Hearings To End Monday On Proposed MBTA Fare Hikes

BOSTON (AP) — The debate over proposed MBTA fare hikes and service cuts is about to enter a new phase.

The final in a series of more than 30 public hearings is scheduled for Monday night in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston. Monday is also the last day written comments can be submitted through the T's Web site.

An agency spokesman says about 5,800 people have attended the public hearings over the past two months.

The T's next step will be to review comments before making final recommendations to its board. A decision is expected by April 15, the deadline for approving a new budget for the transit system.

Officials have proposed raising fares by up to 43 percent and imposing a number of service cuts to help bridge an approximately $160 million deficit.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.