Third Proposal Would Avoid Service Cuts on MBTA

The MBTA Advisory Board, which provides public oversight of the MBTA, has presented a new plan—some might call it a third option—for dealing with the MBTA's $161 million budget shortfall in fiscal year 2013.

The plan comes amid public outcry from throughout the state, including residents and officials in Westwood, over two proposals put forth by the MBTA that would substantially raise fares and cut service on Boston's public transportation network.

Westwood Planning Board Vice Chairman Steve Olanoff is the town's designee on the MBTA advisory board, and said the two proposals could be detrimental for a number of reasons, including a surge in vehicular traffic and issues with commuters of both the train and bus lines that run through Westwood.

Meanwhile, in recent weeks, thousands of angry T riders have attended public hearings around the Boston area to protest those proposals.

MBTA Advisory Board plan

Under the advisory board's new plan, there would be no service cuts, and the fare increase would be less than with the MBTA's two current proposals, which both would include drastic cuts to service and are as follows:

• Scenario 1: An increase in fares by 43 percent.
• Scenario 2: An increase in fares by 35 percent, but with drastic cuts to bus service. 

Some highlights of the third scenario:

• 25 percent fare increase (the other proposals call for either a 35-percent and 43-percent increase)
• Shift the cost of security to the State Department of Public Safety, meaning state police would handle security on the MBTA.
• Shift the cost of running ferry service to MassPort
• Sell ferry and waterfront assets to MassPort
• No MBTA pay raises for fiscal year 2013

Some of the more creative ideas:

• $10 charge per year on college students in the area
• $0.50 surcharge on tickets for big events, like sporting events, concerts and theater performances
• Reinstate alcohol advertising
• Charge institutions that have a station named after them (for example, charge Harvard University for Harvard Station and the Museum of Science for Museum of Science Station. The proposal lists 18 institutions that have stations named after them and suggests it would raise $2 million from this initiative)

The MBTA Advisory Board estimates that, taken together, it's proposal would find $170.6 million in savings and revenue in fiscal year 2013.

The Board also emphasized it's proposal was a short-term solution, meant to buy time while state officials craft long-term solutions to the MBTA's financial woes.