MBTA Aims To Put Hold On Cuts Affecting Region, Including Town

Arlington MA

09 December, 2020

4:13 PM

Description

Your Arlington Last Updated: 08 December 2020 Written by MBTA, news reports, Bob Sprague UPDATED, Dec. 8: The MBTA has released plans to end weekend commuter rail service, cut bus routes and shut down T service an hour earlier each night. These deep reductions are planned as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority struggles with the fallout of lower ridership because of Covid-19 and a expanding projected budget deficit. The MBTA's Fiscal Management and Control Board met Dec. 7, and Patch reported that the cuts would be put on hold. So did CommonWealth's Bruce Mohl. Specifics are to be reported the week of Dec. 14. Routes proposed for elimination Routes called 'below baseline level of service possible' (i.e, service cuts) 79 (Heights to Alewife) 80 (Arlington Center to Lechmere) 351 (Bedford Woods Drive to Alewife) Public meetings to discuss these cuts: Systemwide Last one was Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. 62/76 (Bedford VA Hospital - Alewife Station via Hanscom Airport: service suspended) 67 (Turkey Hill via Arlington Center) 77 (Arlington Heights - Harvard Station) 78 (Arlmont Village - Harvard Station) 84 (Arlmont Village - Alewife Station: service suspended) 87 (Clarendon Hill or Arlington Center - Lechmere Station) 350 (North Burlington - Alewife Station) On Dec. 3, the MassINC Polling group released survey results showing deep opposition to cuts. Read more about the specific Arlington impacts and how to register for upcoming MBTA meetings. The chart at left provides links to the proposed effects on Arlington bus routes, which would occur next summer, if adopted. The MBTA says its proposed slate of service cuts would save $142 million by summer 2022. Before doing so, the public will be able to comment at a series of meetings (see chart). Note that in a link to expected impacts on specific routes that No. 67 and No. 77 are listed as nonessential without major structural changes. Click here and scroll down to page 8. More details in Nov. 12 town news release >> If you missed the Nov. 12 hearing, see feedback links here >> See more information here >> Members of the Select Board acknowledged the proposal's effects on town residents at the end of its Nov. 9 meeting. YourArlington.com has provided news and opinion about Arlington, Mass., since 2006. Publisher Bob Sprague is a former editor at The Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Arlington Advocate. Read more at https://www.yourarlington.com/about.