MBTA approves steep cuts

Plan is scaled back from initial proposal

MBTA officials are plowing ahead with “catastrophic” service cuts set to begin early next year despite pleas from riders and politicians to pump the breaks as the vaccine rollout takes shape and promise of a a federal stimulus package renews.

“To deny community access to consistent, affordable and accessible transit services, in the midst of this crisis, will be nothing but catastrophic, and would contribute to the public health crisis, while we are in the middle of a second surge, further destabilizing families and wreaking greater hardship and havoc,” said U.S. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., joining a Mondaymorning press conference via a live stream from Washington, D.C.

The MBTA’s Fiscal Management Control Board voted 3-2, with Chrystal Kornegay and Tim Sullivan opposed, to move forward with sweeping changes designed to keep the T’s finances from going off the rails as the coronavirus pandemic has sent costs soaring and ridership plummeting. More cuts could come down the pike as the agency’s long-term financial picture remains unclear and it faces a deficit of more than $400 million come fiscal year 2022.

Officials plan to discuss in February and March whether to keep cuts in place, expand them or roll them back in the next fiscal year.

Rallying outside the state transportation building in Boston ahead of Monday’s meeting, Community Labor United organizer Collique Williams criticized a process he said is moving too quickly. Advocates did not have a chance to review proposed changes to service cuts ahead of Monday’s vote.

“The Fiscal Management and Control Board has not had enough time to review the proposal or consider public comments. There is much we do not know about the MBTA’s plan, but we do know that deep service cuts are bad for riders, bad for workers, and bad for Massachusetts,” Williams said.

The final plan, which slightly scaled back more widespread changes floated last month, will suspend 20 bus routes, eliminate weekend commuter rail service on seven lines, reduce subway and bus frequency, and cut Hingham and Hull ferry schedules.

“I would ask the MBTA to take another look at the current cuts,” said U.S. Congressman Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., who gathered with transportation advocates head of Monday’s meeting. Lynch and Pressley said a federal coronavirus aid package currently being debated includes $50 billion for transit agencies like the MBTA.

NICOLAuS CzARnECkI PHOTOS / HERALD STAFF FILE FEW RIDERS: An Orange Line train pulls into a quiet Downtown Crossing Station on Dec. 8 as ridership on the MBTA continues to be low due to the pandemic. Below, the train remains near-empty as it pulls out of the station.