While taking the cta in Chicago last Friday, I noticed
the fares were a dollar higher, compared to the $2.00 fare for Miami Dade
Transit. As of the 1st of October, Miami Dade Transit raised its
price to $2.25, not a drastic increase if you take the train occasionally, as
most Miamiams do. Then again, considering how inefficiently Miami Dade Transit
operates compared to any other transit system available in many regions of the
world, we should be curious as to why the fare is going up. Miami Dade Transit
has made notable changes in its service in the last year, with more and
revamped hybrid buses and the new Orange line metrorail to the airport. Nevertheless,
with higher prices, we should expect better service, for example, an automated
intercom person so riders can clearly hear the stops or transfer information.
Higher prices might be the only way to help MDT service a widespread metropolis as ours. According to Miami Dade
Transit, this is their first price increase in five years and its serves to
“defray operational costs.” Frequent transit users should expect physical
improvements and even those who use their cars must see the benefits in
increased funding for an extensive transit system. MDT should make more visible
improvements for example, fighting against a money-making scheme which could
turn the US1 buslane into a Miami Dade
Expressway Authority toll road or adding lightrail on the MacArthur Causeway to
make commutes between Miami Beach and Downtown more convenient.
This fare increase will pose an inconvenience for regular
riders with low incomes, those who are not eligible to hold Golden and Patriot
passports, and students carrying Easy Cards. This excludes non-senior citizens,
non- veterans, and those earning above $22,000 per year. Despite the price
increase, taking the Metrobus and Metrorail is still much more afforable than
owning a car, for which one must pay the costs of insurance, repairs, and
gasoline. Using transit is also safer than driving and its external costs such
as the environment and health are less severe. Nevertheless, the price increase
will definitely affect students, for example those without a car, travelling to
and from Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus or to and from Jackson Memorial Hospital will notice
that the one-month pass is no longer $100 but $112.50 and for middle-income
workers and students, this is still a big increase. While some frequent riders
might “grind their teeth,” as was described by one college student who uses the metro
to commute to and from Wolfson Campus everyday, if it helps save time and make
transit operations more efficient, the price increase will be worth it. Time is
money, after all.
