Local Leaders Chide MBTA Proposed Cuts, Favor Upping Gas Tax

While the , the state legislature is likely to come up with its own.

The MBTA Caucus of the state's legislature - state representatives whose communities are served by the MBTA - met Tuesday, and are actively meeting to develop their own plan as alternative to the transit authority's offerings, State Rep. Carl Sciortino said Wednesday.

"I believe the legislature has a responsibility to look at this and address this," Sciortino said.

Local political leaders are critical of proposals offered by the MBTA to resolve its funding crisis, and some believe there is a clear alternative - revisiting the commonwealth's gas tax.

"MBTA fares have more than doubled since the gas tax was last raised in 1991 and now," Sciortino said in a phone interview Wednesday. "We have to have a conversation again about the gas tax."

. One proposal included significant cuts that would decimate much of the transit's bus system, along with modest fare increases, while the other offered more significant fare hikes with fewer service cuts.

But those proposals don't offer long-term solutions to the state's infrastructure troubles, and they aren't fair to riders, Sciortino said.

"A modest fare increase is reasonable, but the current proposals are not reasonable," Sciortino said. "It's unfair to ask T riders to pay more for less service."

State Senator Pat Jehlen, a Democrat who represents Medford and Somerville, agrees.

"Even the relatively big increases being proposed will not provide more than a one- or two-year fix," Jehlen said in an email to Patch Wednesday. "I, along with some of my colleagues, have been advocating for an increase in the gas tax as a reasonable and sustainable way to ensure financial solvency for the T.  It is past time that we seriously address these long term funding issues. Iwill continue to advocate for an increase in the gas tax and more dedicated revenue to the T."

In State Rep. Denise Provost said the gas tax will likely be revisited as an option to address the T's woes, along with adding a toll to Boston's central artery.

In the mean time, the MBTA is holding public meetings on the proposed fare increases and service reductions around the state, most recently at Chelsea Public Library Wednesday. They will hold local meetings in Malden on Feb. 16 and Somerville on Feb. 28.

Officials are also looking to hold a legislative forum in Medford sometime soon where local politicians would hear from citizens, Rep. Paul Donato said Wednesday.

"We’re very concerned about this," Donato said. "We want to get the perspective of people taking the buses."

The T is in a tough spot financially, and some cuts and fare increases could be acceptable, Donato said, but some services that could be on the chopping block - buses like the 325 and 100 - are critical for some people.

"We understand that services in some cases may have to be altered, but the elimination of certain services would have a major impact on patrons who need it for work."

For 20 years, Medford City Council President Robert Maiocco rode the 326 bus to work at Wells Fargo Investors in Boston every week day.

He only stopped when his offices were moved to a part of town without a good public transit route from Medford, he said Wednesday. He previously led a petition drive when the MBTA was considering cutting the 325 and 326 buses in the 90s.

"It's a better deal, it's better than driving and it's better for the environment," Maiocco said of taking the bus.

Under one of the MBTA's current scenarios both buses would be cut entirely. Under the other weekday service for the 325 would be cut.

"It’s much different today with the finances and debt burden. It looks like they’re serious this time" Maiocco said. "In my personal belief, there are going to be cuts, I don’t see anyway around it. I think it is inevitable."