Bronx Pays More Than its Share for Rail Service

In a piece for RPA Labs, Jackson Whitmore contends that Bronx residents pay a disproportionate fare for travel. "We’ve been exploring where our current transit system falls short, especially for outer-borough commuters like those in the Bronx. RPA is not only evaluating how new rail service or bus routes might address current gaps in the system, but is also taking into consideration the ways that our existing infrastructure can better meet the region’s needs through policy changes," Whitmore says.

New York's rail commuters pay a fare that varies based on the distance they travel, but those in the Bronx end up getting charged more than those commuting from anywhere else in the city. "The Metro-North stations that pay the highest price per mile are all within the Bronx." This means more people on the bus and trains in the Bronx, "have lower median incomes, making these higher prices seem even further out of reach for the average commuter. Is it any wonder then that we see lower levels of commuter rail ridership at these stations despite being located in places with fewer subway stations and longer bus or subway travel times?" Whitmore concludes.