Not having to worry about the cost of transportation would be a big relief to citizens of the city. This is why LA Metro launched the Fareless System Initiative (FSI) or Operation FSI back in 2020, because they said it would take care of all the logistics that are associated with enabling everyone in the city to get wherever they wanted to at zero cost. However, there are concerns with this plan regarding the safety of the passengers on LA Metro's transportation system.
LA Metro started another initiative in April of 2022 that they called "Respect the Ride" aimed at increasing passenger safety. It involved hiring additional staff to help remind people to follow the Code of Conduct for riding on their public transportation system. They also planned to spend $5 million on "homeless outreach staff to connect unhoused riders with social services and housing." OK, that's great! Except... how are they going to pay for this?
Operation FSI came right after an exceptionally challenging year, with the pandemic not only taking many people's lives, but also sabotaging the value of homes, and redefining the parameters of survival for many. It is a sad reality that many people lost their homes during this time. So now there are countless displaced people living in Los Angeles, and many are taking up residence in and around bus stops and transit stations. The fact that LA metro has its own Homeless Task Force to address the issue is very telling.
More people are returning to work now, and public transportation plays a pivotal role in their commute... especially with the high price of gasoline and Los Angeles' decision to outlaw sales of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. We are going to rely more and more upon public transit, and it is absolutely crucial that people know they will be safe when they ride.
Without transportation fees acting as a deterrent, the transport system will be even more packed. There will be no reason for people to get off of buses and trains; if they can ride for free, they might as well just stay on the vehicle. We have already seen how quickly infectious diseases can spread in populated areas. A crowded and uncontrolled transportation system might be all it takes to tip the scales backwards. The last thing we need is another pandemic of any sort.
To that end, and in the long-term best interests of serving the needs of the people, it would be prudent not to implement a cost-free transportation system in L.A. While it might not be obvious initially, a cost-free transportation system is likely to do far more harm than good.
