Politics & Government
Boston Mayor Weighs In on MBTA Fare Hike, Late-Night T Service, Ferris Wheels
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh spoke out Wednesday on the heated issues of the week: MBTA fares prices, BPS walkout and City Hall Plaza proposal.
Boston, MA - Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh won't be the first to ride a proposed City Hall Plaza ferris wheel, but he hopped on several big issues Wednesday morning, from Monday's thousands-strong Boston Public Schools walkout to the contentious increase in MBTA ticket and pass prices.
Speaking live with Fox 25 Boston's Gene Lavanchy, Walsh said he still supports the fare hike, despite strong opposition from protesters during a hearing Monday. Fares, on average, will go up 9.3 percent system-wide starting July 1, following a contentious vote by a MBTA board Monday.
"The fare increase isn’t popular, but they do need revenue," Walsh said, noting that Boston currently numbers among the cheapest public transit systems of its size in the country.
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That said, Walsh is no fan of ending unprofitable late-night transit services. When those routes end March 18, Walsh believes it will hurt workers whose shifts end after midnight.
"I think cutting it was a problem. I know it was not a big revenue generator," he said. "We have to find a way of figuring how to get it back up."
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Also this week, Boston Public Schools students descended on Beacon Hill to protest proposed budget cuts Monday. Walsh was largely absent from the public dialogue that day, to the anger of many protesters.
On Fox 25, Walsh said the city budget is still being finalized, and adjustments are being proposed.
"We’re going to work toward coming up with resolutions," he said.
And finally, Walsh talked up the recently accepted bid to beautify City Hall Plaza, calling it an "opportunity to really bring that area to life."
Among the early pitches from winning team Delaware North Cos. is a year-round ferris wheel. If it comes to fruition, however, Walsh won't be on it.
"I don’t like heights," he told Lavanchy. "I’ll be on the bottom waving."
You can find Fox 25's full interview with Walsh at the 6:36:00 mark of its live stream here.
>> Photo courtesy U.S. Department of the Interior via Flickr / Creative Commons
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