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Pellerin: Public transit is a public service. Treat it that way
(ottawacitizen.com)
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That's why it's bad policy to think about transit in terms of making a profit. It's a public service, that's the profit, and we all get it.
Isn't it weird that public transit 'needs to be profitable', but roads and the infrastructure it drive on doesn't?
It is profitable. To car manufacturers. Without upgrades to infrastructure like roads and parking structures, congestion would eventually get so bad people would be more likely to stop buying cars and move to alternate transportation options.
Those other options actually have to exist for the shift to happen, otherwise other significant hurdles exist like having to move closer to work or change jobs to accommodate ditching car dependancy.
I charge a significant tax for in-office work located more than 10min from a train -- and it's less like the 3% 'dumb comms stack' tax I charge for having to use Teams and more like a "if your office is there, the baseline you need to pay based on today's rent for a 2-bedroom flat within 15 min walk to the office is..." number (hint: fresh grads should be able to afford a 1-bedroom flat within walking of their day job and still have money for food; and experienced staff should get more than that).