[Street] MBTA fare and Service Changes

Joseph Ramsey jgramsey at gmail.com
Wed Jan 11 14:09:43 EST 2012


Glad to see there is already a page up.  I didn't see it before creating
the Occupy the T page.  Did they mention this page at last night's meeting?

I will post the link to the more established "AgainstTCuts" page on "Occupy
the T" immediately.

I do however think that "Occupy the T" has a certain ring to it, no?  For
one it is not simply defensive in orientation.  Though of course I am all
for supporting those defensive struggles that are emerging!

Best,
Joe




On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 2:00 PM, Eli Cohen <elcoh002 at mail.goucher.edu>wrote:

> Love ya Joe, but you've been beaten to the punch<http://www.facebook.com/AgainstTCuts?ref=ts>on Facebook. They've already got plenty of good information and a couple
> hundred members. Good thought, but we should probably unite under that
> banner.
>
> Full link: http://www.facebook.com/AgainstTCuts?ref=ts
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 1:52 PM, Joseph Ramsey <jgramsey at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I concur with Eli's description of last night's Occupy the T meeting.
>>
>> Just thought I would add three quick bits:
>>
>> 1)  The link to the actual "Charlie on the MTA" song:
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VMSGrY-IlU
>>
>> 2)  I have started a (barebones) "Occupy the T" facebook group:
>> http://www.facebook.com/events/167467446688614/?ref=ts#!/groups/272675306130545/
>> Eli, would you like to be added as an administrator for this group?
>> Please join it folks!
>>
>> 3)  I want to echo Eli's point about the symbollic connection between the
>> percentage of T revenue going to big banks (specifically: J.P
>> Morgan/Chase-Manhattan, Morgan Stanley, DeutscheBank, and UBS) to pay
>> interest on debt, and the actual t fare cost. If we could force these banks
>> to eat the debt, and get the state to step in to subsidize, we could
>> honestly call for free public transit in the city.  This, as Eli points
>> out, would be not only a pocketbook victory for working people, but a major
>> symbollic and material environmental and public health victory as well.
>>
>> That and the irony of the song's victim being the icon of the Charlie
>> card makes "Free Charlie!" almost too perfect as a potential slogan.
>> -Joe
>>  On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 1:35 PM, Eli Cohen <elcoh002 at mail.goucher.edu>wrote:
>>
>>>  The sense I got from last night was that it is a fair assessment. The
>>> debt is primarily from the Big Dig, so there is also an equity issue. They
>>> essentially forced T riders to subsidize the Big Dig which primarily
>>> benefited drivers. Most of the environmental economists and activists I've
>>> talked to have said that things should work the other way around; we should
>>> be paying for public transit through a carbon tax, congestion charge, or
>>> something else like that.
>>>
>>> As promised, a few messaging and action items that were brought up last
>>> night:
>>> - There were about 25 people there, with about half identifying
>>> themselves primarily as Occupiers. There were several (awesome) folks from
>>> the Center for Teen Empowerment who hosted this, and a couple local labor
>>> and community organizers (one from Somerville Community Corporation. The
>>> meeting focused mostly on Somerville, but with the recognition that we
>>> should be allying with groups all over the Greater Boston Area.
>>> - We mostly brainstormed; no specific actions were planned, in part
>>> because we wanted to wait until after Thursday's meeting hosted by the T
>>> Riders Union. We do have ideas:
>>> - We could gather small groups to mic-check or hand out information on
>>> the T, particularly on the bus routes that are going to be cut.
>>> - Fun fact: 30% of T's budget comes from fares (the rest comes from the
>>> state). Also, 30% of the budget is tied up in paying off interest on loans.
>>> That means that if the bank forgave the MBTA's loans, that money would be
>>> enough to maintain current service levels and have *no fares* (i.e.
>>> free public transit). Something to think about.
>>> - One participant suggested we use the above fun fact to frame a "free
>>> Charlie" campaign. The irony hit me last night that "Charlie<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.T.A.>"
>>> (from the CharlieCard and CharlieTicket) is based on a song written to
>>> oppose fare hikes.
>>>
>>> There's probably much more to be said, but I'll wait until after
>>> tomorrow night's meeting with the T Rider's Union when we hopefully have
