City Council In Favor Of Act To Add Bostonian To MBTA Board

BOSTON — An act in the Massachusetts legislature could give Boston’s mayor the authority to appoint someone to the fiscal management and control board at the MBTA, and the Boston City Council is in favor.

“Our residents are relying on the MBTA everyday to get to work, school, small businesses, and basic services, yet Boston does not have a seat at the table when it comes to important decision making at the MBTA,” said Kenzie Bok, the councilor for District 8, at the council’s meeting Wednesday afternoon.

The councilors voted unanimously to pass a resolution supporting the act, with some citing the recent cuts and their effects on Bostonians, who constitute the largest share of the MBTA’s ridership. Residents have protested the cuts that the MBTA said were made in order to save costs during the pandemic.

“I really think these recent harmful cuts have shown us what happens when we don’t have that seat at the table,” Bok said. “It’s our Boston residents who are suffering with these cuts to public transportation on every level.”

The board was created in 2015 by Gov. Charlie Baker to investigate the failings of the MBTA and see how it could be improved.