Media Statement: Red–Blue Connector To Be Included in Focus40

BOSTON, February 4, 2019 — We are pleased that the Secretary and the FMCB have decided to revise the Focus40 planning and investment plan to include the Red and Blue Line connector. When completed, this short and affordable tunnel connecting Bowdoin and Charles MGH stations will finally complete Greater Boston’s legacy subway system and link some of the region’s most important destinations and job creators. It also will provide the MBTA with critical system redundancy during a period of renewal and repair when other elements of the subway network may be out of service.

TransitMatters sends its gratitude to the over 1,200 T riders and supporters who signed our petition, as well as the many state and local elected officials from across the region, including House Speaker DeLeo. Their strong support helped make this important decision happen.  They know that connecting the Red and Blue Lines is essential to the functionality of the entire subway system.  And we wholeheartedly agree with FMCB member Brian Lang, who today expressed his support for this project and urged his fellow members to approve funding to enable engineering to begin this calendar year.

The next step is making sure that this project is placed on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) when it’s revised in April.  Funding ought to be available to begin engineering and keep this initiative on track. Our work will not be done until we achieve a specific commitment to include this on the CIP and begin engineering before the end of this calendar year.

More info about the FMCB decision can be found here here: https://commonwealthmagazine.org/transportation/pollack-prioritizes-red-blue-rail-connector/

Media Statement: Proposed 2019 Fare Increase

BOSTON, January 28, 2019 — TransitMatters is disappointed that T officials are proposing an average fare increase of 6.3% to take effect in July, especially given that we are not close to either significantly improved service or the introduction of AFC 2.0.  The healthy skepticism expressed by several members of the Fiscal Management and Control Board ought to carry over to action that holds off on any fare hike until certain specific milestones have been met.

The FMCB should commit the T to certain fare policy changes, such as Zone 1A / Zone 1 equity, Gateway City discounts, and unlimited transfer windows, among other changes, ahead of any fare increase and the introduction of AFC 2.0.  We also think that the current fare increase discussion raises a larger question about the inherent inequity of how transportation modes are treated from the revenue side. Assuming this fare increase goes into effect, subway transit fares will have increased 40 cents since 2014, while the gas tax has remained unchanged (and actually decreased with inflation factored in). Our current approach to raising transportation revenues keeps each element of our mobility system in a silo, exacerbating inequities and encouraging more traffic congestion and modal inequality.  Any T fare increase ought to automatically trigger parallel increases in TNC fees and the gas tax.  That would be fair, sensible and forward-looking. The current approach is an injustice and unsustainable, both economically and environmentally. The Commonwealth’s policy cannot be encouraging people of means to either get into their personal automobile or to worsen congestion by opting for TNCs. For the sake of all our residents, we must start treating our transportation system as one system, and move the revenue levers in tandem. 

Media Statement: MBTA General Manager

BOSTON, December 14, 2018 — TransitMatters looks forward to working with Steve Poftak in his new role as General Manager of the MBTA. Steve’s service on the FMCB and as an interim GM should enable him to hit the ground running as he tackles the job of providing excellent transit services to thousands of people every day. The task before us is challenging to say the least: to restore a legacy system and strategically modernize and expand it to serve the needs of a growing 21st century economy, and to do so in a way that ensures no T riders are left behind. More resources are needed to accomplish this task – resources to fund the necessary recruitment, hiring, training, and talent retention that can oversee the rebuilding of our system. We have a long road to the type of system our Commonwealth deserves, and in the meantime we need the resources to make what we have serviceable. It will take time, and net new revenue on the operating side, and a commitment to think and act creatively. As transit advocates, enthusiasts and users, we pledge to continue to offer General Manager Poftak and his team with our best thinking, and our willingness to collaborate on initiatives that help identify and implement new business models, new ways of delivering service, and better ways to keep T riders informed and engaged.