>>> the beginning of an action plan. In the meantime, if anyone wants to start
>>> putting together quarter-sheets and other informational materials, I'm sure
>>> they'll come in handy in the long run.
>>>
>>> -Eli
>>>
>>> On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 10:04 PM, Reed <fb at occupyboston.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> It's likely that everybody on the list has read "Born Broke", the MBTA
>>>> Advisory Board's run-down of the MBTA funding situation, but
>>>> in case anybody hasn't and is interested it's enlightening:
>>>>
>>>> http://mbta.com/uploadedfiles/Documents/Financials/Born_Broke.pdf
>>>>
>>>> It gives more detail on the Forward Funding arrangement initiated in
>>>> 2000 which earmarked 20% of state sales tax revenue and transferred
>>>> $3.3 billion in state debt to the MBTA and concludes:
>>>>
>>>> "The fairest, most equitable and fiscally
>>>> prudent step the Commonwealth could
>>>> take to make the T whole for next year
>>>> and for years to come would be to take
>>>> back its $3.3 billion in debt. Such an
>>>> action would save the MBTA hundreds
>>>> of millions of dollars in annual debt
>>>> service costs and free up financial
>>>> resources to operate the system and
>>>> reduce the backlog of maintenance
>>>> needs. Most importantly, it would make
>>>> the T whole in FY10 and for many,
>>>> years to come."
>>>>
>>>> The document says that about half of the MBTA's projected deficits
>>>> can be attributed to "increased debt service payments".
>>>>
>>>> Can anybody speak to this? Is it an accurate, honest assessment?
>>>>
>>>> Cheers,
>>>> R.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 01:56:09AM +0000, Nicole Sullivan  wrote:
>>>> > Thanks for posting it! I was working on a spreadsheet with this info
>>>> before the GA clusterfuck and then it kind of fell by the wayside.
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>>>> >
>>>> > -----Original Message-----
>>>> > From: Eli Cohen <elcoh002 at mail.goucher.edu>
>>>> > Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:52:02
>>>> > To: <lindajenkins177 at yahoo.com>
>>>> > Cc: <street at lists.occupyboston.org>
>>>> > Subject: Re: [Street] MBTA fare and Service Changes
>>>> >
>>>> > The info Daniel shared came from the MBTA's informational packet,
>>>> which can be found here:
>>>> >
>>>> > http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/?id=23567
>>>> >
>>>> > It includes the history, their reasoning for the cuts/fare hikes, the
>>>> details of the two proposals, and the list of community meeting
>>>> dates/locations. Worth thumbing through, and basically lays out the
>>>> information in as succinct a way as you can, with that many numbers to deal
>>>> with. I may not like what the MBTA is doing, but props to whoever they
>>>> hired to do brochure layout :-)
>>>> >
>>>> > For those of you not interested in the details, the big picture is
>>>> this: "proposal 1" has more fare increases and less service cuts, "proposal
>>>> 2" has more service cuts and less fare increases. They're giving us the
>>>> illusion of choice by letting the public choose which terrible option is
>>>> less terrible, but from what I heard at tonight's meeting in Somerville,
>>>> our message is "none of the above." More detailed report-back on that later.
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 6:18 PM, Linda Jenkins <
>>>> lindajenkins177 at yahoo.com <mailto:lindajenkins177 at yahoo.com> > wrote:
>>>> >  Very helpful-and not a little frightening, actually.
>>>> >  Linda
>>>> >
>>>> >  Sent on the fly.
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >  On Jan 10, 2012, at 5:24 PM, Daniel Mc <danielm at occupyboston.org<mailto:
>>>> danielm at occupyboston.org> > wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >  > Hi All,
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > Wanted to send this along so we have a better understanding of
>>>> what the MBTA itself will be doing in the coming weeks.
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > It would be great to have a presence at the public hearings that
>>>> they hold and also to better educate ourselves on exactly what is being
>>>> done. Some info below.
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > Best,
>>>> >  > --
>>>> >  > Daniel.
>>>> >  > Occupy Boston Outreach Committee
>>>> >  > **Use this email for all things occupy**
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > ----- Forwarded message from maochoa99 at yahoo.com <mailto:
>>>> maochoa99 at yahoo.com>  -----
>>>> >  >    Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 11:08:48 -0800 (PST)
