[sustran] Re: DETERMINING MRT FARES

[Ramon Fernan III]

Thanks to everyone who's contributed to this discussion. I guess one 
of the principles we stand by in sustainable transport is that it 
should be fair and equitable. I think that means both in terms of 
giving access to the poor and making transport affordable to the 
poor. If we were to directly address that issue, how should we go 
about it in this case (of the EDSA MRT and of the Bangkok Skytrain as 
well)? Would a fare that takes up half of a person's daily wages 
be fair to that person and to society even if it is supposed to be 
"fair" to the entity that put up that transport system? Also, aren't 
the shopping malls being built in major stations compensation in 
part to the investor and an incentive to keep fares down? The MRTC is 
assured an income by the government and also gets income from the 
mall development.

By the way, the first LRT in Manila, as I've said, is supposed to be 
subsidized as claimed by the government. The (flat) fare is Php10 and 
the subsidy per rider is Php60 (as claimed). The fare is slowly 
being raised to Php15. It is almost always packed. The government 
built it so it doesn't have to return a profit to an outside 
investor, only to repay the loan with which it was built.


Ramon Fernan III