State budget targets T hiring woes
Healey makes pitch for means-tested fares, Red-Blue connector
Gov. Maura Healey’s first state budget does not provide funding to hire 1,000 new MBTA workers, as promised in her inaugural address, but does include resources to look into free or reduced fares and a RedBlue Line connector.
The funding to make the governor’s targeted 1,000 new hires is already in the MBTA’s budget, through money allocated in last year’s state budget, according to Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz.
“The money has already been appropriated through transfers that existed in FY23,” Gorzkowicz said. “So, the money is now sitting with the MBTA. The work is, to now, get those employees hired.”
This includes a $266 million transfer to the MBTA in the fiscal year 2023 budget, under former Gov. Charlie Baker. An additional $112 million was allocated to help the agency comply with safety directives issued as part of the Federal Transit Administration’s investigation, Gorzkowicz said.
An upcoming supplemental budget Healey plans to file will set aside funds, not for salaries, but rather for “new hiring and training support” to help the MBTA fill those 1,000 positions, to address workforce shortages cited by the feds, according to a budget overview. “The shift is there was one-time allotment of money towards the hiring already, of the 1,000 workers, so the good news is it’s already part of what (Mass)DOT has within its disposal,” Healey said at a Wednesday press conference. “We are focused on new money, though, but also more on the recruitment side.”
A budgeted amount for this recruitment effort, which will focus on diversity and equity, was not provided. While 1,000 hires are targeted, state budget documents list the MBTA’s current workforce shortage at 1,200 full-time employees.
Filed on Wednesday, the governor’s proposed $55.5 billion state budget includes roughly $1.5 billion in transportation funding, along with an additional $1.46 billion in sales tax revenue dedicated to the MBTA.
The Healey administration said this substantial investment in transportation was supplemented by $490 million in new funding made available through the Fair Share Amendment, more commonly known as the millionaire’s tax.
The MBTA will receive $186 million of that funding, $181 million of which will go toward capital investments.
The remaining $5 million will be put toward a study that will look into the feasibility of means-tested fares, explained by budget officials as either reduced or free fares across the MBTA system.
Healey characterized lower fares as an equity initiative, saying the $5 million investment will provide start-up costs for a meanstested fare program for “thousands of low-income MBTA riders.”
In October, the MBTA estimated a half-price, meanstested fare option for lowincome riders would cost the agency between $46 million and $58 million. But the cost to make all buses free would increase significantly, to $94-$141 million, the T said.
Lowering or eliminating fares would also have a direct impact on the MBTA’s operating budget, 21% of which is covered by fare revenue. More than half, or 59%, is expected to be covered by the state sales tax transfer, according to state budget documents.
Fair Share capital investments include $100 million for the MBTA bridge repair pipeline, $70 million for station improvements and accessibility updates throughout the system, and $11 million for the design of a Red-Blue Line connector.
According to the governor’s office, the Red and Blue Lines are the only two MBTA subway lines that do not intersect. The Red-Blue connector would link these two lines by creating a connection at Charles/MGH, a Red Line station in Boston.
The $11 million allocation would fund 30% of the Red-Blue connector design, enabling a stronger understanding of the full cost and requirements to complete the project, the governor’s office said.
The MBTA last provided an update on the potential project in June 2021, when a concept design report provided an estimated cost of $850 million.
The Red-Blue connector is aimed at reducing travel time and the number of transfers for trips between East Boston/Revere and Cambridge.
Major project elements include a 2,500 foot, twotrack tunnel under Cambridge Street, a Blue Line station platform, and modifications to the existing Charles/MGH station for a Blue Line connection.
Healey said the connection would benefit the entire commonwealth, and is part of the budget’s focus on affordability, competitiveness and equity.
“I think we’ve got to look at all of our transportation projects right now,” Healey said. “The key focus right now is workforce, as you can imagine, but part of building a vibrant, functioning economy is making sure we have the vibrancy and the connectivity in our public transit system.”
Fair Share revenues will also provide $100 million for highway bridge preservation, $25 million to enhance regional transit, $2.5 million for water transportation and $12.5 million for West-East Rail enabling projects.