What would you do to get the T out of its financial mess?

[choo]

I think "west armpit" referred to western mass. beyond current commuter rail reach.

I think the argument really needs to be reframed by some good leadership- I 'd always hoped Davey could do this.

Boston is the economic engine of the entire state. Really all the other employment centers exist because of Boston. Don't tell me the 128 and 495 office parks don't exist simply in response to boston. They are there to both avoid city rents, but simultaneously exist because of the dynamism and presence of Boston.

I believe a compelling argument can be made to all people and companies throughout the state that the T is crucial to keeping the state's main economic engine globally competitive and attractive to both business and people- and not only to people that live or work in boston. Imagine 95 if the providence commuter rail didn't exist. Or 93 if the Lowell line and red line weren't there. Imagine the traffic, imagine the wasted time, imagine the lack of mobility and access not only to boston from the outer burbs to the city but between these areas themselves.

The MBTA moves a record amount of people everyday now. over 1.2 million trips a day. So if that is a person taking it twice a day, that is 10% of the state directly benefiting everyday. And even more through the avoided or opportunity cost of taking cars off the road and enabling their mobility.

The T also has a great multiplier effect. Think of the tens of millions of tourists that come every year to Boston/Cambridge. Even with the shortcomings, it is still amazingly easy to get from airport to downtown to back bay and harvard square. Shop in one, eat in another. Without the T, the mobility of this outside capital stops moving around the city, and areas full of life and activity die as people stop going far from where they can walk. Imagine mass ave or longfellow bridge with no T to shuttle hundreds of thousands of people.

This was kind of an all over defense, so I apologize for that. But I think the T is one of the most undervalued and underappreciated assets in the entire region. Too often it gets bashed and no one in a position of power defends it.
Yes, there should be reforms in management and contracts and streamlining, but there needs to be a recognition of its value it has and can create. I feel like to often leaders (City, State, Dem, Rep) just read too much from the Herald comment section that it is doomed to fail instead of taking a stand of a valuable asset.

[Shepard]

Legislature has no incentive to make changes.

Let's say we had a mayor in Boston who focused heavily on the MBTA (I know Menino is often bashed here for ignoring the MBTA -I'm not so sure, but let's leave that aside) - what political leverage would a mayor of Boston have to press for changes to funding, service, etc? Especially since Boston is the major but far from only municipality served by the T?

On the Crazy Transit thread, I think HenryAlan said something to the effect of "if we had a mayor who cared, the OL would be in Roslindale today" (apologies to Henry if I've put that wrong). So my questions: really? How?

[choo]

extensions of the central subway would be nice, but even more basic than that. I'd just like to see a mayor that clamors to the state when the red and orange have signal problems that instantly mess up the schedule for tens of thousands of residents and offices. Or one that holds their feet to the fire about green line signalling so it doesn't take an hour to stand in line at kenmore to park.

I like to think i pay closer attention then most, and I only knew of the central green line signal upgrades that could enhance capacity because of F-Line. You'd think a mayor would be all over that.

[PaulC]

Massport charges the T $1,000,00 to bring people to Massport property!

The MBTA’s fiscal woes sparked conversation early on, with Michlewitz suggesting that even small reforms could help, if not close the gap in the T’s budget. For example, Michlewitz pointed out that the MBTA currently pays $1 million dollars in rent a year for the Silver Line to MassPort, which is in much better financial shape than the T. Eliminating that expense would be one step in the right direction to ease the T’s financial burden. A resident suggested another small step: removing the heaters from the bus stops so that the T would not have to pay for the heat. John McLachlan added wryly that revenue could be raised by taxing the drug transactions that take place around bus stops

http://www.mysouthend.com/index.php?...sc3=&id=131631

[Commuting Boston Student]

Originally Posted by mass88

Going through the fare gates at North Quincy this morning and noticed they have been dressed with Metro PCS ads now. They must have done it last night since when I went through yesterday they did not have the ads.

Zipcar ads are all over fare gates up and down the Orange Line and have been for some amount of time now - since last week, I think. I forget when I first noticed them.

Originally Posted by Shepard

Legislature has no incentive to make changes.

Let's say we had a mayor in Boston who focused heavily on the MBTA (I know Menino is often bashed here for ignoring the MBTA -I'm not so sure, but let's leave that aside) - what political leverage would a mayor of Boston have to press for changes to funding, service, etc? Especially since Boston is the major but far from only municipality served by the T?

On the Crazy Transit thread, I think HenryAlan said something to the effect of "if we had a mayor who cared, the OL would be in Roslindale today" (apologies to Henry if I've put that wrong). So my questions: really? How?

