Town mulls jump onto the new T
Wellesley may join two new regional planning efforts aimed at shifting political power and transportation funds toward the suburbs.
The town is considering whether to join the new MetroWest Regional Transit Authority -- a two-month-old agency that is administering inter-town buses, and which has already been adopted by Framingham, Natick, Holliston, Hopkinton, Ashland, Wayland, and Weston.
MetroWest RTA director Ed Carr recently appeared before Wellesley officials, who were intrigued by the prospect of buses that could pass through town and drop residents at MBTA stops or other places, said Owen Dugan, board chairman.
The town is still in the very earliest stages of research, he said.
"We have to look at, and think, 'Does it apply to Wellesley in a way that would be beneficial?' " said Dugan.
Wellesley pays annual assessments of about $500,000 to the MBTA for its commuter rail service. But under a new law spearheaded by Senator Karen Spilka, an Ashland Democrat, suburbs not receiving bus service from the T can redirect a portion of their dues toward another transit authority that will provide such service.
The new regional authority is expected to redirect nearly $6 million away from the MBTA this year, causing rates for subway commuters living closer to the city to go up.
As it ponders membership in the MetroWest RTA, Wellesley is also considering support of another Spilka initiative: a MetroWest Regional Planning and Economic Development district.
The proposed district -- comprising 30 communities west of Route 128 to Interstate 495 -- aims to capture millions in state and federal transportation dollars and redirect them to suburban road, bridge, and transportation infrastructure improvements.
Now, Wellesley pays an assessment into the Boston Municipal Planning Organization, which spends most of its money on urban projects.
Town officials think Wellesley could benefit from more resources to use on local bridges and roads. "It sounds positive to join a larger group that can lobby for the things we need and want," Dugan said.
Spilka will present her proposal more formally to Wellesley selectmen in the fall, said her spokeswoman, Sarah Blodgett.
MetroWest legislators were preoccupied with a third suburbs vs. city transportation battle this week, Blodgett said, arguing against proposed toll increases for suburban commuters on the Massachusetts Turnpike.
The MetroWest Caucus, a group of suburban legislators, wrote a letter yesterday to Governor Deval Patrick and Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen criticizing the proposed increases from $1 to $1.25 at the Weston and Allston tolls, called for to help cover Big Dig cost overruns. Pike officials have already said that may not be enough, and even more increases could be forced on commuters in the future.
"It's unfair," said Blodgett. "And the caucus is continuously reminding them that they are asking their residents to pay for cost overruns for roads that don't serve them."
Erica Noonan can be reached at enoonan@globe.com. 
