Hedlund Reacts to MBTA's Fare Hikes

After the MBTA announced their on Wednesday afternoon, State Senator Robert Hedlund issued the following statement:

"Earlier today in a briefing to legislators Transportation Secretary Richard Davey outlined the MBTA’s new plan, Scenario 3, which closes the $161 million budget shortfall for FY 2013. While the T deserves a level of praise for conducting public meetings around the Commonwealth and listening to the concern of riders, the plan, as we now know, does nothing to address the MBTA’s long-term debt burden.

Internal report after internal report conducted by the MBTA dating back to 2001 all highlight the massive debt load that currently consumes 25% of the MBTA’s yearly budget and 53% of the dedicated sales tax revenue, which Scenario 3 does nothing to address. Without dealing with the larger debt load, we are simply procrastinating real solutions.

Additionally, the MBTA has once again shown a bias against the ferry service. A 35% increase in fares will continue to make the ferry the least subsidized and supported mode of transit in the system. There is even the potential that the projected increase could completely eliminate the subsidy for ferry service on the South Shore, which will be a heavy burden for riders who would be making up the difference.

It is clear that staving off the draconian service cuts and massive fare hikes outlined in Scenarios 1 and 2 have represented a hollow victory for riders. We need a plan that will address the overall $8.6 billion dollar debt, not one that ends with a $110 million dollar budget shortfall already predicted for FY 2014.

As a response to Scenario 3, I am calling on the Transportation Committee of which I am the ranking minority member, to hold immediate hearings with Secretary Davey regarding the Scenario 3 proposal and the overall MBTA debt burden. As a full-time legislature we have every opportunity to accomplish this task prior to the MBTA Board of Directors approval of Scenario 3 scheduled for mid-April and find real solutions for the Commonwealth’s continued transportation woes.”

-Senator Robert Hedlund