Tuesday, April 10, 2012
The plan approved by the MBTA last week only covers the budget for fiscal 2013, meaning the deficit gap is expected to re-appear next year.
With the 23 percent fare increase plan approved by the MBTA last week, the T is set for the coming year, but next year could be a problem. That is, unless legislators can help close the gap. Lawmakers are currently looking at a plan that would divert $51 million to the MBTA, coming out of vehicle inspection fees. However, the Globe reports that some of that money could go to other transit authorities around the Commonwealth. “Because the money was generated from everywhere around the state, I think there’s a strong case that this fund should go to all transit authorities,’’ said Mattapoisett Democrat William Straus, in the Globe. NECN reported earlier today that the MBTA expects to see a deficit of $110 million in the fiscal 2014 budget. …
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Four Newton bus routes will be affected by the cuts.
After all of the talk, public hearings, and protests over the past three months, the MBTA Board voted Wednesday afternoon to boost fares 23 percent and cut back service in an attempt to close a projected $161 million deficit in the next fiscal year. Board members approved a plan in a 4-1 vote that would raise most subway fares by 30 cents, bus fares by 25 cents, and commuter rail fares by at least $1.25. Meanwhile, some cuts in service—mainly involving bus routes, The Ride, and the commuter rail—were also approved. Fare and service changes will start July 1. Four Newton bus routes will be affected by the cuts, three of which will face elimination. The changes include: Many people showed up at today's hearing and were given a chance to …
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Cuts will be made to bus routes, the E line and the Commuter Rail
UPDATED 11:55 p.m. with additional information on revised Newton bus routes. 12:35 p.m. According to the MBTA, three Newton bus routes will be eliminated with the proposed service changes and fare hikes released today. One route, the 555, will be revised. The changes include: A full list of the eliminated bus routes is available in the .pdf box to the right. UPDATED 11:39 a.m., with information from the MBTA: The MBTA board plans to meet on April 4 to possibly approve the plan. The E branch of the Green Line would remain running, but only up to the Brigham Circle stop. From there riders could take the 39 bus to get to the Heath Street area. Overall, service changes would result in $15.4 million of savings and fare increases would generate…
Thursday, March 22, 2012
The MBTA is processing the feedback from its two proposals, and support for the two proposals looks to be low.
For people who attended the various meetings about the MBTA service proposals, it may come as no surprise that their service cuts and fare hikes seem to be unpopular. After proposing two scenarios that involved cuts and fare hikes for the MBTA service, the MBTA opened itself up to comments from the public--requesting e-mails, letters, and hosting public meetings about the two scenarios. Having analyzed much of the feedback, the MBTA issued a report on that feedback. So far, it doesn't look great for either scenario. Out of over 5,700 emails, 400 letters, and more than 1,800 comments from its series of public hearings, a majority of the feedback was in opposition to the cuts. With only 48 percent of the comments received categorized, …
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Could the MBTA Cuts make Boston and Brookline less healthy? A recent Metro Area Planning Council details some of the possible adverse effects.
The MBTA is keeping Newton and the Boston area healthy, according to a study from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). A new report to be unveiled at the State House this afternoon details some of the impacts to public health as a result of the MBTA's proposed cuts. “These findings show that land use and transportation decisions can profoundly affect the health of our region’s residents,” said Marc Draisen, Executive Director of MAPC in the press release. “Our transit system is vital to keeping Greater Boston healthy.” Some of the statistics from their report indicate that health costs could go up $272.1 million under scenario one, and $386.9 million under scenario two--which is more than the $161 million budget gap the MBTA …
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The governor came to the area for a grassroots gathering to talk about issues in Massachusetts and his work nationally to help Obama get reelected.
Fare hikes for the MBTA will be needed, but Gov. Deval Patrick said he does not want to see service cuts as a way to balance the T’s budget. Patrick appeared at a Garfield Street home in Watertown Thursday evening to speak to a gathering of about 50 to talk about politics in Massachusetts, and his work to get President Obama reelected through the Together PAC – created by Patrick himself. Some of those at that gathering, which a Patrick spokesman called a grassroots house party, worried about the future of the T, and hoped for other ways to fund the transit system. The governor said he has heard the same message from people about the T. “Consensus is ‘We get the fare increases, but not the service cuts,’” Patrick said. “Some of the (…
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
"[The MBTA cuts] would have a devastating affect on our students...and people of all walks of life," Mayor Setti Warren said at the public hearing.
Concerned about the effects of proposed fare hikes and service reductions, MBTA riders and elected officials packed the War Memorial at Newton City Hall Tuesday night to voice their opinions and ideas. Eighty-five people signed their name up to comment at the standing room-only meeting, the first of 20 that will be held across the state. Throughout the evening, speakers underlined concerns about transit accessibility for disabled and elderly patrons as well as local students. "The disability community needs to be taken into consideration as you work through these situations that may be very difficult for you, but for us are life changing," said Watertown resident Brian Charleston, who works at the Carroll Center for the Blind. …
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Melanie Graham
1:24 am on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Hi Adam -- Thanks for your comment. As we stated above, the eliminated bus routes we listed in this specific story are only those that pass through Newton. According to the documents given to us by the MBTA and the documents available on their website, the only Newton buses that face "route elimination" are the 52, 554 and 500. I believe these are the most recent documents available. The 555 bus… more ›