Let's start with ordering audits against the MBTA. Menino has the power to do that, right? And I'm certain that there are some powerful individuals with a vested interest in not having something like that happen.

I'm sure they'd also not be pleased if certain relevant information "accidentally" found its way onto the front page of the Metro and into plain view of almost everyone at most of the subway stations.

You know, things like the mailing address, phone number, name, photo, job description, and salaries for the past three years of everyone earning $100,000+ working for the MBTA. Most of that can already be gotten via Freedom of Information Act requests, yes?

And if that doesn't work, we can talk about passing out indictments like penmy candy for anyone and everyone we can possibly charge.

[statler]

Saw the same thing at Haymarket yesterday.

[HenryAlan]

Originally Posted by PaulC

Massport charges the T $1,000,00 to bring people to Massport property!

http://www.mysouthend.com/index.php?...sc3=&id=131631

This is insanity defined. The 'T pays Massport to bring passengers to the airport? The arrangement should be 100% the other way around.

Originally Posted by Shepard

On the Crazy Transit thread, I think HenryAlan said something to the effect of "if we had a mayor who cared, the OL would be in Roslindale today" (apologies to Henry if I've put that wrong). So my questions: really? How?

I think that was F-Line who said it. I'm not particularly a Menino basher, although I do wish he'd provide some Somerville style leadership around extending rail transit within Boston.

[Shepard]

So let's talk about that for a second. Exactly how has Curtatone changed or prodded the T's agenda in Somerville? What impact has he had, and how?

[Matthew]

I recall reading somewhere that Massport does do something to make that up to the MBTA. I just can't remember what, or whether the whole deal makes sense. I'll see if I can dig it up.

[HenryAlan]

Reply to Shepard:

I'm not sure I can provide a decent answer on what either Curtatone or before him Capuano did regarding advocacy. I know both spoke about it quite a bit, and rallied the community behind the idea. Beyond moral persuasion, I don't know whether they employed any behind the scenes hardball. A big first step in my opinion would be for the mayor to promote the concept that the 'T is crucial to Boston. We see too much of the idea that road construction and maintenance is necessity, whereas with transit, it's only an option.

See this, for example: http://www.universalhub.com/2012/whe...e-just-have-do

For what it's worth, the mayor of Boston is in a much more difficult position than the mayor of Somerville. Yes, he can speak with more weight (no pun intended), but he also has a much more diverse constituency. A single light rail line for Somerville is good for all of Somerville. But a rail extension in one corner of Boston will lead other corners to complain about favoritism. Menino can't get too out front on an issue that only affects his backyard, because people in the rest of the city will start to think of him as only interested in Roslindale and West Roxbury. It would be easier for him to advocate for an Orange Line extension if he didn't live so close to the affected communities.

[JohnAKeith]

Yeah, the ZipCar ads are glued right to the turnstiles ... either by design or by accident.

[omaja]

http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-0...funding-crisis

This certainly doesn't help long term. If only people could see the forest through the trees.

[bbfen]

Originally Posted by omaja

http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-0...funding-crisis

This certainly doesn't help long term. If only people could see the forest through the trees.

It's the terrible writing and editing that is starting to get me with these stories about the T. Why is the T $5B in debt? Because "much of it [was] assigned by the Legislature without a realistic plan for paying it off"? That's a terrible way of explaining how the debt came about.

On to page two, the line about no other transit agency in the US being self-funded came and went without further info. How do NYC or DC fund their public transit, for example?

Moskowitz might know the background and assume everyone else does too.

He shouldn't do that, especially since he references a comment from Andrew Whittle that citizens must hold legislators responsible. Moskowitz could take half an inch to explain HOW the legislators are responsible!!! ACK.

[omaja]

Frankly it doesn't matter at this point HOW they MBTA got into the disastrous mess it is in. What is more important is recognizing that it simply cannot continue and needs immediate attention if Boston is to maintain and grow its position as an attractive place to live, work and play.

It is a complete embarrassment for the board to pass a plan for fare increases without anything to address the root causes for the budget deficit. The T's financial woes are intrinsically linked with its expenses, not its revenues. Until we have people in positions of power who are willing to recognize and address this head on, we'll have no service increases, deferred maintenance and a system that cannot support any growth.

Can't wait to see them try to pass off fare increases like this next time around when Boston's fares match every other transit system in the country.

[bbfen]

omaja, I only disagree because the people in West Armpit immediately holler that no one pays for their cars to ride the roads so why should they pay for the T? The T got itself into this mess, so it's time for riders to "pay what it costs." Without proper context, that retarded argument might gain even more traction. It's bad journalism.

