Today’s N&O article on commuter benefits within businesses has an interesting line about government subsidy of mass transit.
To be recognized by the Best Workplaces program, an employer must offer several commuter benefits. Free bus passes, primarily through a Capital Area Transit program called UPASS, are the most popular commuter benefit provided by city, county and state agencies. UPASS users accounted for 14 percent of CAT ridership in the last 12 months(of course emphasis has been added).
Notice that not only is the city providing employees of businesses who subscribe to the program free transportation, but the free transportation occurs on buses that everyone else has to pay for. Of all who avail themselves of the CAT service, 14 percent are getting a free ride.
This, combined with the reduced rates of transit services, really makes me question just how important, useful, and in demand, is mass transit.
