Transit Is Essential Statement on MBTA Board’s April 26, 2021 Preliminary Budget Vote
The Transit is Essential Coalition applauds the decision of MBTA management to fully fund service in the FY22 budget, and the preliminary vote of the Fiscal and Management Control Board to ratify this decision. These actions are a victory for riders, and all who have made their voices heard in support of frequent, reliable transit.
We continue to urge the FMCB to fully fund service and to continue to collaborate with MBTA leadership on strategies to increase staffing on all modes as soon as possible.
With the FMCB due to expire in June 2021, the next eight weeks will be a critical period to make tangible progress toward a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable MBTA than ever before. We urge the FMCB to complete this checklist of priorities before the end of June:
— Welcome Riders Back to the System. Demonstrate confidence in the MBTA’s ability to manage a robust increase in ridership by requesting the T provide options around a free-fare “welcome back to the T” week in the Fall. It will also be critical to implement a substantial, multilingual campaign that communicates all modes of the MBTA are safe to ride.
— Implement Low Income Fares. A low-income fare program is long overdue and a necessary step toward making the MBTA more affordable and accessible.
— Plan for the Future – Today. The MBTA’s Capital Investment Plan charts out the future spending that will make the system safer, more reliable, more sustainable, more resilient, faster, and will expand it to more people. Before it disbands, the FMCB should adopt a CIP that describes both what can be achieved and what cannot be achieved with existing capital resources.
— Make a Clear Statement About the Need for Sustainable Funding. Before it disbands, the FMCB should make a clear statement about the need for long-term additional funding for the MBTA. The MBTA won’t be able to serve the people of the Commonwealth adequately without additional funding. Nobody knows that better than the FMCB, which has worked hard to make the system more efficient and responsive. But budget cuts and fare increases will not be enough, and the Legislature needs to hear that from the experts.
About Transit Is Essential
Transit is Essential is a coalition of 60 organizations calling on state leaders to fully fund robust, equitable and reliable transit service. For more information visit: https://transitisessential.org