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I love the Denver Light Rail system, it was one of the best improvements to Denver that I have experienced since being away for almost 10 years. The city of Denver did an excellent job of installing the Light Rail trains and track, and widening the I-25 corridor so that it didn't take away from the crowded Interstate through downtown. I am thankful that I wasn't living here while the project was underway, it makes the results far more enjoyable when I didn't know any of the inconveniences.
I love taking the train downtown for a game or to hit up the city, and the stops are very convenient and freeing to not have to worry about parking or driving in the city, and the costs of parking involved. The fare is fair enough, I think it cost me $7 round trip last Friday from my south suburbs beginnings, less than it would have cost to park for a Rockies game.
I have to wonder how much it would actually cost if everyone paid their way? I have only once seen a ticketing agent on the train, though I have always paid my way. There is an unspoken understanding that if you were caught riding without a ticket the fines are so high that it would make up for all of the times you have rode without paying. I'd have to believe that ticket enforcement agents would be a more effective route.
The ticketers on the trains (for lack of a better term) going into New York are an iconic memory for me of visiting that great city. When you saw them with their vests and pins, and those punchers that they worked in expert fashion over the tickets you had an almost magical feeling taking you back in time (it was like seeing the ticketer on "The Polar Express," only less computer graphically creepy). Maybe it helps that I was a tourist taking the train in, but either way I have a fond memory even before crawling out of Penn Station under Madison Square Gardens.
That type of magic wouldn't happen in Denver, but the memory of riding into the city on the light rail and having your ticket checked the first time would likely remind you to always purchase a ticket. It is sad that people would ride without paying their way, it shouldn't take enforcers for people to simply pay their way. But this isn't the reality, and it seems the honest rider once again is paying for everyone. I know that hiring more ticketing agents would cost more, but the cost should balance out by everyone paying or being fined greatly. I would think that it could even keep the prices from constantly rising, and allow the transportation service to actually work on expanding some trains to better destinations, such as Boulder or DIA. I don't work in the city so my trips are few, and I'm sure most of the revenue is from businesses and monthly passes anyway, but I have seen how crowded a Friday night train can be, and the suspicion that most of that train rode the lottery of not being checked, and rode for free because of it.
On a final note, I propose that maybe they should loop "Ticket To Ride" as a subconcious way to make people feel guilty. Or maybe not, that could get old real fast!