Mass Spending for Mass Transit

Democrats want the GOP to rescue big-city rail and public unions.

WSJ editorial. Excerpts:

"This would also ease budget pressure in Democratic states and big cities. The feds fund about 8% of transit system operating costs on average, with 36% coming from passenger fares and 56% from state and local governments. Taxpayers subsidize public transit to the tune of 92 cents per passenger mile and more for light rail and buses.

Politicians don’t like to raise transit fares for riders, so many have instead been raising taxes and raiding budget accounts earmarked for repairs and general fund revenues that are supposed to finance public safety and schools. New York has enacted a “congestion tax” on drivers who enter Manhattan’s business district. San Francisco is considering a $6.50 fee on higher-earning drivers.

These charges are intended to force more people onto mass transit and to shore up failing systems. At least city dwellers are having to pay for their government’s mismanagement. Senate Democrats want to shift more gas tax revenue paid by drivers in Kalamazoo to subways and public unions in New York. That will mean less money for road repairs in the suburbs and on interstate highways."