At one point, I've read, fare collection on toll roads used to chew up about 50% of the money paid. In general these days, payment for transit and roads is largely automated and self-service. It's not free to collect but I'm sure the economics have changed.
If your fare collection is really bad that is true. However collecting fares in a way that isn't very costly is not that difficult/expensive and so most transit agencies are making a nice amount of money from their fare collection.
At one point, I've read, fare collection on toll roads used to chew up about 50% of the money paid. In general these days, payment for transit and roads is largely automated and self-service. It's not free to collect but I'm sure the economics have changed.