FullKheelReportforweb_23Jan2008.pdf Section 1 Page 2:

More than recoup revenues now generated by fares. The one-two-three punch of $16 automobile toll ($3 billion annually), taxi fare surcharge ($340 million annually) and higher curbside parking fees ($700 million annually), along with an estimated $170 million savings from eliminating fare collection, will generate $4.2 billion annually -- enough to replace the $3.5 billion in current tolls and transit fare box revenues and pay for both cordon fee administration and increased transit service while still leaving an annual revenue stream of almost $500 million to further improve transit.

The station agents, by contract, have a right to sit in the booth, even though most Metrocards are now bought at the machines. A seperate organization within NYCT maintains the machines and fare readers.

The TWU wouldn't even agree to have them walk around the station and clean up if there is some litter on the platform. Anything in the contract favorable to labor stays there in perpetuity unless the union agrees to remove it, by state law.

Personally, I'd like to see the "station agents" replaced by "station guards," perhaps at higher pay, especially overnight. But counting the whole station department as unnecessary assumes unmanned stations. I'd rather eliminate the conductors, which NYCT can't do either because of the contract.

In light of the budget crisis the city is just starting to face don't give the fare away; you will never get it back and frankly people will be happy with no fare increase.

Of course, if people deside to stop driving into the city most likely the sales tax from increased tourism income and the enhanced mobility and spending power of New Yorkers will provide a large offsets among others including traffic mitigation.

Politically, Congestion Pricing ceases to be perceived as an elitist issue many working class New Yorkers save about $1,000 annually.

The current version would have EZ-Pass readers at the bridges; if you don't want to have EZ-Pass use the Midtown tunnel, Brooklyn Battery tunnel or Triboro.

I would also include the Harlem River bridges; the city is paying hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild them so charge the motorists who use them.

I just came back from Staten Island where you pay a toll to get onto the island. Manhattan should be the same. The only difference is that tolls should be two-way to discourage toll-shopping (as is currently the situation with the MTA crossings into Manhattan).

I was also pleased to see that the toll booths at the VNB were still in place to allow the reintroduction of two-way tolling there. The Bayonne, Goethals and Outerbridge can also be retrofitted for two-way tolls.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/opinion/nyregionopinions/01kheel.html

Make something free and people come to expect it and it is very difficult to reinstate: look at the removal of tolls on the East River bridges, the removal of two-fare zones, and the elimination of the commuter tax. The city would be in a far better financial position if we still had these income streams.

More driving fees? Yes. Transit increases? No. Free transit? No way.

(1) A *lot* of time is lost when riders are restricted to one entrance so they can pay at the farebox. If riders could board at all entrances and not have to queue up to pay, it would mean far less delays at stops (the cross-town buses are the worst in this regard). Of course, a non-free alternative is the honor system I've seen in several European cities, where riders can punch a ticket at several boxes on board (or carry a pass) and may be asked to show their ticket if an inspector boards.

(2) The buses in particular are heavily used by the elderly and disabled (given the subway's general lack of accessibility)--two audiences that are likely to have limited incomes.

I am somewhat concerned that free subways may result in increased car vandalism, crime, and use as a homeless shelter (whereas buses have more built-in monitoring--one car where the driver can see the passengers), although some out-of-the-box thinking may mitigate these risks (for example, more housing alternatives for the homeless). Also, shouldn't mass transit cost a little bit more than walking and cycling, which are the greenest methods of transport? But if there were a fare, I'd keep it very, very low.