Sen. Jason Lewis Hosting Forum on Public Transportation

Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester) will be hosting the third forum in the “Community Conversations” series, focusing on challenges and opportunities facing the area’s public transportation system, later this week.

The upcoming forum, titled “Community Conversations: Challenges and Opportunities for Our Public Transportation System”, will take place on June 25, at 6:30 p.m., at the Galvin Middle School auditorium, 525 Main St. in Wakefield. Lewis, Wakefield Town Administrator Stephen Maio and State Representatives Paul Brodeur and Donald Wong are sponsoring the event.

The “Community Conversations” forums are discussions held in each community of the district over the year, each focusing on a different topic. The forums afford residents the opportunity to provide feedback and have questions answered.

The forum will feature a panel of experts on the public transportation system. The panel will include Frank DePaola, MBTA Interim General Manager; Gerald Francis, Keolis Commuter Services General Manager; and, Rafael Mares, who serves on the Executive Committee of Transportation for Massachusetts, according to the Office of State Sen. Lewis.

“Reliable, affordable public transportation is vital to the quality of life and economic strength of our district and region, so I’m very pleased that our next Community Conversation will focus on this important issue,” Sen. Lewis said in the release. “The conversations I have directly with constituents across the district are the best source of information and guidance to help me do my job in the legislature. I’m excited about the ‘Community Conversations’ series as each forum provides us with a good opportunity to engage in a substantive dialogue on a timely and important topic.”

This forum regarding public transportation will offer residents the chance to hear directly from experts on the current state and future of the area’s public transportation. A hot-button topic will be challenges facing public transportation during winter months, after a historically severe winter weather earlier this year.