The projected farebox receipts for the River Line - $1.4 million in the first year - fall far below any other new line's revenue. Given $18 million to $19 million in operating and maintenance costs, fares will cover about 7 percent of costs and require a subsidy of just over $8 per trip. When the $48 million debt service is added, the recovery is 2 percent and the subsidy $31 per trip
$31 subsidy PER TRIP!?!?!?! This is unconscionable - how was this ever allowed to be built?? $1 billion to build, over $60 million per year to run, for a measly 5,900 trips per day? Can you say PORK? What a waste, especially with projects like the Cutoff, MOM, West Trenton line, Rahway Valley extension, etc. languishing for lack of funds. It's a damn shame...