One common argument against boosting public transportation is that buses, trains and subway systems “don’t pay for themselves.” Roads, we’re told, are bankrolled by drivers, via gas taxes. Subway systems, by contrast, aren’t self-sufficient and usually need additional funds on top of whatever they collect through fares. (Boston’s subway system, for instance, collects just 25 percent of its revenues through fares; the rest comes from a state sales tax and other local funds.)
But there are two counterarguments here. The first is that roads don’t always pay for themselves (see this report, or ask the Texas DOT). And the second is that public transit doesn’t just benefit the people who ride the buses or subways. It also benefits drivers, by reducing overall congestion.
via Congestion and the real value of public transit – The Washington Post.