Brown: Chaos at the MBTA

The MBTA is expected to receive approximately $160 million from the 25% sales tax increase in the FY10 budget. This was supposed to have prevented a fare increase for the foreseeable future. Yet, within weeks, the Patrick administration called for a fare hike. T users were rightfully outraged and Secretary Aloisi quickly made Grabauskas the scapegoat.

Managing the debt-ridden MBTA is no easy task, and since being appointed by Governor Romney in 2004, Grabauskas had performed admirably enough to win the support of Senate President Therese Murray, Speaker Robert DeLeo, and Boston Mayor Tom Menino, and Newton Mayor David Cohen. Emails obtained by the Boston Globe clearly show Aloisi pushing for a fare increase while Grabauskas resisted and questioned the need for it in light of the sales tax increase. Now the taxpayers are left footing the bill for the over $300,000 buyout of Grabauskas’ contract which would have expired at the end of this year anyway.

This administration has a history of putting politics before people when it comes to transportation issues. Since January, the administration has proposed raising the gas tax to one of the highest in the nation, placing GPS tracking chips in registration stickers to tax mileage regardless of privacy issues, and increasing MBTA fares that will ultimately cause an estimated 5% decrease in ridership at a time when we should be encouraging public transportation for conservation and consumer purposes.
Additionally, this administration closed one third of RMV branch offices without clear explanation of cost savings or time for alternate site proposals and with little regard for the inconveniences it causes. Compounding the problem is the postponement of the chance for average citizens to weigh in on how fare increases will affect their daily lives. We do not need another “top to bottom” review of the MBTA, but we need action. Secretary Aloisi’s ability to effectively manage the Commonwealth’s transportation system must be questioned, especially at a time of major transportation reform. Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei and House Minority Leader Brad Jones have rightfully requested that Governor Patrick fire Aloisi before any more damage is done to the already shady image of our transportation system and the confidence of the taxpayers of Massachusetts.

We have a lot of work to do in restoring the public’s confidence in our transportation system, but before any reforms can be instituted, Governor Patrick needs to get his house in order.

State Senator Scott Brown represents the Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex District.