MBTA Fare Hike Meetings To Begin This Week
BOSTON (AP) — Riders will have a chance to sound off on proposed MBTA fare hikes and service cuts when the T begins a series of public meetings this week.
Transit officials say they need to raise fares as much as 43 percent to close a projected $161 million budget gap. Another scenario calls for a more modest hike of 35 percent, but accompanied by more extensive service cuts.
Both plans would end commuter rail service on weekends and ferry service in Boston Harbor.
The first public meetings are set for Tuesday night in Newton and Worcester, with others scheduled later in the week in Chelsea and in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood.
In all, more than 20 meetings will be held in the MBTA service area through the first week of March.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
