OPINION: MBTA Needs to Answer Some Questions

Yes, it has been years since the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has raised its fares.

It is only fair that the .

How much it rolls up the fares is another question.

Another question is what services the T plans to stop. Some services are crucial to riders in Dedham, Westwood and other communities.

One question the MBTA must answer is just how many ticket collectors simply fail to take the fares. This will not be part of the hearings, but if it is not addressed, the hike in fares will be considered unfair.

Riders will get 20 hearings to argue their case to make changes to the MBTA plans.

If too few people come to the hearings and fail to press strong cases for keeping a given service, that service will surely cease.

Anyone who wants to save an MBTA service will have to write, attend hearing and keep pressure on to have even a chance of keeping it.

Dedham is fighting the MBTA plan – by $58,000 – the Joseph’s Bus Service.  

Five other communities also are having their local services cut. Already, Town Administrator William Keegan has fired an email to the MBTA noting the cuts are coming just as the public is being encouraged to use more public transportation. Selectmen will pen their own letter to the MBTA decrying the planned fare hike of nearly 50 percent (43 percent in one version and 35 percent in another) and the cut in weekend services.

Also up for consideration is elimination of rides after 10 p.m. in some communities. For late workers, this could change their whole commute/work schedule.

Mayors, selectmen, boards of aldermen, city councils and other local officials in Greater Boston ought be meeting each other and working on how the situation can be handled. If it turns into an every-municipality-for-itself, the MBTA will easily prevail.

At the very least, the widespread complaint of ticket-takers not collecting fares must be answered by the MBTA. All the cities and towns need to unite on this question; otherwise the cities and towns condone thievery.

Now, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard Davey is running the MBTA. He foresees a $161 million deficit in fiscal year 2013, starting in July. Also in charge is Acting MBTA General Manager Jonathan Davis.

Earlier, the MBTA said the shortfall would be $185 million, but changes in employee health plans and other measures dropped estimates by $24 million.

This year’s fare hike also has some new twists that change things.

First there is the change that put the MBTA into the Department of Transportation. Is there anything that will change how fares are set?

Every year since 2001, a hike in the state’s sales tax has helped run the system. Riders are upset at price hikes, but without the hike in the sales tax, the hike would have come much sooner.

Did that mean that for the past 11 years the MBTA has been managed lazily?

Is that why it shifted into the DOT?