Between the efforts of Michelle Wu and the soft-drink-sipping stunts of BMG’s own pro-transit state rep, the MBTA Fiscal Management and Control Board heard an earful against the proposed fare hike. And they’re listening! It’s a breath of fresh air to hear someone on the board talking like this:
Brian Lang, a director of the Fiscal and Management Control Board, said the T shouldn’t be raising its fares in isolation from the rest of the transportation system. He called on political leaders to “grow a little courage” and assess higher fees on ride-sharing apps such as Uber and Lyft, boost the gas tax, and increase tolls at peak travel periods and lower them at off-peak times.
“I’m not an expert on this stuff, but it’s kind of like no-brainers,” he said, noting that the revenue measures could provide financial support for the MBTA while simultaneously discouraging people from driving on their own or using Uber and Lyft.
“To talk about generating revenue for the T only from the T is completely wrong headed,” Lang said. “If you look at any of the systems from around the world that are world class, it’s all coordinated.”
It should be obvious: No transit mode exists in isolation. Neither should they be funded in isolation: We need to plan for the future and fund various modes appropriately — with an eye to social equity and bringing down carbon emissions. Glad to hear the T’s Control Board is getting the message; now it’s (long past) time for the Governor and Legislature to listen up.
petr says
Uuhh…
SomervilleTom says
I had precisely the same reaction.
I expect the a director of the Fiscal and Management Control Board to be an expert on “this stuff”, or else to step aside in favor of someone who IS an expert.
petr says
A very serious question:
What is it that prevents Marty Walsh, and Marty Walsh alone, from imposing congestion pricing on all vehicles entering the city that he is Mayor of…?
Christopher says
I assume the City Council would have to approve, and probably the state legislature for state roads.
petr says
You assume?
You assume the City Council is going to veto anything that lessens traffic in the city?
As for state roads: all state roads and highways end somewhere; sometimes they end at other state properties like Logan Airport or the ports; but most state roads just end where city streets begin (or intersect), and — again — the question becomes, why can’t the Mayor of the City impose congestion pricing at the very space where a state road ends and a city road begins (or intersects)…???
Or, better still, why can’t the Mayor of the City levy a congestion charge upon private parking garages in the City of Boston that have nothing to do with state roads… Let them pass it along to the parkers and get them that way… but why in the blue blazes not???
Christopher says
Generally speaking the executive authority does not get to unilaterally impose fees. There’s a process.
SomervilleTom says
No doubt.
Still, I’m pretty sure that if Kevin White had wanted something like this, it would have happened. Quickly. The needed support would have materialized (no doubt with some chips being called in) and the event would happen.
I think Mr. Walsh doesn’t want it to happen. Just like Mr. Menino before him. I also don’t think that Mr. Walsh has the political chops that Mr. White brought to the office.
nopolitician says
I don’t object to the ideas presented – “assess higher fees on ride-sharing apps such as Uber and Lyft, boost the gas tax, and increase tolls at peak travel periods and lower them at off-peak times.” But why then restrict the direction of this funding solely to the MBTA, and not share it with other transit agencies statewide?
SomervilleTom says
Indeed. What if there were a state-wide agency dedicated to improving transportation across the state? Hmm … it seems there IS such an agency:
My sense is that we have the needed structures in place. What is needed is the political will to set aggressive targets and fund them — through increased taxes and perhaps some of the ideas above — so that they have the resources needed to attain those targets.
petr says
Are these other transit agencies suffering in the same manner as the MBTA?
Would a more robust and well-funded MBTA fix or ameliorate the problems of other transit agencies in the same manner it would address traffic issues in the city of Boston?
SomervilleTom says
All good questions. Good questions that MassDOT should answer.
It isn’t clear to me that it makes sense to spend gas tax increases or Uber fees collected in Springfield on improving bus service in Roxbury.
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t. I’m saying instead that the state needs a coherent transportation plan at the state level. These questions should be answered by that plan.