[silotis]

It doesn't need to be a cash cow (and probably shouldn't be), but public transit should be able to break even because that is the only reliable signal that a service is providing enough value to justify its cost.

[vel0city]

All roads should become toll roads then. The moment you leave your private drive you should be paying for the roads to break even.

Calling the police or fire department should incur service chargers.

Libraries should charge rental fees.

Schools should all charge tuition, including "public" schools.

If they're not at least breaking even, are we sure they're providing any public good?

[amanaplanacanal]

Roads and highways don't break even. I guess we should stop maintaining those, since they don't justify their cost.

[dns_snek]

If they're breaking even then what "cost" is there to justify? That's a really roundabout way of saying that public transit doesn't deserve public financing.

[mentalpiracy]

If that is the only reliable signal in this context - what signals of measuring value are available in this context that you feel are unreliable?