Post AjBlF3J22eGL2Pt74K by andthisismrspeacock@mas.to
(DIR) More posts by andthisismrspeacock@mas.to
(DIR) Post #AjBlEjyptVon6HIDS4 by andthisismrspeacock@mas.to
2024-06-22T01:40:43Z
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In 2020, for obvious reasons, the #Worcester RTA suspended fare collection on our #transit system. For less obvious (but interesting!) reasons, it's still free today.It's only in the last month or so that it's started to dawn on people in my social/economic/demographic group that *the buses are all free*. I've seen more of my peers using transit here in the last 30 days than in the 10 years before.Someone needs to study lag time between better transit and user adoption...#Bus #MAPoli
(DIR) Post #AjBlEmfRu35pR1FH9M by andthisismrspeacock@mas.to
2024-06-22T01:54:14Z
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Now for the interesting thing the RTA discovered:(These numbers are from memory and probably not exact, but generally the gist of it.)The #Worcester RTA was collecting about $7M in fares pre-COVID. So it was assumed we'd need to come up with an annual $7M budget increase to keep the system free.But.#WorcPoli #MAPoli #Transit #Bus #UrbanTransit #PublicTransit #MBTA
(DIR) Post #AjBlEptjtNJ3SCxELA by andthisismrspeacock@mas.to
2024-06-22T01:58:50Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
Turns out,-Maintaining fareboxes and farecard machines (owned by a notoriously unreliable and uncooperative third party, natch)-Validating and issuing reduced fare cards for elderly, disabled, and low income riders-Collecting, depositing, and accounting for cash fares-Customer service and refunds for farecard failures*COST* the RTA about $4M a year.So really, to make the system free only cost $3M a year, not $7M.#Worcester #MAPoli #Transit #MBTA #Bus #UrbanTransit
(DIR) Post #AjBlEsK2sXXMyNHGca by andthisismrspeacock@mas.to
2024-06-22T02:01:02Z
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So now when I see the #MBTA talking about their "ring of steel" plan and their "next generation #CharlieCard" plan, I have to ask... why are they bothering?#MAPoli #Boston #Worcester #Transit #UrbanTransit
(DIR) Post #AjBlEuwP8tPR5vEvgm by andthisismrspeacock@mas.to
2024-06-22T02:06:08Z
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It seems at least possible that it would be cheaper to just make the #MBTA free than to invest hundreds of millions into a new generation of turnstiles, fareboxes, vending machines, and cash collection... not to mention transit cops to pursue "fare evasion".Has anyone done this analysis? If not, why not?#Boston #Worcester #MAPoli #Transit #Subway #Bus #UrbanTransit #Equity
(DIR) Post #AjBlEx7p1PjLrub4lM by andthisismrspeacock@mas.to
2024-06-22T02:10:13Z
1 likes, 1 repeats
Is the problem some teenagers ducking their #subway fare, or a bureaucracy insistent on shoveling huge amounts of money to a private vendor for fare collection machinery and to law enforcement to punish Those Undeserving Poors?"Just asking questions," as one says 😁#Boston #Worcester #MBTA #Transit #UrbanTransit #Equity #BusesAreCool
(DIR) Post #AjBlEzCVIyfEJ0nqL2 by andthisismrspeacock@mas.to
2024-06-22T02:23:44Z
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And while it's a thread, gonna eat some crow: I opposed the RTA's fare-free project at first.The #Worcester RTA is crippled by having a lot of routes that don't run very frequently (e.g. every 40-60 minutes) which understandably don't attract many riders.My position was that if we're gonna come up with $3M more dollars for #transit, let's keep collecting fares and use that money to increase service frequency. Making the every-45-minute bus free won't really help ridership.#MAPoli #MBTA
(DIR) Post #AjBlF17GBReqFKMgRU by andthisismrspeacock@mas.to
2024-06-22T02:27:26Z
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But I was wrong! Making the #bus #transit system free *did* significantly increase ridership, even on routes that have very shitty frequency.And as every transit advocate knows, more riders equals more political power equals a better chance at more funding. It's a positive feedback loop.So free fares is a loss leader, even if it costs in the short term it strengthens the system in the long term. I did not expect that, and I was wrong!#Boston #Worcester #MAPoli #UrbanTransit #MBTA
(DIR) Post #AjBlF3J22eGL2Pt74K by andthisismrspeacock@mas.to
2024-06-22T02:34:46Z
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Our local surprisingly better than we deserve and doing their best with what they have kinda RTA, if anyone's interested:#Worcester #Bus #Transit #UrbanTransithttps://therta.com/
(DIR) Post #AjBlR4ImAHivbMUvbM by cy@fedicy.us.to
2024-06-22T14:40:23Z
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The problem is homeless people are icky, and they keep sleeping on the train