How Will MBTA Rate Hikes Impact You?
Answer our Question of the Day in the comments section below.
What would cuts in MBTA services and increases in fares mean to your everyday life?
Photos (2)
Photos
If you rely heavily on public transportation out of Wilmington in your everyday life, you'd better get ready for some changes.
According to the state's transportation website, there are two MBTA scenarios for the near future and both would feature fare increases and cuts to services. Those cuts could include elimination of commuter rail services after 10 p.m. during the week and completely on the weekend.
"While the MBTA continues to identify and adopt strict measures to close the budget gap, less costly ways of doing business and additional revenue-generating measures are necessary," said MassDOT Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard Davey. "I am confident with the public’s involvement in this process we can review the study, propose recommendations, and together generate new revenue to continue the progress the MBTA has made in serving its customers.”
The first scenario would include an increase of 43 percent, and the second a spike of 35 percent. Both would mean cuts or eliminations to commuter rail services.
So for today's questions, we want to know:
How much of an impact would commuter rail reductions impact your everyday life? How often do you ride the commuter rail out of Wilmington? Would an increase in cost make it more likely that you would avoid public transportation?
Let us know your thoughts on the changes in the comments section below, and let us know anything else that may be on your mind.
ken peffer
10:21 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
I ride the train every week day from Wilmington. It's already $163 for a monthly pass, though that's much cheaper than driving and parking. The proposed hike will drive the pass up to almost $240, which is outrageous. But, what can you do? Driving into Boston is just not a practical option. They have us hand-cuffed. And what about the 10pm thing? Celtics and Bruins games? Ug....
Jan Galkowski
9:20 am on Thursday, January 5, 2012
I'm less concerned about cost than loss of Commuter Rail and T as an option. Many people still avoid public transport, relying upon their automobiles for commutes and such. It's obvious the infrastructure needs upgrading, and is cash short. I don't blame the MBTA; I blame the residents of greater Boston for continuing their ill-fated love affair with the automobile, despite highway fatalities and increased gasoline costs. I say slap a surcharge on gasoline in Massachusetts and use it to subsidize public transport. (Maybe federal law prevents that?) I doubt it'll happen: Our legislature is, like many, in the pockets of big corporations. Better, apply a carbon tax nationally: That'll use market incentives to make public transport more attractive.