Hundreds Expected To Protest MBTA Board Meeting Wednesday

Hundreds of seniors, people with disabilities, and other T riders are expected to show up at an MBTA Board meeting Wednesday to protest planned cuts in service and fare hikes, according to a press release issued by Mass. Senior Action and Mass. Uniting.

The protest will occur at 12:30 p.m. at the Transportation Building in Boston. The group plans on asking the board "to adopt alternative funding solutions that do not balance the T’s budget deficit on the backs of riders."

After months of public hearings, the MBTA backed down from their initial budget proposals – which could have slashed more than 100 routes and hiked some fares by 500%. But .

Richard Davey, MASSDOT's CEO, and Jonathan Davis, the MBTA's Acting General Manager, thanking customers for sharing their views during the public hearing process but maintaining there will be some fare hikes and service cuts. 

The press release issued by Mass Uniting and Mass. Senior Action charges that the  “hikes-and-cuts approach ignores a host of real cost-saving and revenue solutions put forward by transit advocates in recent months."

The press release goes on to state:

"From utilizing unused snow removal funds to renegotiating predatory loans foisted on the T by Wall Street banks, these concrete steps have been largely dismissed by MBTA officials – despite clear evidence the steps could resolve the T’s $161 million deficit without drastic fare hikes and service cuts. With superior options available, MBTA riders have been left to wonder why they continue to be targeted in budget deliberations."

“With real revenue and cost-saving measures on the table, the MBTA has no excuse for balancing the budget on the backs of those who can afford it least,” said Carolyn Villers of the Mass Senior Action Council. “We’re here today to send a message to the MBTA Board: riders are not targets – and we will not rest until real solutions are pursued.”