Comments on: House holds nose, maintains status quo at RIPTA http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/06/25/house-holds-nose-maintains-status-quo-at-ripta/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:59:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jim http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/06/25/house-holds-nose-maintains-status-quo-at-ripta/comment-page-1/#comment-159678 Jim Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:58:09 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3851#comment-159678 Have you ever been to Kennedy Plaza? The individual buses do not sit there for half an hour. The longest I've ever seen a bus there is 5 minutes. Have you ever been to Kennedy Plaza? The individual buses do not sit there for half an hour. The longest I’ve ever seen a bus there is 5 minutes.

]]> By: Bill http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/06/25/house-holds-nose-maintains-status-quo-at-ripta/comment-page-1/#comment-159662 Bill Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:42:57 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3851#comment-159662 Ok RIPTA here is a eye opener you guys waste more that a little allowing Buses to be at Idle while waiting for passengers to load or in between runs waiting as long as 1/2 hour before returning to the roads, never mind the people who have to wait behind a bus in a busy kenny plaza with co2 emissions blowing in there face yuck. Ok RIPTA here is a eye opener you guys waste more that a little allowing Buses to be at Idle while waiting for passengers to load or in between runs waiting as long as 1/2 hour before returning to the roads, never mind the people who have to wait behind a bus in a busy kenny plaza with co2 emissions blowing in there face yuck.

]]> By: Faiser http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/06/25/house-holds-nose-maintains-status-quo-at-ripta/comment-page-1/#comment-137276 Faiser Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:22:24 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3851#comment-137276 The fundamental issue here (or at least mine) is that increasing taxes to ship over to RIPTA so they could once again prove that they are able only to increase their debt is what is typically called perpetuating a non-solution to a problem. What the state needs is an actual solution. And sure, we can look at the statement above by Bret that "our roads and bridges are dependent almost exclusively on taxes." And how is that model working as the interstates creep up over 60 years old? What we see is a trend to privatize, as the tax-based model has been shown to be broken, and as some states are clever enough to admit it and to act on it. RI, sadly, is not one such state. Granted that privatization hasn't proven to be the panacea, but nonetheless, it represents a move that does not equate to beating the dead tax horse. The fundamental issue here (or at least mine) is that increasing taxes to ship over to RIPTA so they could once again prove that they are able only to increase their debt is what is typically called perpetuating a non-solution to a problem. What the state needs is an actual solution.

And sure, we can look at the statement above by Bret that “our roads and bridges are dependent almost exclusively on taxes.” And how is that model working as the interstates creep up over 60 years old? What we see is a trend to privatize, as the tax-based model has been shown to be broken, and as some states are clever enough to admit it and to act on it. RI, sadly, is not one such state.

Granted that privatization hasn’t proven to be the panacea, but nonetheless, it represents a move that does not equate to beating the dead tax horse.

]]> By: Jim http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/06/25/house-holds-nose-maintains-status-quo-at-ripta/comment-page-1/#comment-137238 Jim Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:50:06 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3851#comment-137238 I think Jef's suggestion of the percentage of the price per gallon is the way to go with the gas tax, though I would favor raising the gas tax by a whole dollar. Taxes are a necessary means of funding public transportation systems, though they do also need a stable method of funding, which the General Assembly needs to take care of. I think Jef’s suggestion of the percentage of the price per gallon is the way to go with the gas tax, though I would favor raising the gas tax by a whole dollar.

Taxes are a necessary means of funding public transportation systems, though they do also need a stable method of funding, which the General Assembly needs to take care of.

]]> By: Corey http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/06/25/house-holds-nose-maintains-status-quo-at-ripta/comment-page-1/#comment-137231 Corey Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:50:05 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3851#comment-137231 I think Jef is right in that RIPTA should have a more stable source of funding than simply the gas tax, but I also think that Urbaner has a point in that raising the gas tax is at least a good place to start. An extra 2 cents a gallon isn't anywhere near enough though. Make it 10. I think Jef is right in that RIPTA should have a more stable source of funding than simply the gas tax, but I also think that Urbaner has a point in that raising the gas tax is at least a good place to start. An extra 2 cents a gallon isn’t anywhere near enough though. Make it 10.

