sutisuc t1_jcmy84h wrote on March 18, 2023 at 12:16 AM

Reply to comment by ottprim in NYC Subway Fare over last 120 years adjusted for inflation by dust1990

Wow. Can’t even fathom the city trying to dictate what a private company could charge today. Thanks for sharing

funforyourlife t1_jcn12bt wrote on March 18, 2023 at 12:37 AM

Utility companies literally have their rates set by the government

bayoublue t1_jcnruvj wrote on March 18, 2023 at 4:25 AM

The city payed for the construction of the subway lines and owned them. The private operators had operating agreements to run them.

ottprim t1_jcn3gkl wrote on March 18, 2023 at 12:55 AM

There's an interesting book about the early subway called Uptown/Downtown.

https://www.amazon.com/Uptown-Downtown-Through-Yorks-Subways/dp/0801581966

sutisuc t1_jcn6m9n wrote on March 18, 2023 at 1:19 AM

Thanks I’ll check it out

Powerful-Attorney-26 t1_jcrtu3p wrote on March 19, 2023 at 1:49 AM

The city had paid for the construction and let the private companies make the profits. The actual tracks and stations have always been owned by the city. Massive corporate welfare. And indeed the owners of the private companies make a fortune early in the subways' existence. First of all the seems were profitable themselves for about the first ten years, and the owners were able to engage in massive amounts of land speculation because they knew where the lines and stations were going to be put.