Thursday, 4:30 PM
Menino, Patrick oppose increase as MBTA board vote on higher T fares
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Correspondent, and John R. Ellement, Globe Staff
With the MBTA board preparing to vote today on its second set of fare increases in three years, the mayor of Boston and the state's newly elected governor have both criticized the proposal and urged officials to look for another way to raise revenues.
If approved by the nine-member Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority board, the cost of subway and trolley rides would jump 45 cents and bus fare would increase by 35 cents.
Thomas M. Menino urged board members this morning to consider shutting down little used bus lines in the suburbs and postpone any fare hike until officials can explore other options. Fare hikes, especially on bus lines, would hurt those who can least afford it -- the hospital workers, restaurant employees and students who rely almost exclusively on public transportation, he said.
"Who is going to take the T? It's not going to be the executives from some of our biggest companies," Menino said this morning in a Globe interview at the Parkman House. "It's our working people ... It will take money out of their pockets."
The measure would also up fares on buses and commuter rail lines. To ease the burden on riders, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority would also reduce prices for its most popular bus and subway passes and offer free rides for children 11 and younger traveling with an adult.
Under the new fares, subway and trolley rides would go from $1.25 to $1.70, and bus fares from 90 cents to $1.25. Most commuter rail passes would cost 22 percent more. The new fares would go into effect in January, the second set of increases in three years.
MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas has said that the T doesn't want a fare increase, but that heavy debt and anticipated budget shortfalls make it necessary.
T officials project that the higher fares would bring in $71 million a year and balance the budget after two years of shortfalls. They acknowledge that the fare hikes will drive away an estimated 16.5 million passengers a year. The MBTA carries about 1.1 million passengers on an average workday.
Governor-elect Deval Patrick opposes the fare increase, though he said on Wednesday that he recognizes the financial troubles of the MBTA.
"This couldn't come at a worse time when ridership is low and falling," Patrick said of the propsed increase at a press conference Wednesday.
The vote today is scheduled for this afternoon. The nine-member board includes the state Secretary of Transportation and almost always follows the recommendation of MBTA administrators, who called for the fare hike. Board members are appointed by the governor to two years terms.
Carrie Russell, a staff attorney at the Conservation Law Foundation, issued a statement opposing an increase.
"It is time to move beyond the short-term solutions that push riders away from the MBTA and look toward real investments that will turn around the state’s transportation problems, avoid traffic congestion and reduce global warming and air pollution," Russell said in a statement.
