While there are several ways to calculate “farebox recovery ratios” for transit agencies – the amount of system operating costs covered by fares – the most convenient way to make a comparison across several agencies is to use data compiled and reported by the Federal Transit Administration.The table below is from FTA agency profiles for 2000.

NYC Transit enjoys the least government operating support of any big-city bus and subway based transit systems (BART being more of a subway/commuter rail hybrid that covers long distances and charges distance-based fares). Likewise, the LIRR is near the top of the list for commuter rail operations

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