Revenue booster

RE “MTA Is on Wrong Track,” by Christopher Hawthorne, Dec. 5: Collecting fares never seems to be a bad idea for public transit. Considering how the MTA always seems cash-strapped, recovering that 5% sounds pretty good to me. (Actually, without turnstiles, they have no way of measuring how many people actually use the system.)

The MTA is also losing revenue by not having advertising on the dead-bare walls of its stations. It would not only brighten up the daily commute but also be a great source of information about events and public services.

William DuBay

Costa Mesa