They found the same with library fines. The amounts weren’t deterring people from not returning their books. People generally return books. The issue was that those who were hit with fines either paid them off or couldn’t. And those who couldn’t, usually needed the books more than anyone. The same can be said with public transit.
If we really want to be a functioning economy where people can afford to both live and work, giving people a reliable, affordable means of transportation is one of the first steps.