Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The submitted budget closes the 2014 gap, but without more funding riders could pay.
Though the submitted MBTA budget for the next fiscal year has been approved, it assumes additional funding will close the $118 million gap. The MBTA’s fiscal year 2014 $1.86 billion budget was approved at a meeting of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Board of Directors Wednesday. The budget relies on either Gov. Deval Patrick’s “The Way Forward” transportation plan, which would pump $1 billion in revenues into the system by way of fare increases, fees and tax hikes, or another plan from either the House of Representatives, the Senate or both. If Patrick's plan is approved, the T will have a 5 percent fare increase next year to keep pace with inflation. If the plan is not approved by July 1, fare increases could go up to the …
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
New rates and cuts will start in July.
The Board of Directors for the MBTA has approved its final plan to raise fares and make service cuts, some of which would impact Brookline, according to the State House News Service and Boston Globe Twitter accounts. The board, in a 4-1 vote, approved the plan which will raise fares by 23 percent and make cuts to bus routes, commuter rail service, and alter THE RIDE service, among other moves. The new rates will take affect on July 1. Stay tuned for updates to this story.
Friday, January 27, 2012
The governor came to Watertown 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
State Representative Coppinger says he has reached out to MBTA to express his disappointment with possible South Brookline cuts, and to work with the MBTA on commuting options.
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The following is an op/ed by State Representative Ed Coppinger, who represents South Brookline precincts 14, 15 and 16: On January 3, 2012, the MBTA announced two different proposals to raise fares and cut service to combat a $161 million budget gap. Both proposals that the MBTA outlined would severely impact MBTA service around the state, but Brookline and particularly South Brookline, would be hit especially hard. While I understand that fares may need to be raised and that some service cuts may be necessary, the MBTA should reconsider its plans to shutter the 51 and 60 buses. As the State Representative for the 10th Suffolk District which includes Roslindale, West Roxbury, and Precincts 14, 15 and 16 in Brookline, I have been dismayed …
MoonBeamWatcher
6:17 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Thank you State Representative Coppinger for doing what we elected you to do! Nice to have an elected REPRESENTATIVE speak to issues and represent his constituents! Rather then suggesting that former MA speaker DiMasi (who was sentenced to 8 years on a corruption conviction) should be excused because: 'he did a lot of good'. Isn't that what we elect OUR representatives to do? That's the job, and … more ›