You're A Rich Girl & You've Gone Too Far...

Some passengers were discussing the high price of RTD Fares and how they are going up in 2011.
Then they noted the lower prices in other markets (cities).

As a Taxpayer, like most of you and also like most of you, as a former Passenger before I became a Driver - let me give you my take on how RTD works compared to these other companies, their prices etc.

Plain and simple, RTD gets every penny of its finances from YOU.
Through taxes, fees and fares, everything comes either directly from you or through the gov't in the form of grants, subsidies, etc.

In Canaduh for instance, the price to ride is incredibly cheap.
That's because they slam the cost from your income taxes.
Then they charge a nominal fare and you think they are running to please YOU.

In other markets, the bus companies may be "private" like a few companies here in Denver.
These companies receive all their profits and operating costs, etc from the Fares.
So the cost to ride may be higher.
Denver is a bit fuzzy since the public pays to support the private sector companies through supplies, vehicles, etc.

The only reason RTD raised the Fares this time is because the Economy is so ripped that they knew you, the tax payer would not vote to approve a fee/tax hike to cover expenses so they mandated a Fare increase knowing that so very few of you would actually come to the meetings in a show of force against the increases.

So at the moment, the cost to ride RTD's "The Ride" is going to be a bit higher than other markets.
Overall, you end up paying the same as these other markets because what you pay up front in fares, they pay behind the scenes in taxes and fees.
What's the saying?
"Six of one - half dozen of the other..."

Anywho, don't fret about the higher prices.
This hike will make the public shy of another increase for a few more years and RTD isn't going broke any time soon.
Whether they are running at a loss each year, they still get paid through taxes, fees and grants, etc.
If it gets bad enough, they'll start to actually make cuts, start running more efficiently and stop spending money like obama in a liberal Congress!
They're not going anywhere.
Too many Coloradoans rely on the bus to get around and "privatizing" the District would cost the Passenger far more than the economy can afford.

By the way, did you see RTD's FaceBook post recently?
They pointed out that the top three routes combined in 2009 accrued close to 9 million "boardings".

Were you one of those 9 million?
As always, "Welcome aboard, find your seats, be one of the 9 million - Let's Roll!"