Photo/video production by CASSIE VITALI
Jeanne Marie Cabe, a resident of the Commonwealth who spoke to the MBTA at their hearing in Lynn last night.
By GAYLA CAWLEY
LYNN — Residents and legislators had their chance to speak out about proposed Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) fare hikes and schedule changes at a public hearing Monday night with displeasure as the common theme.
Residents had a chance to weigh in on proposed changes at a hearing held at Breed Middle School, located at 90 O’Callaghan Way.
The MBTA was seeking public input on two fare options. The first option would increase single-fare rides by approximately five percent. There would be a system-wide average increase of 6.71 percent. The option would generate $33.2 million more in money from riders. The estimated ridership loss is 1.2 percent.
The second option would increase single-fare rides by approximately 10 percent. There would be a system-wide average increase of 9.77 percent. The option would generate $49.4 million more in money from riders. The estimated ridership loss is 1.6 percent.
With the first option, a monthly $75 Link Pass for the bus and subway would rise to $82.50, while the second option would see that amount raise to $84.50.
Nine of the 12 commuter rail lines would be undergoing changes. Corey Lynch, MBTA deputy director of railroad operations, presented goals of the commuter rail schedule changes. His goals included creating reliable and resilient commuter rail schedules to help ensure on-time performance, reducing overcrowding on trains and maximizing convenient arrival/departure times at North and South stations for commuters.
The final decision on proposed changes will be made in March and rests with the Fiscal and Management Control Board. Fare hikes would go into effect July 1 and new schedules are planned to take effect on May 23, according to an MBTA presentation.
Kathleen Paul, a Mass Senior Action Council member, said public transportation is a lifeline for seniors. A lot of times, she said it is their only transportation option. She said there is a proposal to raise the senior pass again, which seniors depend on to go to the doctor, visit friends and family and run errands.
“Please do not make the senior pass unaffordable,” Paul said.
Caroline Casey said the upcoming MBTA budget can be balanced without fare hikes. She urged the MBTA to stop attacking riders with fare increases.
Linda Bruce said the middle class is getting squeezed. She said five percent isn’t a lot for an increase, but she doesn’t see herself getting anything out of paying more money.
“If I felt like I was going to pay some more money and get better service, I would do it,” Bruce said.
However, Bruce said nothing changes with fare increases and she is tired of politicians telling her things are going to change.
Jeanne Marie Cabe and Nancy Houghton both expressed disappointment at what they called an inconvenient meeting place.
“I believe this should have been held at North Shore Community College,” Cabe said.
Cabe said a majority of people attending the meeting got there by taking public transportation. She said she was interested to find that Lynn and Swampscott are paying higher zone fares. She said “something should be done about that as well.”
Houghton questioned who was behind scheduling the meeting “at such an inconvenient place.” She said she is disabled and terminally ill and the doctors that are keeping her alive are in Boston.
Houghton uses the Paratransit system and said a raise to those fares would be an extreme hardship.
“You would be killing us,” Houghton said.
Judy Bower said she has been commuting for the last 26 years into Boston. She said she remembers when the commuter rail fare was low and she could use it five days a week.
Bower said she has received hundreds of text alerts from Dec. 1 to present day saying the train has been delayed 20 to 25 minutes due to mechanical problems. She also proposed a compromise for raising rates.
“Show us something in return so we can get to work on time,” Bower said.
Gregg Zoske said the latest version of the commuter rail schedule is “far superior to what we were introduced to in December.”
Zoske is a Gloucester resident and said she has taken the commuter rail into Lynn for the past six years. She said there are two Newburyport/Rockport train departures that bypass Lynn. She said some trains are an express from Boston to Salem. Her routine is to take an outbound Newburyport/Rockport train to Salem, where she waits another 13 minutes to take a Gloucester train home. Her other option is to wait another hour at the Lynn station.
Zoske said the new schedule would extend that wait to an hour and 17 minutes. She advocated for adding a Lynn stop to the 5:30 p.m. express train.
“It would only take two minutes to add Lynn to that northbound express train,” Zoske said.
Rep. Brendan Crighton said he has heard from countless constituents who oppose fare increases. He said he believes it was the intent to cap fare increases at 5 percent in 2013 with prior fare hikes. He said fare increases are “a very big deal” to families trying to get to work, students on fixed incomes and senior citizens trying to get to doctors’ appointments.
“(I would) oppose any increases greater than that five percent threshold,” Crighton said.
Dan Cahill, city council president, said he relies on the MBTA to get to work everyday so he empathizes with everyone who has difficulty getting to work on time. He said he would be willing to pay more money for his pass so other people can also use a system that works. Cahill said the first option of a five percent single-fare increase seems to be the better system for the residents of Lynn.
Sen. Thomas McGee said there’s a need to find the dollars to make the transportation system “work for all of us.”
“I hope we come up with a fair and reasonable proposal,” McGee said.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected].