Comment Re:Call me crazy but... (Score 1) 515
...shouldn't the price of the ride be based on the cost of delivering the service? What if it turns out to cost $300/person to transport someone from LA to SF on the new rail system?
That's only one factor. Another factor to consider is that more passengers riding a train (or bus, or whatever) means fewer drivers, which means less road maintenance, relatively lower congestion, and fewer parking spaces that need to be provided. Dealing with those items also costs the government money, which is part of the reason transit options are generally subsidized by cities, counties, and states.