In our paper two weeks ago, we wrote about Chapel Hill’s efforts to bring Bus Rapid Transit to the town, which, with a potential $138 million investment from Congress, could finally be beginning to take shape. Following in the town’s traditional commitment to equity, it’s likely that the new BRT system could, like Chapel Hill’s current bus system, be fare-free. Our readers had thoughts. 

From Sheldon Hayer, via email: 

In days of yore, fares would pay for the operating cost of bus companies. Why is [it] up to the taxpayers to cover cost of public bus companies? Here is an example of government involvement in public transportation[:] at one time Chicago had … two public bus companies. The CTA was government owned. The other company was privately owned. The privately owned company was called the Boulevard Route. Their buses were more comfortable, cost more to operate, and had higher fares.

Richard J. Daley was Mayor of Chicago when the Boulevard Route was operating. Daley would not tolerate competition, so he found a way to put the Blvd. Route bus company out of business.

I have no use or need to provide transportation for Bus riders. A dreamscape, bah humbug. 

PS: All Indy employees should leave their cars at home and use bus service to and from work.

Readers also weighed in on social media. From @4livingtheory on X (Twitter): 

This would be good. What would really help is getting better transport routes to connect with these options. Public transport in the region is woefully behind. 

And from reader Thomas Phillips on Facebook:

Excellent! We need BRT everywhere in the Triangle.

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