Community Corner

Patch Readers Unhappy with MBTA Situation

The MBTA's proposed fare hikes and service cuts have frustrated Somerville Patch readers, so have the overall financial problems facing the authority.

Somerville Patch readers were not happy with news that the MBTA, in an effort to close a $161 million budget deficit, was considering fare hikes and cuts to service, .

Needing the 85 and 96 buses

Based on comments from readers, it seems the elimination of 85 and 96 bus lines would be among the most difficult cuts for Somerville to deal with. The MBTA is considering cuts to at least six bus lines in the city.

Mimi Graney, who's executive director of , commented that "[t]he #85 is a key line connecting Union Square to MIT and Kendall Square."

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Merrill, another reader, noted that the 85 bus doesn't run on weekends, so the MBTA's proposed weekday elimination of the line would shut it down entirely.

Allie Morse wrote, "This is horrifying … I just put down a deposit for an apartment a few blocks from the 96. There are no alternative routes in the area. I'm mildly disabled following treatment for cancer and cannot walk the mile and a half from my new apartment to Davis [Square.]"

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Also commenting about the 96 bus line, a reader named "A." wrote, "If the 96 is canceled, then I have to take the 94 to Davis [Square] then the Red Line two stops, meaning I'll need a combo pass instead." Under the proposal that would lead to the elimination of the 96 bus line, buying a combo "LinkPass," allowing riders to take the bus and subway, would cost $78  per month. By comparison, a local bus pass would cost $48 per month. In other words, eliminating the 96 bus would cost "A." an extra $360 per year.

It is not certain the MBTA will cut the 96, 85 and other bus lines in Somerville, but doing so is part of one proposal, out of two, being considered at the moment. The 85 bus goes from Spring Hill in Somerville, though Union Square and onto Kendall Station near MIT. The 96 starts in Medford Square, goes past , down College Avenue, through Davis Square and onto Harvard Square down Massachusetts Avenue.

General frustration, especially with Green Line extension delays

Many readers were frustrated by the prospect of paying more for less service, especially since the long-awaited Green Line extension, which was supposed to open in Somerville by the end of 2014, , with legitimate questions aired about .

Graney wrote, "Especially in light of the Green [Line extension] delays, eliminating bus service is counter to the pedestrian oriented city we're building."

Lucas Rogers wrote that "Somerville was built around streetcars. Then they replaced the streetcars with buses. Now, with unending [G]reen [L]ine delays in the background, they're saying they might take even the buses away. This is hard to take."

"A." wrote, "The Big Dig blew it with throwing all that money at roads; no North-South rail connector, no Green Line Extension, just more crap for cars … how about putting a chunk of that towards the more responsible commuters?"

Funding the MBTA

Some readers discussed broader funding problems at the MBTA, which is $5.5 billion in debt.

"I think it was an error to tie T financing to the sales tax. It should be tied to the gasoline tax, and the gasoline tax increased; the money has to come from somewhere," wrote Warren Dew, who also noted, "I do see a lot of nearly empty buses, which can't be efficient to run."

"It's ridiculous to contemplate such massive reduction in service with a band-aid approach," wrote Karen, who also said, "It's amazing that these service cut proposals are all about the T ridership shouldering the burden of the inadequate "Forward Funding" budget scheme the T is still saddled with from the State legislature back in 2000. And saddled with Big Dig debt. They should be pursuing that the current State legislature revisit and fix the [underlying] situation."

Finally, one reader thought the MBTA should take some lessons from the airline industry.

Ron Newman wrote, "I'd much rather see the MBTA partially default on its unsustainable debt obligations instead of carrying out these service cuts. Let the hedge fund owners suffer, not working people in Somerville. If airlines can periodically wipe out their debts through bankruptcy and continue operating, why can't the T?"


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