Keep MBTA Fares Fair, Address the Budget Crisis
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is experiencing yet another budget crisis, due in large part to crushing debt. The MBTA is not allowed to lobby the Massachusetts State Legislature for debt relief. Its only remedy is to raise riders' fares, which it plans to do in 2007, with a 45¢ increase in subway fares, and a 35¢ increase in bus fares. The MBTA does not plan any service enhancements with the increases. In fact, they maintain that without the increase they will be forced to cut basic services.
The purpose of this petition is to demand that the State Legislature rethink the way the MBTA is funded and the way it pays down its $8 billion debt. Forward Funding is not working, and the financial burden is falling on riders. There have been three significant fare increases in the last six years. If the State Legislature does nothing, there will be more to come.
Please take a moment to sign this petition urging the State Legislature to fix MBTA funding and keep fares fair, and pass it on to friends and colleagues.
We, the undersigned, citizens of the Commonwealth, taxpayers, and MBTA riders, wish to express our dissatisfaction with the level of state support and the manner of funding for the MBTA.
We believe that recent fare increases are excessive and unduly impact working and low income citizens and those with no real transportation alternatives.
We are also concerned that, unless the manner in which the MBTA is funded is amended, we will see a spiral of higher fares and diminished services, as has become the case of late.
We urge the Massachusetts State Legislature to take up the issue of the MBTA’s crippling debt and rethink the manner in which it can be paid down.
We urge the legislature to consider the many advantages of public transportation, and the harm to it that endless fare increases are doing. At a time when commuters should be encouraged to use the T, the MBTA is anticipating a 6% decrease in ridership due to proposed fare increases.
It is up to the legislature to again take up the issue of funding for public transit, for the citizens of the Commonwealth. We urge you to address this issue that vitally impacts working men and women. Please, keep T fares fair.
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