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As someone who does not have a car and relies on public transit to get almost everywhere, it would seem like a sure bet that I would vote yes on this issue, but I don't think public transportation should be free.

I came to my decision after reviewing the cycle of what does transit use the money for, could they replace it, and what could they do instead of eliminate fees to make transit more affordable. Here is what I came up with.

The money collected from fares is needed and used to improve both the amount of service and the quality of service. Fare money is used to pay for transit vehicle upgrades, increased routes, and to buy more transit vehicles. These transit improvements result in better quality of service, which translates into less crowded transit vehicles, make transit more convenient by being available at more times, and also ensures that transit will be on schedule.

If public transportation becomes free, the question immediately becomes how do the transit companies replace the revenue brought in by fares. Transit is already subsidized by taxes and corporate sponsorship. The reality is that there is no other viable option to replace the money generated by fares.

So, what can the transit companies do? My suggestion would be to explore increasing affordability and increasing the number of free fare days. Students and the elderly already pay reduced fares, but perhaps this could be reduced further. In Vancouver, there is the U-Pass, a mandatory program for all University students that costs $22/month, and allows for unlimited transit use. Transit companies could also increase the number of free fare days to include all major holidays and perhaps Sundays.

The idea of free public transportation is a great one, unfortunately, it just doesn't work in reality. Transit companies need the revenue generated by fares to maintain and improve service, however, that doesn't mean that they shouldn't explore reducing costs.

Learn more about this author, Tracie Parker.
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