Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 20, 2020 State delegation says Malden residents would be severely impacted by MBTA service cuts Letter to “T” General Manager details Malden’s reliance on transit service, investment in transit-oriented infrastructure By Steve Freker M alden’s residents rely on public transit to a degree where any service reductions or other cuts would have a severe, negative impact on their daily lives. That is the message delivered Tuesday by Malden’s State House legislative delegation in a joint letter to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) General Manager Steve Poftak. “Many [Malden] families are already struggling with loss of income and other hardships since the start of the pandemic, and reductions in bus service will only add to the challenges,” the legislators stated in the letter. The joint letter was crafted by State Senator Jason Lewis (D-5th Middlesex) and State Representatives Paul Donato (D-Malden, Medford, 35th Middlesex), Steve Ultrino (D-Malden, 33rd Middlesex) and Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D-Malden, Melrose, 32nd Middlesex). MBTA unveiled proposed service cuts on Nov. 9 The letter was sent in response to a series of proposed changes to its transit service that MBTA officials released on November 9. In an open letter to “T” riders, Poftak outlined reasons Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net for proposed service cuts and changes, which he said intend to match service to new ridership patterns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed changes are part of the T’s “Forging Ahead” plan. In the letter, GM Poftak detailed massive ridership level reductions across the board, due to the pandemic. “When the pandemic hit, ridership and fare revenue plummeted across our system as it did across America. Ridership dropped by over 80 percent in March and has been slow to recover,” Poftak stated in his letter, noting that despite ridership dropping to just 26 percent in September 2020 from the September 2019 figure, the MBTA was “still running at high levels of service across all modes.” In two specific examples, Poftak, in his letter, stated that commuter rail ridership has dropped to just 13 percent of pre-pandemic levels, with bus ridership falling to 41 percent of pre-pandemic numbers. The proposed changes would save $3 million in 2020 MBTA expenditures and an estimated $32 million in 2021. Many voice opposition to proposed cuts State legislators, members Jason Lewis State Senator Paul Donato State Representative The MBTA Commuter Rail service would be eliminated on weekends as part of package of proposed service cuts “T” officials wish to implement. (Courtesy Photo) of the public and representatives from various public service agencies across the state have responded in unison against the proposed cuts, despite the lowered ridership numbers. “Reliable, accessible and affordable public [transport] is critical to our residents, businesses and local economic development,” the delegation stated in the letter. “We are particularly concerned about the disproportionate impact that these cuts will have on lower income residents and small businesses.” “Despite the pandemic, many of our constituents still rely on public transportation to get to their jobs, school medical appointments and elsewhere,” the letter stated. “Furthermore, we expect the economy to continue rebounding next year – particularly once a vaccine becomes available – and public transit ridership will start growing again just as these harmful cuts are implemented.” As the plan stands now, there would be no fare rate changes with the proposals, and the service changes and cuts would be staggered, date-wise, with the following timetable proposed: —Commuter Rail service changes may begin in January —Ferry service changes may begin in March —Subway service changes may begin in the spring —Bus service may change in the summer MBTA officials said this timeline allows for further service adjustments if ridership changes in the near future, or if revenue becomes available. Not all of the service cuts are intended to be permanent, officials stated. All MBTA service would stop at midnight; no more commuter rail service on weekends The main facets of the Forging Ahead plan include stopping all service (subway and bus) after midnight (versus 1:00 a.m. at present), but no changes to start of service (now at 5:00 a.m.). —Reducing frequency by 20 percent across Blue, Green, Orange and Red Lines, though may vary line by line and by time of day based on ridership patterns — Ending all commuter rail service on weekends The MBTA’s proposed moves MBTA | SEE PAGE 13
5 Publizr Home