It happens every time a rail project is built in the U.S.: People who just don’t understand that the human race will not survive if we all continue to drive gas-powered cars complain about the fact that rail transit is subsidized (“Let’s see true subsidy costs of operating rail,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 25). The farebox recovery ratio is never 100%, nor should it be, because everyone benefits anytime someone takes the train instead of driving.
Yet, somehow, there’s never any talk of the big driving subsidy ($368 million a year, according to the state’s website). Both modes of transportation are subsidized, but one continues to release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Whatever mismanagement the new rail formula may have had (and starting it at the western end instead of Ala Moana was a big mistake, resulting in low ridership all the way to the airport and downtown) , we want to build it. The style where everyone drives a personal gasoline-powered car is efficient or less subsidized.
As Ann Landers said, wake up and drink your coffee.
Christopher Moylan
manoa
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