MBTA Considering Scrapping Weekend Commuter Rail Service For 1 Year

BOSTON (CBS) -- The MBTA's Fiscal Management Control Board is considering eliminating all weekend Commuter Rail service for one year in order to completely balance their budget, WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karyn Regal reports.

The board wants to cut $49 million from the MBTA's budget. In addition weekend Commuter Rail service, the board proposed suspending RIDE trips over 1/4 mile, which are not legally required.

The proposals were part of what State Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack called a "difficult discussion."

"Instead of benefitting the handful of thousands of people who use the system on a typical weekend day, it would benefit all of the riders who use the system on a weekday, which is a much higher number of riders," Pollack said. "And the savings would be transferred to capital and directly invested back into the Commuter Rail system."

None of the proposals are final, and must still go through the legislative process.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karyn Regal reports