[Matthew]

Follow-up:

MBTA maintains a complex relationship with MassPort, especially relating to certain operations
around Logan Airport. Special operating conditions related to operating within the MBTA’s
Transitway tunnel, and the Ted Williams Tunnel, and at the Airport itself require special buses
that operate on both diesel fuel, and electricity from catenary wires. In 2004/2005 as part of
Phase II of the Silver Line project the MBTA procured a fleet of 32 such dual-mode, diesel
electric buses. These vehicles are 60 feet long, articulated, and many have special luggage racks
for use servicing the airport. Of these 32 special buses MassPort paid for 8. [1] Each year
MassPort pays the MBTA $2 million towards the operation and maintenance of dual-mode
Silver Line buses. In return, the MBTA remits all fare revenue received from passengers
boarding Silver Line buses at Logan Airport. In FY12 the MBTA expects to remit $1,122,184 to
MassPort under this deal, netting $877,816 in total revenue.

http://www.mbtaadvisoryboard.org/rep...get-Report.pdf

I should also mention that the MBTA AB does recommend revisiting the relationship with MassPort, saying that the T should be able to save approx $1.1 million a year.

[Commuting Boston Student]

Originally Posted by bbfen

omaja, I only disagree because the people in West Armpit immediately holler that no one pays for their cars to ride the roads so why should they pay for the T?

Dear Jerks in Western MA,

The rest of us are paying for your cars to have roads to ride on. Would you like to try again?

Signed,
Everyone paying gas tax towards the maintenance of Interstate 91 and other roads west of 495.

[omaja]

^ Exactly! The part of Greater Boston in Massachusetts has over 70 percent of the state's population. By contrast, it's all but guaranteed that we do not see 70 percent of the benefit of the state's tax revenues.

Who is really subsidizing whom? Really one of those arguments where logic goes out the window in favor of antiquated provincialism.

[whighlander]

Originally Posted by Commuting Boston Student

Zipcar ads are all over fare gates up and down the Orange Line and have been for some amount of time now - since last week, I think. I forget when I first noticed them.



Let's start with ordering audits against the MBTA. Menino has the power to do that, right? And I'm certain that there are some powerful individuals with a vested interest in not having something like that happen.

I'm sure they'd also not be pleased if certain relevant information "accidentally" found its way onto the front page of the Metro and into plain view of almost everyone at most of the subway stations.

You know, things like the mailing address, phone number, name, photo, job description, and salaries for the past three years of everyone earning $100,000+ working for the MBTA. Most of that can already be gotten via Freedom of Information Act requests, yes?

And if that doesn't work, we can talk about passing out indictments like penmy candy for anyone and everyone we can possibly charge.

Commute -- No the Mayor of Boston has no more control over the T than the Chair of the Selectmen of West Armpit

The T is a creature of the Legislature and to a lesser extent the Governor who appoints the T Board as well as the Massport Board

in the past even the two boards were completely independent of each other -- now under the new legislation which merged the Turnpike and the T into the Dept. of Transportation -- the Secretary of the Executive Office of Transportation aka the DOT -- sits on the T Board (which is also the DOT Board) and he also sits on the Massport Board (which remains basically independent)

Here's how things were reorganized in 2009:
Merging the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and MassHighway into the Highway Division.
Transferring the Tobin Bridge from Massport.
Transferring ownership of bridges from the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Merging the planning and oversight functions of the Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) into the new organization, and embedding the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission (MAC) and the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Merger of the MBTA Board of Directors into the DOT Board of Directors.
Removal of the budget veto from the MBTA Advisory Board (of municipalities).

So now the Governor is the person ultimately calling all the operational shots with respect to transportation. Further, given that the current Governor has a complete controlling majority in both houses of the Legislature -- he calls all of the capital decisions as well.

Don't like what is going on with the T, Massport, the Highways, Bridges or Tunnels -- call Devall

[underground]

Originally Posted by whighlander

Commute -- No the Mayor of Boston has no more control over the T than the Chair of the Selectmen of West Armpit

Outside of his listed powers/duties, the mayor has informal authority as (and a duty to be) the city's number one lobbyist, and he's completely abdicated on this issue. He's absolutely no where and it's pretty disgusting considering how big of an issue the health of the MBTA is to Bostonians. 90% of the power in democracy is just showing up. It doesn't matter who's in charge of what, just show up and be a squeaky wheel. NIMBYs all over the world know that, but for some reason Menino doesn't.