Comments on: The invisible benefits of public transportation http://t4america.org/blog/2009/08/10/the-invisible-benefits-of-public-transportation/ Wed, 23 May 2012 06:53:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: La Sociologie Par L’Image – Space and Transportation | The Global Sociology Blog http://t4america.org/blog/2009/08/10/the-invisible-benefits-of-public-transportation/#comment-2988 La Sociologie Par L’Image – Space and Transportation | The Global Sociology Blog Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:11:42 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=3016#comment-2988 [...] Transportation For America » The invisible benefits of public transportation via kwout [...] [...] Transportation For America » The invisible benefits of public transportation via kwout [...]

]]> By: Sandra ADICKES http://t4america.org/blog/2009/08/10/the-invisible-benefits-of-public-transportation/#comment-2879 Sandra ADICKES Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:06:10 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=3016#comment-2879 I plan to return to New York City because I miss public transportation, which is not as good as it should be because so many people are in love with cars. I plan to return to New York City because I miss public transportation, which is not as good as it should be because so many people are in love with cars.

]]> By: Harvey I Kahler http://t4america.org/blog/2009/08/10/the-invisible-benefits-of-public-transportation/#comment-2874 Harvey I Kahler Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:00:51 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=3016#comment-2874 Three substantial costs often overlooked in auto commuting is the free parking at home and at the office. 1) How many executives get free parking at the office as a "perk" while the company contributes little in taxes for public transit for other employees? 2) Tax laws favor driving allowing full deduction for parking while transit fares are capped - who wouldn't want to get as much out of the company as possible? 3) How many drivers include the cost of their garage at home in commuting costs? Three substantial costs often overlooked in auto commuting is the free parking at home and at the office.
1) How many executives get free parking at the office as a “perk” while the company contributes little in taxes for public transit for other employees?
2) Tax laws favor driving allowing full deduction for parking while transit fares are capped – who wouldn’t want to get as much out of the company as possible?
3) How many drivers include the cost of their garage at home in commuting costs?

]]> By: Stephen Lee Davis http://t4america.org/blog/2009/08/10/the-invisible-benefits-of-public-transportation/#comment-2873 Stephen Lee Davis Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:55:33 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=3016#comment-2873 Sydney, you might be interested in this nugget from <a href="http://www.ryanavent.com/blog/?p=2216" rel="nofollow">Ryan Avent</a>: "Consider: the Texas DOT determined that gas tax revenues came nowhere close to covering life-cycle road costs, and that for a typical road to cover its costs of maintenance and construction the gas tax might need to approach $2 per gallon." As far as transit goes outside of NYC, I would say the millions of daily riders on systems outside of NYC would probably disagree with you on the vital need for or utility of the systems in their area. As would the 1/3 of Americans who either don't drive, can't drive, or choose not to drive. People across the country — from huge metro areas outside of NYC down to dial-a-ride paratransit services in rural areas — depend on public transportation to get them where they're going each day. And transit is welfare inasmuch as the roads we're driving on are welfare; not fully covered by the taxes we pay for them. i.e., subsidized by the government. While that bus you see with no one on it might not be that efficient, the thousands or hundreds of thousands of railcars and buses that are packed with record numbers of people each day are quite energy efficient. That issue has been studied extensively, and public transport is certainly more energy efficient and less-polluting. Sydney, you might be interested in this nugget from Ryan Avent:

“Consider: the Texas DOT determined that gas tax revenues came nowhere close to covering life-cycle road costs, and that for a typical road to cover its costs of maintenance and construction the gas tax might need to approach $2 per gallon.”

As far as transit goes outside of NYC, I would say the millions of daily riders on systems outside of NYC would probably disagree with you on the vital need for or utility of the systems in their area. As would the 1/3 of Americans who either don’t drive, can’t drive, or choose not to drive. People across the country — from huge metro areas outside of NYC down to dial-a-ride paratransit services in rural areas — depend on public transportation to get them where they’re going each day. And transit is welfare inasmuch as the roads we’re driving on are welfare; not fully covered by the taxes we pay for them. i.e., subsidized by the government.

While that bus you see with no one on it might not be that efficient, the thousands or hundreds of thousands of railcars and buses that are packed with record numbers of people each day are quite energy efficient. That issue has been studied extensively, and public transport is certainly more energy efficient and less-polluting.

