In a departure from proposals that would raise MBTA fares and slash services to balance the MBTA budget, the state's top transportation official says his agency aims to raise enough revenue to avoid service cuts.

Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey made the remarks to the Boston Globe.

The about-face comes after thousands of people turned out a public meetings to denounce the proposals in recent weeks.

The cuts on the table would eliminate services out of Wilmington's MBTA station, something Town Manager Michael Caira was strongly against.

“Some people may not be able to work if they go through with those changes,” Caira told Patch earlier in February. “There are a lot of folks who work in Boston from this area, and they rely on the train for their livelihood. It impacts the entire economy if they start cutting back on those opportunities. Yes, it will clog the roads as well, but also on weekends, people who would normally go into the city will probably not go in as often.”

For the entire story, please visit the Boston Globe.