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TESTIMONY | Forging Ahead: Joint Meeting of the MassDOT FMCB

November 23, 2020

TESTIFIED BY CAITLIN ALLEN CONNELLY, PROJECT DIRECTOR 

A Better City and its Board ask the FMCB to send a strong signal that Boston will be open for business with a gold standard transit system. Before you complete the Forging Ahead exercise and vote at the next meeting, we would like you to:

1. Delay decision on service planning changes. Based on recent employee and employer surveys, as well as announcements regarding a potential COVID-19 vaccine, there are strong indications that ridership will return earlier than anticipated. The agency’s budget is whole in FY21, and it can afford to wait for more clarity on the future before deciding on drastic, harmful service cuts.
2. Use Economic Scenario #2. The MBTA is using Economic Scenario #3—the “worst case” scenario—for budget forecasting. If the MBTA adopts the more likely Scenario #2 to predict its budget shortfall, the agency reduces its gap by $100 million in FY22. This sum could effectively take service cuts off the table.
3. Dedicate existing and new sources of revenue to fill the projected budget gap. There are revenue sources available that the MBTA could tap into without outside approval to prevent service cuts, e.g. repurposing the Additional Assistance Fund & dedicating the Operating Budget Deficiency Fund. Additional revenue could be available with legislative approval, specifically with TNC fee increases and proposals in the House Transportation Finance bill. There should be an urgent effort to collaborate with state legislative leaders to make resources available.
4. Accelerate design work on major unfunded capital projects. Please don’t be caught flat-footed when there is a chance for federal infrastructure funds. The Commonwealth and MBTA must be ready to move ahead with transformational projects that would help Massachusetts reach its GHG emission reduction targets, create a dynamic transit system, and meet future statewide transit needs. The MBTA could use a portion of the Operating Budget Deficiency Fund to advance targeted capital projects now.

Secretary Pollack, General Manager Poftak, FMCB members, transit is essential in Massachusetts and as referenced in the Boston Globe Editorial today, Forging Ahead puts the future of public transit in the Commonwealth on the line. The MBTA should be at the vanguard of the region’s economic recovery in 2021 by providing the transit service needed to support the return of commuters and visitors alike.