'Fast Five's' Message To T: 'No Hikes, No Cuts!'

Article, info, and photos provided by Alternatives For Community And Environment, the community organization behind the Fast Five:

With the release of the final MBTA fare increase and service cuts proposal looming, 100 riders took over the T Finance Committee meeting today, led by the Fast Five superheroes.

“Thousands of riders have spoken against fare hikes and service cuts, yet the board, governor and Legislature have refused to take this burden off riders,” said Massport Hero. “It’s time for us, as riders and superheroes, to step in and pass immediate solutions to save the T.”

Each hero represents an immediate solution to fill the T's budget deficit, an estimated total of $224.6 million in revenue from sources like surplus snow removal money to transferring ferry operations to Massport. This would stop the current threat of fare hikes and service cuts and allow Governor Patrick and the Legislature to find sustainable, dedicated funding for public transit.

“In the Fenway we have many seniors, we have many students of all ages, we have people with disabilities, we have working families and we have the lowest car ownership rate of any neighborhood in the city. We rely on public transit, we know that public transit is a public good,” said Sarah Horsley, of Fenway CDC.

The heroes formally dissolved the MBTA board finance committee and reconvened as the People’s Board, passing resolutions to protect youth, seniors, riders and people who depend on public transit. These included taking fare increases and service cuts off the table, instituting a YouthPass for riders ages 12 to 21 and keeping fares for seniors affordable. After each resolution, the audience resounded with shouts of “Aye!”

Following the orders of business, the People’s Board called public testimony, hearing from riders who will be impacted by the T’s proposals.

“Young people have been facing a crisis due to a lack of affordable and on-time quality transportation as well as dealing with intense discrimination from MBTA police,” said Caroline Casey, of Boston-area Youth Organizing Project. “We need to implement a Youth Pass now!”

Seniors and disabled riders were also in attendance, speaking on the immense strain that would be caused by fare increases and service cuts.

“No premium service for THE RIDE is a disguise for extreme fare increases and service cuts for people with disabilities,” said John Robinson from the Massachusetts Senior Action Council.

The lack of funding for public transit is a state-wide problem. Many Regional Transit Authorities are struggling in addition to the MBTA. We need Governor Patrick and the Legislature to take leadership and invest in public transit for the Commonwealth now.

In the next few weeks, riders and superheroes alike will continue taking these demands to the MBTA/MassDOT board, Governor Patrick and the Legislature, with a Youth March for AffordabiliT on March 29, a People’s Assembly on April 4 and a mass mobilization on April 17.

There’s still time for our officials and elected representatives to become heroes and save the T. Will they stand with us or against us? Stay tuned.