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MBTA Cuts Sign on Letter (Final)

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MBTA Cuts Sign on Letter (Final) December 8th, 2020 Steven Poftak, General Manager Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 10 Park Plaza, Suite #5610 Boston, MA 02116 Dear General Manager Poftak, As State Senators, we write to you to express our deep concern and strong opposition to the proposed cuts of transportation services by the MBTA, as reflected in the “Forging Ahead” plan. While we recognize that there has been a significant reduction in the use of public transportation as a result of the pandemic, we want to emphasize the intrinsic value of the MBTA to our constituents and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. First of all, residents continue to rely upon the MBTA commuter rail, busses, and subways. Those who are most likely do not have other options to get to work, gain access to healthcare, take care of family and friends, and go about their daily lives. Second, MBTA services, and the important work of its employees, are part of the state’s economy. At a time when we see the impact of budget cuts and the closures or reduced activity of businesses, government, including the MBTA, play a key role in sustaining the economy that we currently have. Third, we appreciate the work of the MBTA with commuters, municipal officials, transportation advocates, and the Legislature on expanding MBTA services, and planning the investments for even better service, and we want to emphasize that all of this planning should continue to move forward. We are deeply concerned that cuts to MBTA services, frequency of these services, and any cancellation of transportation improvements plans, will mean that they will never come back. We believe this plan goes too far in addressing the loss of revenue due to decreased ridership during the pandemic and we call on the MBTA to suspend this plan or to significantly scale back these proposed service disruptions. These cuts will have a disproportionate harmful impact on the most vulnerable residents. With service cuts becoming a reality it will be impossible for social distancing and this will have a very negative impact on essential and low-income workers who rely on these services. We appreciate that the MBTA has defined essential service as serving “communities where transit is critical, including communities with residents who are low-income, people of color, seniors, people with disabilities, or who live in households with few or no vehicles.” Our deep concern regarding this plan is the disproportionate impact these cuts will have on the very communities you highlight in your essential service definition. These sweeping cuts of eliminating 25 bus routes, eliminating all ferry service, drastically changing the commuter rail system, and stopping capital improvements would do a great disservice to the people of Massachusetts both in the present and in the future. During these uncertain times we understand the pressure that is currently placed on the MBTA. We look forward to working with the MBTA now and in the future to preserve high quality service for the commuters of the MBTA. With the FY21 budget being finalized and the FY22 budget process beginning soon we look forward to working closely with you to address the needs of the MBTA. Additionally, we ask that the MBTA include in it’s final plan a comprehensive ramp-up and service restoration plan that details the ridership benchmarks required for full restoration and timeline for capital projects. We are cognizant that a drop in ridership due to the pandemic may necessitate some changes in service, but we are adamant that service must be steadily restored as ridership increases. Sincerely, Paul R. Feeney James B. Eldridge State Senator State Senator Bristol & Norfolk District Middlesex & Worcester District Cynthia Stone Creem Michael Barrett State Senator State Senator First Middlesex & Norfolk District Third Middlesex District Michael Brady Sonia Chang-Diaz State Senator State Senator Second Plymouth & Bristol District Second Suffolk District Sal DiDomenico Jason Lewis State Senator State Senator Middlesex & Suffolk District Fifth Middlesex District Rebecca Rausch Nick Collins State Senator State Senator Norfolk, Bristol, & Middlesex District First Suffolk District Susan Moran Michael Rush State Senator State Senator Plymouth & Barnstable District Norfolk & Suffolk District Patrick O’Connor Patricia Jehlen State Senator State Senator Plymouth & Norfolk District Second Middlesex District Edward Kennedy Marc Pacheco State Senator State Senator First Middlesex District First Plymouth & Bristol District Walter Timilty Michael Moore State Senator State Senator Norfolk, Bristol, & Plymouth District Second Worcester District Diana DiZoglio Brendan Crighton State Senator State Senator First Essex District Third Essex District Harriette Chandler Eric Lesser State Senator State Senator First Worcester District First Hampden & Hampshire District .
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