The Cash Strapped MBTA Will Likely Raise Fares in 2012

Keller @ Large: Fare Hikes Likely For ‘T’

September 1, 2011 11:29 PM

Reporting Jon Keller

Filed under

Business, Consumer, Local, News, Seen On WBZ-TV, Syndicated Local, Watch + Listen

BOSTON (CBS) – The cost of getting around, may soon cost you more. The ‘T’ may raise fares next year.

The big question is, how much?

“The T a few years ago talked about a 25% increase,” says Transportation Secretary Richard Davey. “That was not enacted because the legislature did provide some relief though the sales tax increase.”

WBZ-TV’s Jon Keller is at Large

So now the T needs more money and it could mean $2.50 plus for a subway ride, about two dollars for a bus ride, and $7.50 or more to travel by commuter boat.

“I would tell you that it’s probably inconceivable that we can not raise fares for next year,” says Richard Davey.

And that’s not all. Listen closely for the escape clauses in these denials.

Will the gas tax have to be increased and by how much? - “At this point, not on the table.”

Turnpike and bridge tolls, when will they be increased and by how much? – “No plans to increase the tolls right now Jon.“

Tollbooths on the Mass border, on the table or off the table? – “At this point, not being discussed.”

Richard Davey doesn’t want to stir up any more controversy than he has to. He was candid in the interview about the indisputable fact that we can’t afford to maintain and operate the transit system – warts and all – without more money. Which leads us to another indisputable fact — you’re the one who’s going to be paying more to get around.

thinkin’ out loud

Guess who’ll be paying to fill the sink hole under the Big Dig’s I-90 connector tunnel along with replacing the lighting fixtures which are now strapped to the tunnel ceiling. So much for “new and improved.”
http://thecryptojournalist.wordpress.com The Cryptojournalist

News flash: everyone’s broke.

http://rhymeandreasonable.com/2011/08/23/bobbing-and-weaving-around-the-impact-of-globalization-on-income-and-employment/
Joan Hogan

Governor Patrick Is also trying To eliminate certain people from the ” RIDE PROGRAM ” . This Governor needs to Resign , or we the people should Impeach
him. He likes to stay @ home a lot , maybe he should change careers , and become a ” House Husband” , and our state should be renamed the Commonill instead of the Commonwealth.
fred

It’s about time the “T” declares bankruptcy. They are so in debt and have so many obligations (pensions and healtcare for retiree’s) that they would have to increase the fares by tenfold or more just to begin to reduce the debt never mind getting back to even. The cities and towns that the mbta services will continue to have their contributions rincrease (while service stays poor) and the T will be getting a piece of every gas tax, sales tax or toll increase that gets inacted. It’s time to fold and start over – maybe privatize it, yeah that’s it – have UPS (United Parcel Service) run it. They ship packages efficiently all over the world and make a profit doing it (and with union labor). Packages – people, it’s all cargo. All they would have to do is break even and it would be a major success.