Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Transit Funding Solutions, Parisian Edition

8:48 AM PST on March 5, 2009

We want mass transit in American cities, right? Right. So how are we going to pay for it?

1429512270_188b3f36f2_m.jpgPhoto by wallyg via Flickr.

Today on the Streetsblog Network, Yonah Freemark at The Transport Politic
suggests looking across the Atlantic for some answers to that question,
taking New York's MTA and Paris's RATP as examples of the differing
approaches in the U.S. and in Europe. His detailed analysis of the
funding of the Parisian transit authority, which relies in large part
on payroll taxes and to a much greater extent than the MTA on
government subsidies, leads him to a couple of conclusions, among them:

So, on the surface level, [the Parisiantransit authority] appears to be funded much like the MTA,with funds coming from dedicated taxes and from government subsidies.There are two important differences, however: one, revenue from thetaxes that pay for transportation in Paris are less likely to varysignificantly during economic downturns; two, the government subsidiesare designed to compensate when tax revenue falls short.

MTA’s reliance on sales and real estate transfer taxes puts it at agreat risk of losing expected funds, because consumption of consumerproducts (sales tax) and of property (urban tax) decreases dramaticallyduring recessions; so do the balance sheets of corporations, which theMTA also taxes. On the other hand, taxes on income do not see changesthat are nearly as significant, especially in France, where firingpeople is incredibly difficult. 

Not in
the mood for pie charts and revenue graphs? There's plenty of other
stuff on the network, too. Like a harrowing tale of road rage from A Year of Bike Commuting; some disturbing views of auto-dependent landscapes from Reinventing Urban Transport; and, from Austin on Two Wheels, a look at the slick marketing campaign for the B-Cycle bicycle-sharing program.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Eyes on the Station: Metro Fortified Turnstiles at MacArthur Park Station

Metro fortified turnstile entrances at MacArthur Park in order to curb fare-evading riders; sometimes this has adverse impacts on fare-paying riders

September 27, 2023

SGV Connect 117: Alhambra Councilmember Adele Andrade-Stadler and Artist Steve Farley

SGV Connect podcast interviews Alhambra City Councilmember Adele Andrade-Stadler and Pomona Gold Line Station Artist Steve Farley

September 26, 2023

This Week In Livable Streets

Metro board, Ballona Creek, Metro K Line extension, Green Line maintenance, Metro public safety, and more

September 26, 2023
See all posts