tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post2645645977280134272..comments2024-03-26T00:25:34.026-04:00Comments on Not Running a Hospital: Swirling down the drain, ever fasterPaul Levyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17065446378970179507noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-10476693575555764392012-12-31T20:25:09.628-05:002012-12-31T20:25:09.628-05:00There are many failures in the USA mass transit sy...There are many failures in the USA mass transit system. Systemically we have huge up front costs - even compared to other rich countries. Other than health care, the USA is not usually much less effective than other countries (having to spend far more for no better results).<br /><br /> http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-26/u-s-taxpayers-are-gouged-on-mass-transit-costs.htmlJohn Hunterhttp://engineering.curiouscatblog.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-53651025403979408522012-01-04T17:28:56.285-05:002012-01-04T17:28:56.285-05:00The New Jersey Transit rail and bus system covers ...The New Jersey Transit rail and bus system covers about 43% of its operating costs from fares, down from a historic peak of 50%. I think 50% of revenue from fares and 50% from subsidies is about the right mix because even people who never use mass transit benefit from less road traffic than there would otherwise be without mass transit.<br /><br />There is a structural problem with the mass transit business model because lots of expensive equipment is needed to serve customers during the morning and evening rush hour while much less is needed during off-peak hours. The rest of it sits idle during most of the day. This is not the case for freight trains, long distance trucking or commercial airlines. Another problem is that labor costs are higher than they need to be to attract and hold qualified people because of strong unions and significant disruption and inconvenience to the public potentially caused by strikes.<br /><br />Longer term, I think the problem can be mitigated by more people working from home at least a few days a month and more if feasible. The combination of higher fares, higher highway tolls and higher gasoline taxes could drive more employers to embrace more flexible work arrangements.<br /><br />I’m quite confident that, over time, if the cost of commuting either via mass transit or private automobile increases faster than general inflation, employees and employers will figure out ways to reduce the number of trips and we will need fewer trains, buses and cars as a result.Barry Carolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-13438257556542175702012-01-04T16:59:50.686-05:002012-01-04T16:59:50.686-05:00if column 1 are fares, the bus, trolley, rapid tra...if column 1 are fares, the bus, trolley, rapid transit fares are significantly less than new york or philajamzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16938658278079810327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-14853045606708100092012-01-04T16:56:59.239-05:002012-01-04T16:56:59.239-05:00joe biden and arlen spector were the last powerful...joe biden and arlen spector were the last powerful public transportation supportersjamzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16938658278079810327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-89234546046307456662012-01-04T16:14:29.338-05:002012-01-04T16:14:29.338-05:00You are right that these problems are not limited ...You are right that these problems are not limited to Boston. Similar issues exist with the Metro system in the Washington, D.C. area, where the elevators and escalators are famous for spectacular failures and fare increases are a constant political battle.<br />In a truly Machiavellian twist, drivers using the Dulles Toll Road, a commuter highway from near Dulles airport into town, were recently tasked with paying for an extension of the Metro system to the airport. As you can imagine, the concept of taxing drivers to pay for mass transit on the same route on which they drive was not well received. But it was pushed through anyway, with consequent steady increases in those tolls.<br /><br />nonlocalAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-45595677344748531692012-01-04T13:09:12.960-05:002012-01-04T13:09:12.960-05:00But, "if there were no T".....there woul...But, "if there were no T".....there would be more street traffic, parking structures, person-car hours, fossil fuel burning, glacier melting...all leading to beach front property in the Back Bay....76 Degrees in San Diegonoreply@blogger.com