MASSPIRG Statement on Regional Transit Authority Budget in Fiscal Year 2019 Spending Plan

MASSPIRG

Contact: Matt Casale, MASSPIRG Staff Attorney, (617) 747-4314, [email protected]

BOSTON — Today,  the Massachusetts State House issued a compromise spending plan that funds the Regional Transit Authorities at $88 million, which would be enough to help stave off proposed service cuts throughout the state. The RTAs provide essential public transportation services to over 32 million riders across the Commonwealth, but have been forced to propose service cuts due to rising costs coupled with, until now, stagnant funding.

MASSPIRG Staff Attorney Matt Casale issued the following statement:

“We applaud the State House conference committee members for committing to better transit for Massachusetts by funding the Regional Transit Authorities at $88 million. To build a transportation system that meets our 21st century needs, we have to invest in public transit options throughout the Commonwealth. This is a big step in the right direction, but is just the beginning. Moving forward, we need to prioritize the expansion and streamlining of public transit throughout the Commonwealth, and that includes giving the RTAs the resources needed to provide Bay Staters with the services they deserve.

Public transportation promotes equity, opportunity, and a healthy environment. We should be doing everything we can to ensure that the entire Commonwealth has access to robust, frequent, and affordable public transportation options. Investing in the RTAs will end the trend of service cuts and fare hikes, and get us on a path to an improved network of public transportation services — and thus a better overall transportation system and a better quality of life for Bay Staters.

We now ask the full House and Senate, as well as Governor Baker, to support public transportation throughout Massachusetts and approve the conference committee’s report.”

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MASSPIRG is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organization that stands up to powerful interests whenever they threaten our health and safety, our financial security, or our right to fully participate in our democratic society. On the web at www.masspirg.org.