Saturday, June 30, 2012
It will cost more to ride the T starting this weekend — and some routes will have decreased service.
On Sunday the MBTA's fare increases start. They're being imposed — along with service cuts — to close the transit agency's $160 million budget gap. Those service cuts also begin Sunday. In Watertown, cuts include elimination of Saturday service on the 52 and 554 bus routes. There are other changes, like an increase in the surcharge for getting your Commuter Rail ticket on the train (if the station where you board has ticket machines). THE RIDE will add a more expensive $5 zone starting Oct. 1. For a complete list of changes taking place on the MBTA system beginning Sunday, visit this T link or check out the PDFs attached to this post. Here's a look at the new costs:
Friday, June 15, 2012
It appears that state legislators will come through on a promised one-year bailout for the MBTA, negating a warning from the T that without the money they'd raise fares even further than already planned.
MBTA strap hangers can breath a bit easier as it appears politicians will come through on a deal to avoid further fare hikes by the T. At issue is tens of millions of dollars the state promised the T as part of a bargain struck this summer. In it, fares will go up and service will be trimmed — but the T's budget gap of $160 million will be bridged. The Globe is reporting that the House is set to approve a $49 million to the financially-troubled transit agency. It's a one-year fix. The money would come from a state fund that supports green-friendly transportation, according to the Herald. As it is, riders still must brace for a 23 percent hike in fares and service cuts that affect some Watertown bus lines, effective July 1. But once the one…
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
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. Routes that will lose service in Watertown are the 52 and 554 buses, both of which will lose Saturday service – the only weekend service for those routes. Many people showed up at today's hearing and were given a chance to…
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The 52 and 554 buses will no longer have Saturday services under the plan released by the MBTA Wednesday.
Fare hikes will not be as great a first proposed and two routes serving Watertown will no longer have Saturday Service, under the plan released by MBTA officials on Tuesday. MBTA fares will rise 23 percent and four bus routes would be cut as part of the MBTA's final plan to close its $161 million budget gap, the MBTA announced today. “The proposal we put forth today reflects our current fiscal reality and the feedback we heard from customers,” said Transportation Secretary Richard Davey. “We have put forth a solution that limits the impact on riders for one year but I encourage everyone to remain engaged in helping us find a long-term fix for the T’s budget challenges.” Fourteen other bus routes would be modified, including the 52 and 554 …
The "Superheroes" known as the Fast Five took over a meeting with the MBTA's finance and auditing committees yesterday, which was adjourned.
There are only a few jobs which may be interrupted by the presence of superheroes, and this week MBTA board member appears to be one of them. Dressed in brightly-colored garb, The Fast Five have attended MBTA meetings in before, and they swooped in during an open MBTA Finance Committee meeting yesterday to save riders on the MBTA from the impending fare hikes and service cuts proposed by the MBTA. According to Transportation Nation, the protesters took over the room, and the board members began to walk out of the meeting. The "heroes" then took over the meeting, and appointed themselves as the "People's board," the Globe reports. See a video of the protest here on CBS Boston. Although the MBTA sent out an open letter announcing they will…
Friday, March 23, 2012
The MBTA is processing the feedback from its two proposals, and support for the two proposals looks to be low.
For people who attended the various meetings about the MBTA service proposals, it may come as no surprise that their service cuts and fare hikes seem to be unpopular. After proposing two scenarios that involved cuts and fare hikes for the MBTA service, the MBTA opened itself up to comments from the public – requesting emails, letters, and hosting public meetings about the two scenarios. Having analyzed much of the feedback, the MBTA issued a report on that feedback. So far, it doesn't look great for either scenario. Out of over 5,700 emails, 400 letters, and more than 1,800 comments from its series of public hearings, a majority of the feedback was in opposition to the cuts. With only 48 percent of the comments received categorized, …
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Could the MBTA Cuts make Boston and Brookline less healthy? A recent Metro Area Planning Council details some of the possible adverse effects.
The MBTA is keeping Brookline and the Boston area healthy, according to a study from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). A new report to be unveiled at the State House this afternoon details some of the impacts to public health as a result of the MBTA's proposed cuts. “These findings show that land use and transportation decisions can profoundly affect the health of our region’s residents,” said Marc Draisen, Executive Director of MAPC in the press release. “Our transit system is vital to keeping Greater Boston healthy.” Some of the statistics from their report indicate that health costs could go up $272.1 million under scenario one, and $386.9 million under scenario two –which is more than the $161 million budget gap the …
Friday, March 9, 2012
New webpage from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council invites you to show you how you would fill in the budget gap.
To fill a $161 million defecit in their budget, the MBTA has suggested two possible solutions, and the T Advisory Board has proposed a third. At a meeting in Watertown, riders and state and town officials said they would rather see fare hikes than service cuts - if one had to occur. Do you think you can solve it? The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) created a webpage to calculate the effects of different combinations of options on that looming $161 million budget. With their MBTA Budget Calculator, you can pick and choose the options and make your own proposal. Each available option describes what impact it would have. For example, the check box for "Increase an average of 10%" includes a mouse-over "Details" panel listing what …
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Here is your chance to speak your mind on the MBTA's proposals.
The MBTA will host a public hearing tonight for the public to give input on the proposed service cuts and fare hikes. The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at the Arthur Clark Government Center at 119 School St. and MBTA officials will be available to answer questions. Full coverage of the MBTA's proposals. Patch will be at the hearing and will provide full coverage.
42.378021
-71.236432
Arthur J. Clark Government Building
119 School St, Waltham, MA
/articles/mbta-service-cutsfare-hike-meeting-tonight-in-waltham
198066
/locations/6489127
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The MBTA Advisory Board proposed a plan that would raise fares by 25 percent, shift some costs to other state agencies and institute some thought-provoking fees and changes.
The MBTA Advisory Board, which provides public oversight of the MBTA, has presented a new plan—some might call it a third option—for dealing with the MBTA's in fiscal year 2013. The plan comes amid over put forth by the MBTA that would substantially raise fares and cut service on Boston's public transportation network. In recent weeks, thousands of angry T riders have attended public hearings around the Boston area to protest those proposals. Under the advisory board's plan, there would be no service cuts, and the fare increase would be less than with the MBTA's two current proposals. Here are some highlights of the plan: Here are some of the more creative ideas The MBTA Advisory Board estimates that, taken together, it's proposal would…
Sonny Beaches
10:35 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
This is both funny and effective. A pity the Townie Jihadis can't inject less venom and more humor into their "shout outs". At least then serious residents would entertained while being inconvenienced. more ›