Post #2074036

2026-04-30 04:18 UTC

The benefits of free travel appears to be far more about public support (in Melbourne, not in the regions where the services are full) and less about converting car journeys For a cost of $940 million per year for permanent free fares, we could see better returns from investing in fast and frequent services for more people Or split the difference: $470 million farebox recovery for half price fares, $470 million to spend on buses to the west, tram extensions, and dropping the Sunday timetable

Replies (1)

@phillboyack@mastodon.au 2026-05-03 02:32

@jeremyburge The overhaul of the myki system is likely to cost $2.8 billion over 15 years, at an average cost of a touch over $180 million/year. The ticket inspectors themselves cost ~$50 million/year in salaries. If we had permanent free fares, we wouldn't need any of that, so it would only cost the taxpayer $710 million. Public transport users would still be saving the full $940 million - more, if it converts car journeys. Sure, $710 million could expand services, but it's not an either/or - for decades, we've had neither free fares nor expanded services. Now the government has a reason to support public transport and we've suddenly got free fares, a $100 million bus bonanza, 25 additional X'Trap 2 trains, 3,500 more train services across the network, ... Given the comparative cost of private motor vehicle transport, it's not a question of whether we can afford public transport. It a question of whether we can afford to not have it. #Melbourne #VicPol #SpringSt

Open ##2074037