Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-14-2012 SFRG reportDRAFT Summary 2/12/12 The Committee on State, Federal & Regional Government met on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 in the Council Chambers to discuss proposed MBTA route changes and fare increases. The meeting began at 7:15 PM. The meeting was chaired by Councilor Kounelis, (Committee Chair) and attended by Committee members, Councilor Falkoff and Councilor Palomba, Councilor Woodland, Councilor Lenk, State Senator Will Brownsberger, State Representative Jon Hecht, Governor's Councilor Marilyn Devany, Steve Magoon, Director of the Watertown Department of Community Development and Planning, Gideon Schreiber, Senior Planner at DCDP, Charlie Breitrose, Editor of The Patch, and eleven members of the public. Attached is the list of attendees. The asterisk next to a name indicates that the individual spoke during the meeting. Councilor Kounelis explained that the MTBA was facing a $161 million deficit in the present fiscal year which the agency was proposing to eliminate through a series of fare increases and service cuts. The MBTA was proposing two scenarios - both which would reduce services and increase fares, but to different degrees. The average increase in fares in Scenario 1 was 43% while the average increase in fares for scenario 2 was 35%. All aspects of the MBTA would be affected including bus routes, commuter rail, commuter ferries, and the RIDE. The MBTA must present a balanced budget to the Legislature by April of this year. In order to do so the MBTA is proposing the service reductions and fare increases to into effect on July 1, 2013. Councilor Kounelis noted that the route and fare changes that would directly affect the residents of Watertown and expressed appreciation to the staff of the DCDP for preparing a one -page summary of these. Councilor Falkoff shared a letter that Boston Mayor Menino recently sent to Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation, Richard Davey, outlining his objections to either rate increases or reduced services. Senator Brownsberger noted that in his conversations with constituents most would favor increases over service reductions. He also felt that the Legislature and the Governor may allocate additional funds to the MBTA, but such funding would not eliminate the deficit. Representative Hecht agreed that the present $161 million deficit required action by the Legislature and the Governor. However equally critical was the need for a long-term financing strategy to support and expand public transportation in the Commonwealth. -2 - Governor's Councilor Devany outlined the communication she had recently with Governor Patrick and Secretary Davey regarding ways to decrease the deficit, by as much as $9 million, which would not affect services. She offered to provide the Committee additional information following her upcoming meetings with the Secretary Davey. She also noted that the recent MBTA- sponsored meeting in Newton provided an opportunity for residents to voice their concerns and that there is another public meeting planned for early March. (Copies of Ms. Devany's and Mayor Menino's letters are available upon request.) Councilor Kounelis invited the members of the public to speak. Below is a summary of their comments. 1) The increases and service cuts would have a direct impact on people's decision to remain in Watertown. Many families and individuals decided to live in Watertown because public transportation makes it easily access to and from Boston. 2) Certain service reduction, like the changes in the Route 52, would make it impossible for individuals to any longer take public transportation to their workplace. 3) The reduction of weekend services for the 502 Express Bus would make it less likely that individuals would travel into Boston for educational, cultural, and entertainment purposes. Many young people do not have cars and those who do find the parking fees prohibitive. 4) It is important to remember the environmental impact to all residents, those who use public transportation and those who do not. Increase use of automobiles and taxis will have a detrimental effect on the environment. 5) Individuals who are served by the RIDE (para-transit) will be disproportionally impacted. The cost of the RIDE would increase significantly, in some cases by more than 100%. Many folks who rely on the RIDE are elderly or have a handicap, and many live on fixed incomes. 6) There is an economic factor that must be considered. Increase fares and reduced services may result in fewer people visit stores and restaurants in the greater Boston area. 7) It seems contradictory for the MBTA to take steps that would reduce ridership just at the time when ridership (and therefore revenue) is increasing. -3- 8) Experience tells us that whenever service cuts are made, they are never returned and that once fares are increased, they never are reduced. Also, the scenarios proposed by the MBTA to balance its budget leave residents and community leaders confronting an impossible dilemma - service cuts or fare reductions The discussion then moved to what can the Committee, and subsequently the Town Council do. It was proposed that the Committee request that the Council send two letters as soon as possible. One letter would be addressed to Governor Patrick (with similar letters addressed to the Senator President Murray and the House Speaker Deleo) and copied to Senator Brownsberger, Representative Hecht, and Representative Lawn. This letter would: a) Note that the lack of adequate, long-term financing of public transportation in Massachusetts is a crisis. b) Unless this crisis is addressed with a comprehensive plan, the Commonwealth will not experience the economic and environmental effects of public transportation. c) Calls on the Governor and the Legislature to develop a long-term solution to the crisis and to note that the Council's Committee on State, Federal & Regional Government heard support for an increase in the gas tax as one avenue that might be included in such a plan. d) Request that the present $161 million deficit NOT be eliminated by either cuts in services or increases in fares that would decrease ridership and have a disproportional affect those who use the RIDE. Another letter would be addressed to Secretary Richard Davey at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and copied to Governor Patrick, Senate President Murray, House Speaker Deleo, Senator Brownsberger, Representative Hecht, and Representative Lawn. This letter would: a) Focus on the detrimental effects of the proposed MBTA service reductions and fare increases to the residents of Watertown. b) It would include some of the specific concerns sited in the summary of the Committee meeting. c) It would request that there be NO service cuts or fare increases. The committee voted unanimously to present the proposal to the Council. Councilor Kounelis expressed her appreciation and that of the Committee to everyone for attending the meeting. She concluded the meeting at approximately 8:30 PM.