Posted Dec 20, 2011, 9:05 AM
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Midwest Moderator - Editor
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Big Mitten
Posts: 31,745
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BTW, found this interesting article published in the Freep literally days before the guv and mayor sought to bury Woodward LRT. It shows how other communities pay for their systems:
Quote:
Big city transit funding sources diverse
by Matt Helms | The Detroit Free Press
December 11, 2011
...
CHICAGO
Agency: The Regional Transportation Authority oversees public funding for the Chicago Transit Authority's city and suburban bus and rail, Metra commuter rail and Pace suburban buses.
Population: 8 million in six counties.
Ridership: 2 million daily.
Funding: $2.25 billion annual operating budget. The major funding source is a sales tax of 0.50% to 1.25% in Chicago and its suburbs. The area's transit providers by law must self-generate 50% of operating costs from fares, advertising and the like.
Governance: A 16-member appointed Regional Transportation Authority oversees public funding, budgets and service planning for the three agencies, which are operated independently.
ATLANTA
Agency: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority oversees bus and rail in Atlanta and two counties. Agreements permit free transfers between MARTA and smaller suburban bus systems.
Population: 5.3 million.
Ridership: 135,000 daily.
Funding: 2012 operating budget of $414 million. Nearly 32% comes from fares, but the largest source is a 1% regional sales tax providing more than $200 million.
Governance: 12-member board includes appointed representatives of Atlanta and the two counties and the state Department of Transportation commissioner.
HOUSTON
Agency: Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County is the major provider of bus and rail.
Population: 3.5 million.
Ridership: 280,000 weekday average.
Funding: $430-million operating budget. Fares account for 15% of the budget. The major revenue source is a Houston-area sales tax of 1%.
Governance: A nine-member board of directors appointed by local officials from the city and its suburbs.
DENVER
Agency: Denver Regional Transportation District is the major provider of bus and rail.
Population: 2.8 million in eight counties.
Ridership: 322,000 average boardings each weekday.
Funding: 2011 budget was $377 million. The biggest funding source is a sales tax of six-tenths of a cent in Denver and its suburbs. Fares provide about 20% of funding.
Governance: Board of 15 members elected by area's voters.
PHOENIX
Agency: Several providers offer bus or rail service in metro Phoenix's Maricopa County, including the City of Phoenix, but they coordinate service and operate under the Valley Metro.
Population: 4.2 million.
Ridership: 250,000 weekday daily boardings.
Funding: $259 million combined. Fares cover about 23% of operations budget. Major funding sources are sales taxes in Phoenix, Tempe and other cities and countywide.
Governance: Each system operates independently, but service is coordinated through the Regional Public Transportation Authority, which has a 16-member board of appointed representatives from Phoenix-area communities.
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