Lawmakers need to get federal funding to ease MBTA woes

Times like these call for Mike Capuano.

The former Massachusetts congressman, who lost his seat to Ayanna Pressley, had a knack for squeezing transportation dollars out of Washington. When he was a member of the Transportation Committee, the Federal Transit Administration coughed up nearly $1 billion in a funding commitment to the Green Line Extension.

Capuano secured some $3.658 billion for the state’s highways and bridges, and $1.576 billion for transit projects, among other boosts for the Bay State.

Imagine what Capuano could do for us now that the coronavirus pandemic has gutted MBTA revenue, and the transportation agency is eyeing service cuts and possible fare hikes amid a massive budget plunge.

For fiscal year 2022, the T expects to face a budget shortfall of $308 million to $577 million unless it receives additional aid.

We have representatives in Washington — Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley — who’ve also proposed transportation bills. But while the ideas behind them are good, they don’t focus on the current crisis and how to get out of it.

At the end of May, Markey, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced of the Building Rail Across Intercity Networks To Ride Around Interior of the Nation (BRAIN TRAIN) Act. The legislation authorizes $5 billion annually, for a total of $25 billion, to invest in “high-performance” intercity passenger rail service.

Passenger rail is a great thing — it brings jobs, is good for the environment and helps connect places that are difficult to reach other than by car.

Five billion bucks a year over five years will yield a great project. But right now, the transportation system of subways, buses, trains and ferries is gasping for breath.

In June, Markey and Pressley launched the Freedom to Move Act, which would provide fare-free public transit systems.

“Our public transit systems are meant to provide communities with the mobility and freedom to access critical services, but far too many in the Massachusetts 7th and across the country lack reliable, safe and affordable transit service,” said Congresswoman Pressley, who has also pushed for increased transportation funding during the pandemic.

“The Freedom to Move Act invests heavily in our public transit systems so that states and localities can offer safe, highquality and fare-free rides, and would ensure that everyone in community — including our essential workers who depend heavily on public transportation — can access jobs, food and essential services like education and health care.”

The free fares would come from a $5 billion annual fund for “Freedom to Move Grants” — a competitive grant program that would compensate agencies for lost fare revenues.

Another good idea — transit fares can take a bite of lower income budgets, and relief would be welcome.

But right now the T is applying a tourniquet to bleeding revenues — the agency needs an infusion of cash to be able to maintain the services it already provides.

We need our leaders to focus on federal funding to lift Massachusetts transportation out of the coronavirus-induced crisis. A free ride matters little if the bus runs half as often.

There are many problems that need fixing, among them transportation inequities.

But you have to put out the kitchen fire before you can invite hungry folks over for dinner.