]]> By: Jay Everett http://t4america.org/blog/2009/08/10/the-invisible-benefits-of-public-transportation/#comment-2872 Jay Everett Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:25:05 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=3016#comment-2872 It’s interesting that opponents of transit spending fail to recognize the 40 Billion dollar budget of the federal highway administration as subsidized transportation. Virtually our entire transportation system is "subsidized" the question is "Are we making smart decisions about how those dollars are being spent?" In urban areas highways and parking garages will never match the efficiencies of a well funded transit system. Over 2 thirds of our population reside in cities; we should be investing where the people are, not building more rural highways when we already have a very extensive interstate system. Let’s promote rural economic development through agriculture instead of wasting our money on mile after mile of asphalt. Why not dedicate a higher percentage for repairing the existing highway infrastructure and focus all moneys for new transportation spending on transit and high-speed rail projects? It’s interesting that opponents of transit spending fail to recognize the 40 Billion dollar budget of the federal highway administration as subsidized transportation. Virtually our entire transportation system is “subsidized” the question is “Are we making smart decisions about how those dollars are being spent?”
In urban areas highways and parking garages will never match the efficiencies of a well funded transit system. Over 2 thirds of our population reside in cities; we should be investing where the people are, not building more rural highways when we already have a very extensive interstate system. Let’s promote rural economic development through agriculture instead of wasting our money on mile after mile of asphalt. Why not dedicate a higher percentage for repairing the existing highway infrastructure and focus all moneys for new transportation spending on transit and high-speed rail projects?

]]> By: Oleg http://t4america.org/blog/2009/08/10/the-invisible-benefits-of-public-transportation/#comment-2870 Oleg Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:47:16 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=3016#comment-2870 Too many cars on the streets, streets without sidewalks, "no pedestrian" signs, under-developed or non-existing public transportation options, etc. make a number of U.S. cities less desirable places to live or even "dead"... Too many cars on the streets, streets without sidewalks, “no pedestrian” signs, under-developed or non-existing public transportation options, etc. make a number of U.S. cities less desirable places to live or even “dead”…

]]> By: Sydney Green http://t4america.org/blog/2009/08/10/the-invisible-benefits-of-public-transportation/#comment-2859 Sydney Green Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:28:21 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=3016#comment-2859 I agree - transit is essential - FOR NEW YORK CITY. As for the rest of the country, it will never go enough places to be practical as a real alternative to personal vehicles. If transit is so popular, why can't it sustain itself without huge tax subsidies? Transit is welfare for people who can't afford cars. It saves nothing in pollution - I see huge smoke-billowing buses driving in major cities all over the country with like 5 people in them. And commuter rail only covers a tiny percentage of even large cities. Let's spend our money on roads and bridges that everyone can use, and on greener fuels for cars, not transit. I agree – transit is essential – FOR NEW YORK CITY. As for the rest of the country, it will never go enough places to be practical as a real alternative to personal vehicles. If transit is so popular, why can’t it sustain itself without huge tax subsidies? Transit is welfare for people who can’t afford cars. It saves nothing in pollution – I see huge smoke-billowing buses driving in major cities all over the country with like 5 people in them. And commuter rail only covers a tiny percentage of even large cities.
Let’s spend our money on roads and bridges that everyone can use, and on greener fuels for cars, not transit.

]]> By: Why transit matters in New York City :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog http://t4america.org/blog/2009/08/10/the-invisible-benefits-of-public-transportation/#comment-2784 Why transit matters in New York City :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:02:05 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=3016#comment-2784 [...] Transportation for America, Stephen Lee Davis noted that Frumin’s post highlights “the invisible benefits” of a transit system. I’d call that a slight to public [...] [...] Transportation for America, Stephen Lee Davis noted that Frumin’s post highlights “the invisible benefits” of a transit system. I’d call that a slight to public [...]

]]> By: Rob http://t4america.org/blog/2009/08/10/the-invisible-benefits-of-public-transportation/#comment-2781 Rob Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:41:53 +0000 http://t4america.org/?p=3016#comment-2781 Very interesting. This provides a nice response to an argument I often hear in other cities: "if you don't give people a place to cheaply park their cars, nobody is going to come downtown." Very interesting. This provides a nice response to an argument I often hear in other cities: “if you don’t give people a place to cheaply park their cars, nobody is going to come downtown.”

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