Selling the New York Subways

Wild-eyed radicalism or the only feasible solution?

Periodically the New York Times prints letters to the editor or Op-Ed pieces complaining about subway conditions in New York City (bad and getting worse) or subway finances (ever-greater deficits owing to inadequate subsidies from nonriders). Remarkably, no solutions to this universally recognized problem are ever suggested other than that non-residents of New York City ought to pay more to maintain New York City’s subway system. That, of course, is not quite how the matter is expressed in the various media; the phrase usually employed is “more support by the state and federal governments.” Currently, subway users are subsidized to the extent of about one-half of “total costs,” although that figure does not include an allowance for the continuing deterioration of the system.

JR

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James B. Ramsey

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Wild-eyed radicalism or the only feasible solution?

Periodically the New York Times prints letters to the editor or Op-Ed pieces complaining about subway conditions in New York City (bad and getting worse) or subway finances (ever-greater deficits owing to inadequate subsidies from nonriders). Remarkably, no solutions to this universally recognized problem are ever suggested other than that non-residents of New York City ought to pay more to maintain New York City’s subway system. That, of course, is not quite how the matter is expressed in the various media; the phrase usually employed is “more support by the state and federal governments.” Currently, subway users are subsidized to the extent of about one-half of “total costs,” although that figure does not include an allowance for the continuing deterioration of the system.