Caltrain has two proposals to increase fares yet again:
(a) 25-cents for each zone,
(b) 25-cents to base fare, and 25-cents for each zone

http://caltrain.com/news_2006_6_14_fare_increase_public_hearing.html
(comments are accepted until the 29th, so please write them!)

In my opinion, Caltrain is way too expensive already. If one already
has a car, one would only take into account the _marginal_ cost of
driving (that flyer that Caltrain posts is deceptive, as it includes
the cost of insurance and depreciation, which are almost fixed costs).
This marginal cost, which includes time, and the cost of gas, both
compare unfavourably to driving. This increase would surely drive
even more "choice riders" away.

I worry more, however, about the impact on those who can't even afford
a car. If you compare the socio-economic status of people who take
the bus vs. the train, there is already a huge difference now. After
the fare increase, a round-trip ticket from San Jose to San Francisco
would cost a whopping $16...


Surely there are better, and fairer ways of raising money for Caltrain.

Thanks,
Haywood