Norwood Commuters Sound Off About MBTA Proposals

There has been a loud opposition to the proposed MBTA fare hikes and service changes around Boston after more than 400 people made their way to the Boston Public Library for a public hearing.

At Norwood’s Depot and Central train stops during Wednesday night’s rush hour commute home, the sentiment was much of the same.

Little love was shown by daily local commuters to the proposal that would address the Transit Authority’s $161 million deficit. The proposal could bring a 42.9 percent individual fare increase and a 46.3 percent increase in monthly passes as well as cut service after 10 p.m. and on weekends.

“I think it stinks. It's going up way too much at one time,” said Greg Selter, a Millis resident who is a frequent traveler at Norwood Central.

Christian Harder said one of the reasons his family lives in Norwood is because of its access to the rails for his daily commute to work.

“I’ve lived in Norwood since 1988 and we have seen an increase of about 130 percent in that time and a decrease in service doesn’t seem right. I understand there’s inflation, but the idea of raising fares and cutting service just doesn’t work,” Harder said.

Jerry Mansfield, a Norwood resident of 31 years, said the fare increase hurt financially, but he has little choice when it comes to finding an alternative for his daily ride to work.

“Unfortunately working in the financial district the cost to park is so expensive,” he said. “I’ll probably still take it, but you better believe that this parking lot will thin out.”

John Connors, a Norwood resident of 18 years, agreed that the MBTA has to do something to tackle the budget.

“It would be better if they didn’t have to do anything, but obviously the money has to come from somewhere,” he said. “We need service. A lot of us count on it to get to work.”

“I don’t care what they do as long as they don’t cut the service,” agreed Sonia, a Norwood resident of 23 years. She said that if she has to pay extra money for the fare, “Then so be it. I have to get to work.”

Cutting the weekend service “would impact me a lot,” she said. “I hope they don’t, but if they have to charge a higher fare whether it's on the weekend or other times then so be it. But if I can’t get to my job then it's not a good thing.”

“I think the [MBTA] has a monopoly and they should be ran more efficiently,” said Tracy Dodenhoff, a North Attleboro resident. “I have a pretty long train ride, so it's going to make me think twice about using it or driving.”

“Hiking the fare is definitely a big thing to me. We have been taking the train from the commuter rail for quite a while. I see it as a transportation, but the fee hike obviously affects our livelihood,” said Ken Chin, a Plainville resident who frequently uses the Norwood Depot and Mansfield stations.

“It does affect us a lot because we depend on the Commuter Rail," he said.

The price hike will also affect non-commuters, as Ollie Katic, an 18 year-old Norwood High School senior, said he often uses the train to go skateboarding in Boston.

“I hate driving, so I have to use the train. But if the price increases then I will just drive in,” he said. “They will lose some customers.”