The MBTA faces a budget deficit heading into the next fiscal year which begins July 1.
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. The new fares are effective July 1. Many people showed up at today's hearing and were given a chance to talk during an hour-and-a-half-long "public speaking" session before the vote. They also chanted a chorus of "Shame …
The 43 and 55 bus could be cut entirely under one of the MBTA's proposed plans.
With a projected $161 million deficit for the next fiscal year, the MBTA on Tuesday announced plans to raise fares and cut services to deal with the budget shortfall. The cuts would affect up to two bus lines that run through Beacon Hill. The transit authority presented two proposals, both of which would raise the cost of taking the T for passengers while reducing transit options. One of the proposals, called "scenario 1" in a report issued by the MBTA, relies heavily on fare increases to balance the budget, while the other proposal, "scenario 2," relies more on cuts to service—both proposals increase fares and cut service to some degree. Under "scenario 2," Beacon Hill would face service cuts to at least two bus lines. In one of the …
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Andrew Jeromski
3:59 pm on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
From @ Jeanine Brown: I just left a comment re: the real reasone behind the MBTA's "deficit." This fare hike is wrong and should not have to make T-riders pay for the Central Artery's way over due expenditure and time! more ›