Second Ave. Sagas From LI Bus, a case study in the purpose of transit discusses the financial sustainability of transit systems. New York City (and even the metro area as a whole) seems like a place transit services should turn a profit. Obviously they don’t under the current regulatory regime, ownership structure, union arrangements etc. However, the demand is clearly there, and a driver and bus should be able to make something of it, just as taxis are profitable, and jitneys are (when they aren’t shut down).

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