Latest / The Fiscal Policy Podcast with Fexingo: Government Budgets, Stimulus, and Public Spending
How Hidden Fees Drain Public Transit Systems
We break down the hidden financial architecture of municipal transit, focusing on how fare capping and zone-based pricing create a regressive tax on low-income riders. Using specific examples from London's Oyster system and New York City's MetroCard transition, we examine why agencies prefer complex fee structures over simple flat fares. The episode explores the tension between operational efficiency and social equity, revealing how small percentage hikes in late-night surcharges or transfer fees accumulate into billions in lost revenue that could fund service improvements. This is…
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