]]> By: Bret Ancowitz http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/06/25/house-holds-nose-maintains-status-quo-at-ripta/comment-page-1/#comment-137230 Bret Ancowitz Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:53:59 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3851#comment-137230 As Jef always points out as well, our *roads* and bridges are also "dependent almost exclusively on taxes for funding." By your standards, how good a "business" is the DOT? Do you think that by not charging tolls for use of roads, bridges, and tunnels we are "forcing funding through use of taxes is encouraging a poor business model" for our auto based transit? As Jef always points out as well, our *roads* and bridges are also “dependent almost exclusively on taxes for funding.” By your standards, how good a “business” is the DOT? Do you think that by not charging tolls for use of roads, bridges, and tunnels we are “forcing funding through use of taxes is encouraging a poor business model” for our auto based transit?

]]> By: Urbaner http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/06/25/house-holds-nose-maintains-status-quo-at-ripta/comment-page-1/#comment-137229 Urbaner Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:19:25 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3851#comment-137229 Faiser - There isn't a public transit authority in the country that isn't supported by taxes and heavily. Also, some of RIPTA's funding does come from its fares. The private transportation system - Road and highway system, car companies, oil companies and also the airline industry like public transit is funded by taxes, tax breaks, and other subsidies. If the private system didn't get such enormous subsidies and a larger percentage of tax money was shared with public transportation, service could be improved and that would increase overall ridership. More taxes should be extracted to support and develop RIPTA's system. An increased gas tax is a great place to start. Faiser – There isn’t a public transit authority in the country that isn’t supported by taxes and heavily. Also, some of RIPTA’s funding does come from its fares.

The private transportation system – Road and highway system, car companies, oil companies and also the airline industry like public transit is funded by taxes, tax breaks, and other subsidies.

If the private system didn’t get such enormous subsidies and a larger percentage of tax money was shared with public transportation, service could be improved and that would increase overall ridership.

More taxes should be extracted to support and develop RIPTA’s system. An increased gas tax is a great place to start.

]]> By: Faiser http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/06/25/house-holds-nose-maintains-status-quo-at-ripta/comment-page-1/#comment-137227 Faiser Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:45:08 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3851#comment-137227 Your attitude is wrong here. RIPTA is running a poor business and, unfortunately like so much else in RI, is dependent almost exclusively on taxes for funding. Think about the incentive: when gas prices increase, quantity demand decreases, and RIPTA enters more into debt. Wait, what? Does it not make more sense to align incentives so that RIPTA actually benefits when ridership increases? I believe you are in good intent wishing folks would support public transit. But you must also keep in mind that forcing funding through use of taxes is encouraging a poor business model. And I don't think that's a game that will produce any long term winners. Your attitude is wrong here. RIPTA is running a poor business and, unfortunately like so much else in RI, is dependent almost exclusively on taxes for funding. Think about the incentive: when gas prices increase, quantity demand decreases, and RIPTA enters more into debt. Wait, what? Does it not make more sense to align incentives so that RIPTA actually benefits when ridership increases?

I believe you are in good intent wishing folks would support public transit. But you must also keep in mind that forcing funding through use of taxes is encouraging a poor business model. And I don’t think that’s a game that will produce any long term winners.

]]> By: Jeffrey http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/06/25/house-holds-nose-maintains-status-quo-at-ripta/comment-page-1/#comment-137224 Jeffrey Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:17:16 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=3851#comment-137224 RIPTA's Massachusetts counterpart, the MBTA is also having its' problems as well and may cut their services or raise fares. RIPTA’s Massachusetts counterpart, the MBTA is also having its’ problems as well and may cut their services or raise fares.

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