Thursday, June 21, 2012
But stopped short of creating a financial control board.
The Senate passed a $51 million bailout for the MBTA but decided against a proposed control board that would oversee the agency's finances. The senate voted 26-9 in favor of the bailout Tuesday. The vote falls in line with a similar measure passed by the House, and Gov. Deval Patrick is expected to sign the bill by the June 30 deadline, according to the Boston Globe. The plan would head off more fare increases and wider service cuts than those scheduled to start next month, according to the Globe article. The proposed oversight board would have taken control of the T's finances for three years and was favored by senators representing towns outside of Boston. “There’s a lot of frustration, mainly from legislators outside the MBTA service …
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
The mayors of Boston, Somerville, Salem and Fitchburg spoke to a crowd in the lobby of South Station, vowing to work for long-term funding for the state's rails, roads and bridges.
Mayors, a senator and the secretary of transportation all spoke at a "Transportation Summit" in bustling South Station, calling for long-term, sustainable ways to pay for the state's infrastructure needs. Not one of them uttered the phrase "gas tax." Instead, the focus was on selling the idea that the Commonwealth needs a state-wide way to pay for rails, roads and bridges. The PR blitz kicked off what is expected to be a widespread campaign to bring in various constituencies, like business, greens and labor. Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone made the case that it makes economic sense to invest in transportation. "Everyone knows," said the five-term mayor, "that a modern, comprehensive and efficient and reliable transportation system is a non…
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Thursday, June 7, 2012
T riders, already set to have their fares hiked 23 percent on July 1, might be asked to dig even deeper if state politicians don't come through on a promised $51 million bailout.
A delay by Beacon Hill pols in making good on a promised $51 million cash infusion for the MBTA might cause the transit agency to ask strapped riders to shell out even more in fare hikes. Commuters could also suffer further service cuts. The unfulfilled bargain was part of the deal brokered earlier this year to close the T's $159 million budget shortfall. Riders will pay a 23 percent fare increase, coupled with some service cuts, starting in just three weeks. State legislators keep dawdling on one one-time infusion of unused state auto inspection fees, according to the Herald. "I have to say that even for this Legislature, this is really shocking," T board member Ferdinand Alvaro told the tabloid. "With three weeks left and no indication …
