MBTA UPDATE: Workshops on Fares, Service Suspended

At the direction of Governor Patrick, Transportation Secretary Aloisi asked MBTA Interim General Manager Bill Mitchell to suspend all future public workshops on any potential fare increase or service cuts. 

Last week Secretary Aloisi said a fare increase will not be considered until a full top to bottom review of the MBTA by an outside panel of experts is complete. 

Governor Deval Patrick and Secretary Aloisi believe this outside review is essential as we move to consolidate and streamline our transportation bureaucracy under the historic transportation reform signed into law  in late June.  As part of the top to bottom review we will be able to to fully understand the fiscal situation and operations at the MBTA before we even consider a fare increase.  Our goal is to seek out every possible reform and efficiency, while at the same time renewing the T’s focus on customer service.

Comments

[lisa a valeri]

I have/had worked at the T for 17 years before being laid off due to a "Reduction in Force" in 2005, meanwhile they have been hiring ever since, but keep going to court with my union over my layoff, and three other employees from my union, When it was resolved with an Arbitrator that is suppose to be binding, but the T is above that and wants to keep WASTING MONEY GOING TO COURT WHEN THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED 5 YEARS AGO, wihtout wasting money going to court... and oh believe me I have many other wasted money stories..... I was a secretary and I am sure my job did not save any money at all and they have probably spent more money these past 5 years fighting than if I was still employed there!!! Whats with that.... my salary is less than they are spending going to all these courts.... !!! And still fighting costing money, so how much money have they saved laying me off!!!!

[Shelby]

Boston is a huge college town and makes much of its money from those students. If prices keep raising on the T,(nevermind the tax hike and no tax free weekend, Boston will slowly lose its appeal.