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MBTA Dilemma: Refund Riders Or Use Money To Fix System

BOSTON (CBS) – Will the MBTA give refunds for its disastrous month of February?

State Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Dan Rea she understands this is a big deal, because so many people spent hundreds of dollars on passes they barely used after several storms crippled rail lines.

Stephanie Pollack
State Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack. (WBZ-TV)

They're now looking at the pros and cons of refunds and the best way to use that money.

"The board is really going to have to wrestle with fairness to our passengers who absolutely did not get the service they paid for and whether we take that same money and invest it in giving them better service in the future," she said.

Pollack added that the cost of providing February refunds to commuter rail passengers alone would cost the T $10 million.

"The same money that we would use to give back to people is the same money we would use to fix the system. There's no hidden treasure chest somewhere with extra money."

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports:

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