LivableStreets has an advocacy seat on the MBTA Riders Oversight Committee. We are a co-signatory (with the other "Advocacy" and "Public" members) of a letter sent to all Massachusets Legislative Representatives and Senators. An excerpt of that letter appears as an opinion piece in the Boston Metro May 15, 2006.
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The following is an open letter to the Legislature from the Rider Oversight Committee: You may already know that as part of the MBTA fare hike in 2004, the Rider Oversight Committee was created. The ROC is made up of 24 members — eight public members from throughout the MBTA service area, eight transportation advocacy organizations and eight MBTA-appointed employees. While the MBTA is expressly prohibited from asking the Legislature for more funding, we as public members and advocacy organizations are not. It is in this role, and due to the proposed fare hike, that we are sending you this letter.
To nobody’s surprise, the T announced on April 28 that it would raise fares for the second time in three years. While it is encouraging that the T is taking positive steps such as allowing free or reduced-rate transfers between modes and ending the confusion and inequity in some portions of the system, there remain many issues to examine. One thing that stands out, however, is the state’s inadequate funding of transit.
In Boston, our transit system is in fiscal gridlock. The state is merely throwing pennies at transit systems that can save taxpayers thousands annually while reducing traffic and reducing threats to our air quality. When the forward funding legislation was passed in 2000, the economy was enjoying unprecedented growth due in large part to the dot-com boom. At that time, providing 20 percent of sales tax revenue directly to the MBTA was anticipated to cover MBTA expenses. That boom has since gone bust and the MBTA’s financial situation has as well.
Recent weeks have seen a dramatic increase in the price of gasoline, a trend unlikely to reverse itself soon. The best way to save money at the pump is not to buy gas at all. In the face of spiking gas prices, the Legislature should focus on encouraging people to ride public transit, not throw financial roadblocks in their way. The MBTA and transit systems around the state have been ignored for too long. As a result, we have some of the worst traffic in the country and see the continuing trend of residents leaving the state. This is not just an urban core issue; traffic is getting worse from the Cape to the Berkshires, and their transit systems are chronically under-funded.
The MBTA and other regional transit agencies are in serious financial trouble, and there is a real concern that fare hikes without additional state assistance is not the right response. We are seeing a downward spiral of reduced revenues that lead to higher fares, that lead to reduced ridership, that lead to reduced revenues. Our transit systems can’t do this forever, the state needs to step in. Massachusetts deserves and needs first-class transit. We are therefore writing to ask you to provide additional funding to the MBTA and other transit systems across the state. Massachusetts needs to provide convenient, accessible transit to its residents to reduce traffic congestion, our reliance on foreign oil and air pollution.
JEREMY MARIN is co-chair of the Rider Oversight Committee and associate
regional representative of the Sierra Club.
Public & Alternate Members
Chickie Abdallah, ROC Co-chair, Quincy
Lenard Diggins, Cambridge
Vicki Haddix, Boston South End
T.J. Hellman, Chelsea
Donna Purin, Watertown
Alba Salvarrey-Strati, Allston
William F. Spallina, Boston
Karen Wepsic, Jamaica Plain
Stefan Wuensch, Lynn
Wig Zamore, Somerville
Transit Advocacy Organizations
Sierra Club, ROC Co-chair (Jeremy Marin)
MASSPIRG (Frank Gorke)
Greater Four Corners Action Coalition (Marvin Martin)
ACE/T Riders Union (Lee Matsueda)
LivableStreets Alliance (Jeffrey Rosenblum)
Conservation Law Foundation (Carrie Russell)
Washington St. Corridor Coalition (Bob Terrell)