YOUR STORY on the costs and effects of the Big Dig left out an important impact on transit riders. A total of $1.8 billion of Big Dig air pollution mitigation commitments was transferred to the MBTA, and servicing that debt prevents the MBTA from making the capital investments needed to provide its current and future riders with safe, reliable transportation. This year, those Big Dig debt costs are draining away cash the MBTA needs to offset the tremendous increase in fuel and energy costs. A good first step would be to take that $1.8 billion in Big Dig costs off of the MBTA, freeing up about $120 million a year to serve the growing transit ridership.
The Globe has noted in previous stories that the MBTA is in a fiscal crisis this year. Too much debt, sluggish sales tax growth, and spiraling fuel costs have set the stage for a budget meltdown just as more people are dependent on the transit system. These problems are beyond the MBTA's capacity to solve, and I am certain that the state needs to act right now.
PAUL REGAN, Executive Director, MBTA Advisory Board, Boston
