Report: Proposed MBTA Changes Would Hurt Health
MAPC Report Shows Negative Impact on Air Quality, Obesity Rates, Heart Disease in Greater Boston
Story Updated 7:55PM Wednesday, March 14, 2012
– Allison Goldsberry
The Metropolitian Area Planning Council has released a report that says proposed MBTA service cuts would have serious public health consequences in the Greater Boston area.
The report says proposed changes to MBTA fares and service would “carry significant human and financial costs for the region, resulting in avoidable losses of life and hundreds of millions of dollars in preventable hospitalizations and accidents each year.”
The report, released Tuesday, argues that the proposals would “contribute to the area’s obesity epidemic,” “increase harmful emissions,” and “isolate” thousands of people from basic health care services.
The MBTA is considering fare hikes and service cuts to address an anticipated $161 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2013. The agency has just finished a public comment period on the proposed changes. According to the MAPC, under one proposal, known as “Scenario 1,” fares would increase by 43% and service reductions would affect between 34 and 48 million trips annually while under “Scenario 2,” fares would increase by 35% and service reductions would affect between 53 and 64 million trips each year. MAPC estimated the regional impacts of each proposal on vehicle miles traveled, time spent driving, ridership loss and air quality, according to a press release.
For Medford the proposed changes could mean the elimination of the 325, 326, 95, and 96 bus routes. The 134 bus route could be cut back and commuter rail service could potentially be eliminated after 10PM on week nights and altogether on weekends.
In addition, fares could increase from $1.25 to $1.75 to ride the bus and $1.70 to $2.40 for the train.
The MBTA’s Acting General Manager, Jonathan Davis, a Medford resident, told Boston.com he “appreciated the report” and that the agency is reluctant to make the proposed changes.
“It pretty much confirms the analysis that we did and some of the impacts that these proposals would have either on the environment, the economy, or people’s mobility options,” Davis told Boston.com.
Davis also said he has heard from thousands of riders over the past two months, most of whom were against the proposed fare hikes and service cuts.
“We’re working very hard to come up with a recommendation that could minimize the amount of the fare increase and service cuts that we would have to implement,” he said. “But we’re not there yet.”
A letter from Davis and MassDOT CEO Richard Davey posted on MBTA.com Wednesday says a final proposal will include both fare hikes and service cuts.