Testimony to the FMCB: Let's Re-imagine Not Downsize Service
February 24, 2021
Prepared by Caitlin Allen-Connelly, Project Director | FEBRUARY 22ND, 2021 | WATCH
Chairman Aiello, Members of the Board, General Manager Poftak, Acting Secretary Tesler, thank you for the opportunity to comment today.
- Today, after a challenging year, the MBTA is in receipt of over $1 billion in stimulus funds—with a third round of relief expected—a vaccine is available, and the vaccine rollout is underway.
- A Better City recognizes that this was not the case last September when the MBTA launched the Forging Ahead planning process to proactively identify cost savings solutions. At that time, there was great uncertainty over the future of federal aid, the presidential election, and the future of the pandemic.
- Presently, we have finally reached a point where there is reason to believe that we are closer to the end of this pandemic and to the start of a return to the workplace. For this reason, A Better City hopes that the updated ridership projections we will hear about this afternoon reflect the current situation and future trends in the Commonwealth.
- When commuters come back, A Better City strongly encourages the MBTA to be there with fuller-service that provides riders with the physical space they will want and require. If enough service is not available, the MBTA could lose customers and signal that Boston is not open for business.
- Rather than downsize the MBTA, let’s re-shape and re-imagine service that improves customer experience, attracts new riders, and supports transformational change to our regional transit system. Here, A Better City supports piloting ideas like regular and predictable scheduling on the Commuter Rail, which could result in better service and more affordable fares.
- The pandemic has shown us just how critical public transit is to the people and the economy of the Commonwealth. A Better City calls on the MBTA to restore confidence in the region’s public transit system by moving away from a mindset that prioritizes service cuts to an approach that emphasizes innovative, equitable, reliable, affordable, and safe service.
Thank you.
