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TESTIMONY | MBTA Service Cuts: JOINT MEETING OF THE MASSDOT FMCB

November 23, 2020

TESTIFIED BY SCOTT MULLEN, TDM Director 

ABC currently operates three Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) that provide commute services and direct support to tens of thousands of employees in the City of Boston. Our membership includes some of the largest health care institutions providing essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic. We respectfully submit the following comments:

1. This is not the time for service cuts: While progress against the virus has been slow and stuttered, transit ridership has been consistent. The 330,000 daily ridership number has been used to explain why cuts in service are necessary. Instead, the MBTA should build upon that solid ridership base through a robust outreach effort to highlight the comprehensive safety protocols and initiatives of the Ride Safer campaign.
2. Riders want to come back to the T: Our recent survey of 4200 metro-Boston commuters found that most don’t want to change the way they commute and that telework will play a smaller part in future plans than many thought when the pandemic began. Vaccines are showing promise and companies that have relied on telework are forming return to the office plans. This is not the time for service cuts that cannot be easily restored. We are concerned that cuts as deep and broad as proposed will ensure the negative ripple effects of the pandemic will far outlast those of the virus itself and will hamper our region’s economic recovery.
3. All transit is essential: While a great deal of analysis has been done as part of the Forging Ahead initiative, it seems 'essential service' as defined in this process is entirely spatial in nature. While it is important to maintain service in places where other options are scarce, it is critical that service is maintained at times when other options are scarce. Ending bus and subway service earlier each day and eliminating Commuter Rail service after 9pm and on weekends is counterproductive and will strand an untold number of riders.
4. Healthcare workers will be disproportionately affected: Healthcare operations are 24/7. Our members have expressed deep concern about attrition of existing staff who rely on night and weekend MBTA service. They also worry about challenges with recruiting new workers. This is a time demanding maximum resilience from our healthcare system and that system needs support, not service cuts.

Secretary Pollack, General Manager, FMCB members, Transit is essential. Every commute is different. People don’t divide consistently into ‘car’ or ‘train’ or ‘bus’ or ‘bike’ modes….they tailor their commutes based on myriad factors. Like whether they have to drop the kids that morning, or if they get stuck in a meeting and have to take a later train home. We know from precedent that the more choices people have, the more nimble they can be when life throws curve balls. As we look toward economic recovery beyond the pandemic, we expect the nature of work to be fluid and flexible with regard to when and where work takes place. If we are to build back better, our region needs more choices, not fewer.