Hingham Town Officials Surprised, Angered Over Proposed MBTA Ferry Cuts

When Town Administrator Ted Alexiades  heard the news Tuesday night that , he was shocked. He was never made aware of the announcement by the MBTA ,and Tuesday night’s selectmen meeting was the first he’s heard of the news.

On Tuesday the Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced that the MBTA will raise fares and cut services to close a projected $161 million budget gap for fiscal year 2013. Earlier estimates projected the gap would total approximately $185 million for FY13. 

“My reaction was 'wow',” said  Hingham Selectman Bruce Rabuffo.  “We haven’t had the chance to discuss  this with the Town Administrator of  what options were open to us. They have a $180 million problem. And I don’t know what our options are.”

Rabuffo does remain optimistic as he has heard similar threats of  the ferry services being cut in 2009 when the MBTA experienced budget problems. He also questions why the MBTA would cut their ferry services after a large parking area was recently built by the MBTA at the Shipyard.

Selectman Laura Burns said  a member of the MBTA Advisory Board would like to work with the town and said Tuesday’s unexpected news was upsetting.

South Shore Chamber president Peter Forman was upset by the announcement and has called on the MBTA to back away from a proposal to eliminate ferry service between the South Shore and Boston.

In a letter to MBTA general manager Jonathan Davis on Wednesday, the Chamber president  said dropping ferry service “would severely undermine a regional development strategy pattern on the South Shore that has been actively pursued by the South Shore Chamber of Commerce and strongly supported by the Patrick administration.”

On Tuesday, The Massachusetts DOT released two scenarios for fare increases and service cuts on the MBTA to close a budget gap. Under both scenarios, MBTA ferries would be eliminated.

Under one scenario, fares overall would increase by 43 percent, while under the second scenario, they would increase by 35 percent.

The second scenario calls for the elimination of a larger number of bus routes generating savings that would enable the smaller fare increase.

Under the first scenario, the cost of bus CharlieCards would rise from $1.25 to $1.75, while rapid transit CharlieCards would rise from $1.70 to $2.40. Parking would also increase 28 percent.

Under the second scenario, bus Charlie Cards would rise from $1.25 to $1.50, while rapid transit CharlieCards would rise from $1.70 to $2.25. Parking fees would increase 20 percent.

The Mass DOT said Tuesday that the MBTA has taken aggressive steps to reduce their budget gap by reducing energy purchase costs, planned introduction of single person train operation on the Red Line, encouraging MBTA employees to enroll in more affordable health insurance plans and other operating and administrative efficiencies. 

“Growing debt service costs associated with capital projects, significant increases in maintenance costs for an aging fleet and higher costs for the RIDE mean additional solutions are necessary,” The Mass DOT said in a statement.

The ferry service begins at 6 a.m. and ends at 9:05 p.m.