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Metrolink says they are in a pickle. They've either have to raise fares, cut more than 50 trains or some combination thereof. Now that Wednesday's announcement as settled a bit, Damien Newton at Streetsblog LA has collected the thoughts from experts on the issue.
Some say that Metrolink usually serves as one-part of a passenger's trip, therefore making all public transit useless to them. Add to that a comment from economist Zach Gutierrez which could mean more cars on the road: "As of 2005 the median household income of a Metrolink rider was $72,232. 84.5% own a car. The majority of riders are not transit dependent and can probably afford to pay a little more, especially when you consider that even in the middle of winter gas prices continue to hover just below $3 per gallon, still 75 cents higher than a year prior."