Shouldn’t The School Board Or The City Pay For This Anyway?

Setting aside for a moment that the MTA is probably using this issue as a political wedge, and that it apparently succeeded, why should the MTA pay for New York City students to ride subways and buses for free? Shouldn’t the school system (since they save money on transportation) or the City itself (since so much of school funding comes from the City) be paying for the students?

Even though it has a similar system, Portland, OR doesn’t pay for students:

High school students in the Portland Public School District can ride TriMet for free during the school year, by showing their student ID.

Unlike other school districts, Portland Public Schools does not provide regular yellow school bus service. The Student Pass program is a partnership between the school district and the City of Portland, and is funded through a State of Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit and Portland Public Schools. It is not subsidized by TriMet.

I don’t think SEPTA (Philadelphia) pays for students, and it doesn’t seem like LA or Chicago does, either.