her why 15 percent of the Highway Trust Fund money is being spent to subsidize mass transit. Is it because politicians are afraid to try and justify higher taxes for mass transit subsidies?
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