Saving MBTA, One Bite At a Time
May 5th, 2009By Sara Wolfson
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| Photo credit WBZ |
Facing staggering budget problems, government agencies everywhere are scrambling for funds. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is no exception—it has an estimated $165 million budget deficit. The MBTA has spoken of raising fares and cutting back services, including bus cuts, Boston subway cuts, and a 50 percent cut in evening and weekend commuter rail line. Even if they get a slice of Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposed 19 cent/gallon gas hike, MBTA is the essence of transit in trouble.
To highlight the disastrous state of their transit service, activists with the MASSPIRG, T Riders Union, the On the Move coalition, and other organizations took a drastic step: they held a bake sale.
With the proceeds from the cookies, brownies, and other treats, the groups cut a giant check for $199.35 to present to the MBTA.
“The T fuels the economy of Greater Boston, which in turn generates 50 percent of the state’s jobs and 73 percent of the population,” said Eric Bourassa, advocate of MASSPIRG—one of the partner organizations working with SGA to make sure stimulus money gets spent responsibly and effectively.
“The income and business taxes on this growth are then distributed across the state to fix roads from Pittsfield to Provincetown.”
“Imagine Beantown coping with half the number of Green Line trolleys after an evening Red Sox game. Or the congestion caused by a commuter rail system more expensive than parking in downtown Boston,” continued Bourassa.
“Another way for drivers to appreciate public transportation is to think of every person on the subway, bus, or commuter rail as one less automobile clogging our highways, emitting pollution, causing accidents, and making auto insurance even more expensive.”
Find out more about what’s going on around the country with the United States of Transit Cutbacks from Transportation For America.
