NYC budget hawks say subway discounts for the poor are better than free buses for all
New Yorkers are eligible for a Fair Fares discount if their household makes no more than 150% of the federal poverty line — or $22,600 a year for a single person. The CBC argued that raising the threshold to 250% of the poverty line, or $39,900 for a one-person household, would do more to help the poor than making the buses free. The nonprofit estimated increasing the income limit would cost taxpayers $232 million a year, up from the $86 million the program currently spends annually.
Nah, free subways or busses or whatever they end up doing, no more means testing. Every single paperwork barrier is an opportunity for perniciousness.
And if they are free for everyone there is no guilt or stigma preventing people from taking advantage of it.
Free buses means no mess with fare collection. Hop on, hop off. That's a maaassive savings in hassle and accounting.
fwiw the accounting savings are already factored into the $900M price tag