>>>> >  >    From: Michael Ochoa <maochoa99 at yahoo.com <mailto:
>>>> maochoa99 at yahoo.com> >
>>>> >  > Reply-To: Michael Ochoa <maochoa99 at yahoo.com <mailto:
>>>> maochoa99 at yahoo.com> >
>>>> >  > Subject: MBTA fare and Service Changes
>>>> >  >      To: "danielm at occupyboston.org <mailto:
>>>> danielm at occupyboston.org> " <danielm at occupyboston.org <mailto:
>>>> danielm at occupyboston.org> >
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > The T will conduct over 20 public hearings on fare hike proposals.
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > Proposed fares based on type of pass
>>>> (Type;proposed;current;%change)
>>>> >  >  Local Bus $55.00 $40.00 37.5%
>>>> >  > LinkPass $80.00 $59.00 35.6%
>>>> >  > Senior/TAP LinkPass $40.00 $20.00 100.0%
>>>> >  > Student LinkPass $40.00 $20.00 100.0%
>>>> >  > 1-Day LinkPass $12.00 $9.00 33.3%
>>>> >  > 7-Day LinkPass $20.00 $15.00 33.3%
>>>> >  > Inner Express $127.00 $89.00 42.7%
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > Proposal 2:Local Bus $2.00 $1.50 33.3%
>>>> >  > Rapid Transit $3.00 $2.00 50.0%
>>>> >  > Inner Express Bus $4.50 $3.50 28.6%
>>>> >  > Outer Express Bus N/A $5.00 N/A
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > Public Meetings in Greater Boston:
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > January 17, Tuesday Newton 5:30-7:30 PM     Newton City Hall 1000
>>>> Commonwealth Avenue
>>>> >  > January 18, Wednesday Chelsea 6:00-8:00 PM Public Library,
>>>> Auditorium 569 Broadway
>>>> >  > January 19, Thursday Boston (Roxbury) 6:00-8:00 PM Roxbury
>>>> Community College Auditorium
>>>> >  > 1234 Columbus Avenue
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > January 23, Monday Boston 1:00-3:00 PM
>>>> >  > 4:30-6:30 PM Transportation Building, Floor 2 Conference Rooms 2,
>>>> 3 10 Park Plaza
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > January 31, Tuesday Boston (Mattapan)  6:00-8:00 PM  Mildred
>>>> Avenue Community Center 5 Mildred Avenue
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > February 1, Wednesday Jamaica Plain 6:00-8:00 PM   Hennigan
>>>> Community Center, Cafeteria
>>>> >  > 200 Heath Street
>>>> >  > February 2, Thursday Boston (Dorchester) 1:00-3:00 PM and
>>>> >  > 6:00-8:00 PM  Dorchester House Multi-Service Center 1353
>>>> Dorchester Avenue
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > February 7, Tuesday Lynn 6:00-8:00 PM   City Council Chambers 3
>>>> City Hall Square
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > February 8, Wednesday Boston (West End) 4:30-6:30 PM Shriners
>>>> Hospital Auditorium 51 Blossom Street
>>>> >  > February 13, Monday Boston (South Station area) 6:00-8:00 PM
>>>>  Boston Public Library Boston Room
>>>> >  > 700 Boylston Street
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > February 15, Wednesday Quincy 6:00-8:00 PM Thomas Crane Public
>>>> Library 40 Washington Street
>>>> >  > February 16, Thursday  Malden  6:00-8:00 PM City Council Chambers
>>>> 200 Pleasant Street
>>>> >  > February 28, Tuesday Somerville  6:00-8:00 PM High School
>>>> Auditorium 81 Highland Avenue
>>>> >  > February 29, Wednesday  Cambridge  6:00-8:00 PM  Citywide Senior
>>>> Center
>>>> >  > 806 Massachusetts Avenue
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > March 1, Thursday   Waltham  6:00-8:00 PM  Government Center
>>>> Auditorium
>>>> >  > 119 School Street
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > Causes according to MBTA:The Authority's operating costs for
>>>> energy, fuel, and health care have continued to rise, and costs for THE
>>>> RIDE service have
>>>> >  > grown by nearly 400% over the last decade. While THE RIDE's
>>>> operating costs have increased over the past 10 years, the
>>>> >  > primary cost increase has been due to exponential growth in
>>>> ridership on that service.
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > 2. The T is financially burdened with principal and interest
>>>> payments on $5.2 billion in debt that consume nearly 30% of its annual
>>>> >  > operating budget.
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > 3. Since 2000, the T's primary source of funding (a 20% share of
>>>> statewide sales tax receipts) has not produced the steadily
>>>> >  > increasing revenue stream originally projected.
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > ----- End forwarded message -----
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  >
>>>> >  > _______________________________________________
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