Podcast 11b - Should MBTA Riders Receive Refunds?

After a historic month of MBTA service delays and suspensions, many riders, politicians and media figures are asking the T to refund money to February monthly pass holders. What form would rebates take? Should the T use very limited funds for this purpose? Is a refund even helpful, or does it simply shift focus from fixing T infrastructure to blaming T management?

Episode 11 guest Rich Parr, Research Director for MassINC Polling, sticks around with Jeremy and Marc to debate the rebate hot potato.

UPDATE: Yesterday the MBTA announced they would be offering a free fare day in late April and discounts on May passes. More business as usual: blame T management for political problems.

Podcast 11 - Transit Polling with Rich Parr of MassINC

MassINC Polling Research Director Rich Parr shares his recent work and perspectives on what people think about the transportation dilemma in Boston. After the MBTA collapsed, a follow-up poll showed a dramatic increase in perceived important of transit, and most people now recognize that the region suffers without good transit. Still nobody can agree on how to fix it, and myths such as wasteful spending and mismanagement continue to lower the discourse.

Selected fun facts:

• The population of Boston has increased nearly 10 percent since 2000, with similar growth in Cambridge, Somerville and Quincy.
• MBTA ridership is up nearly 30 percent on the Red and Orange Lines, and 10 percent on buses, since 2004 (the Green Line is at capacity). However, no trains or buses have been added during this time.

We think we know how to fix the T but we struggle with how to raise money. Listen in and share your thoughts and ideas >> contact us.

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The Transit Matters Podcast is your source for transportation news, analysis, interviews and more. We focus on sustainable transportation planning, operations and policies in Boston and beyond. Transit Matters is a joint project of local transit advocates Marc Ebuña, Jeremy Mendelson and Josh Fairchild.

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Radio Boston interview: How to Fix the T

I was interviewed on Radio Boston (WBUR/NPR) yesterday about investment priorities for the MBTA and the potential for an emergency transportation plan implemented in Boston. Check out the short segment, How to Fix the MBTA (audio) and let us know what you think.

As always, tweet your thoughts to @TransitMatters,  fill out our contact form, or just comment below. You can also tweet at me directly via @CriticalTransit.