There are some things in life that don't necessarily make sense but we don't question because it's always been done that way. In a world where college education is so critical to success, we offer young people free education right until they get to college, and then charge extortionary tuition rates. In the same vein, we talk equal opportunity for students, but offer them wildly varying education based on what zip code they live in. We acknowledge that a healthy mass transit system is good for the environment and for economic development, so why charge commuters much more aggressively to ride a train or a bus than to use roads, which aren't exactly free but only passively funded by gas taxes?
The last point has me wondering whether we should listen to this op-ed in today's Daily News:
How much would it cost? A lot less than the billions being thrown at Wall Street. In 2010, SEPTA expects to collect about $400 million in passenger revenue. Chump change in the new Washington, especially compared to the $1.1 billion it will spend. Not having to collect fares will certainly save a big chunk of change.
So let's upgrade the bus and rail lines. Let's get real security - effective transit police, with zero tolerance for misbehavior, and that includes loud music, graffiti, etc.
Let's spend $1 billion a year on Philadelphia's transportation system from 2010-2015. That's $6 billion. Let's make this investment in an effective regional system. Then let's see what happens. Make Philadelphia the nation's public-transit experiment.
Instead of spending billions to redo the South Street Bridge - scrap it. Build a walking and biking bridge. I don't know if anyone has noticed, but the Schuylkill Expressway runs a lot better without a South Street exit and entrance - they were death traps anyway.
Never going to happen, but the author is right -- if you're going to spend billions, wouldn't it be better to get cars off the roads than to make sure some AIG guy gets his bonus. Free (or reduced-fare) transit would have other offsets -- global warming reduction, wear on tear on highways, etc. The only thing that keeps me from a full-throated endorsement is seeing how the free business model has worked out with newspapers and the Internet.
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
"Then let's see what happens." The lack of respect for taxpayer earned dollars is staggering.— jmc
I think it might mean that we should make all of our schools "good" and provide a quality education to all of our children... And I also think, regardless of the author's unfortunate turn of phrase, that one could easily project what effect $6 Billion over six years would have - both environmentally end economically. Of course, I love my country and it's government of the people, by the people and for the people and believe in our ability to help each other. The Hate Americans First crowd? Not so much...— E.Plebnista
Let's abolish government Will and see what happens. Oh the taxpayers will save alot of money, I'm sure, and the paper it's written on will come in handy for fuel.
"The lack of respect for taxpayer earned dollars is staggering." I thought the same thing when I read about Halliburton's contract in the newly invaded Iraq. I really don't want to hear about federal spending and budget deficits from Republicans. You people have ZERO credibility.— Hamlet- "I think it might mean that we should make all of our schools "good" and provide a quality education to all of our children" What you've left unsaid is that this has been the unrealized goal of the education monopolists all along. Busing didn't work. Throwing more and more money at the problem hasn't worked. Where vouchers have been used, there has been progress.— legatus
- Have you tried traveling the 22nd Street corridor lately without the South St bridge? Takes FOREVER, whether by bike or car. We need that bridge back. Or an effective subway system, like the DC Metro. Makes SEPTA look like horse-drawn carriages.— Echo
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"In a world where college education is so critical to success, we offer young people free education right until they get to college, and then charge extortionary tuition rates." I have the perfect solution to this problem - why don't we just confere college degrees on everyone that would be cheaper. Since we don't really care if students learn thru high school just pass them along to the next grade because we might bruise someones tender psyche if we actually made them earn their diploma.— bird11- Oh, and whose idea was that South St. ramp on the Schuylkill? Does the city actually have an employee with the title Psycho Traffic Engineer?— Hamlet
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- Never going to happen, but the author is right -- if you're going to spend billions, wouldn't it be better to get cars off the roads than to make sure some AIG guy gets his bonus.....I don't agree with the bailouts but trying to make this analgous to the mass transit system in stupid. The auto industry and related industries(tires, fuel, etc.) killed mass transit in the US 50 years ago. I think it was Firestone that bought the LA cable car system and shut it down. Like I said weeks ago, let the Big Three fail and give the money to US car companies like Telsa who will be capable of producing plug in electric cars with up to a 400 mile range and emit no pollution.— chasing history
- Bird, you think paying exorbitant college tuitions is part of "earning" a degree? Those whose families can't afford it don't "deserve" an education, right? Those deadbeats should accept their lot in life as virtual slaves and shut up.— Hamlet
- "Those whose families can't afford it don't 'deserve' an education, right? Those deadbeats should accept their lot in life as virtual slaves and shut up." Same argument applies to those against vouchers.— legatus
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
E-mail Will by clicking here.
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