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Lawmakers blast T fare hike proposal

E-mail|Link|Comments () August 10, 2009 12:34 PM

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff

A group of House and Senate lawmakers today blasted a proposed MBTA fare increase, saying it was "unjustified," "unfair," and "ill-advised."

They also said they felt hoodwinked by Patrick administration and T officials, who had earlier said they needed $160 million to close a projected deficit this year. The Legislature provided that amount through a sales tax increase, thinking that it would be enough to offset fare hikes.

“We have done what was been asked of us to offset the need for the fare increases and service cuts this year,” said Representative Carl Sciortino, a Somerville Democrat who said he takes the T every day. “We call upon the T to do their job, to meet the needs of their riders, and not increase fares in a way that would dramatically decrease ridership.”

Nine lawmakers attended the press conference. All of them voted in favor of increasing the sales tax, from 5 percent to 6.25 percent, in part to help pay for transportation needs.

“To put forth a fare increase is in essence putting forth a new tax on those who are trying to work,” Representative Marie St. Fleur, a Dorchester Democrat, said today. “We agreed to the sales tax, many of us, because part of it was supposed to take care of… the debt service that we can’t repay right now for the T.”

The MBTA this afternoon is scheduled to hold the first in a series of public hearings on proposed fare increases throughout the system. The proposed increase would raise cash-paying adult bus and subway fares by 50 cents. Commuter rail passes would increase by as much as $31 a month, depending on the zone.

The proposal comes after the Patrick administration last week helped oust MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas.

Sciortino said the inner politics over Grabauskas's removal has diverted from the more far-reaching impacts of the proposed fare increase.

"We think the finger-pointing is actually a distraction from the real issue facing the MBTA and its financial health," he said. "We're looking to move beyond the finger-pointing and get back to the MBTA riders."

Transportation Secretary James Aloisi Jr., who now has much more control over the authority, suggested that a fare increase may not go into effect, depending on the results of a review of the MBTA’s finances.

“I’m not going to bring a fare increase to the board based on these circumstances, until we have this top-to-bottom review and until I’m convinced we’ve kicked the tires on it to know we don’t have any options,” he said.

That review is scheduled to be completed by Nov. 1.

Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.