Mass. governor proposes $135M budget increase for MBTA

Jan. 22, 2020

The administration of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker today filed its FY 2021 budget recommendation, which includes a funding increase for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Commonwealth’s transportation system as a whole.

"Our plan ... will make critical investments in the MBTA, our transportation system, and workforce development to keep the Commonwealth on track to support our booming economy," Gov. Baker said in a statement.

The administration says that in order to continue to deliver a safe, reliable, and effective transportation system, the proposed FY 2021 budget provides a total increase of $216.7 million for transportation entities throughout the Commonwealth. This includes $135 million in new support for the MBTA—the agency responsible for operating most public transportation services in the Greater Boston area—funded in part by increasing the existing per-trip assessment for Transportation Network Company (TNC) rides to $1.

The proposal dedicates 70 cents of this sustainable $1 assessment to the Commonwealth for transportation and the MBTA, providing approximately $73 million in this budget for the MBTA. The budget provides 30 cents of the assessment to local municipalities, which will triple the amount that local cities and towns receive from TNC rides.

The governor's office says that this funding will build upon efforts already underway to hire additional staff and contractors, expedite the completion of critical capital projects, enable proactive inspections to detect and address safety and reliability issues before they impact service, and implement enhanced maintenance procedures. It will also complement the latest five-year capital spending plan, which calls for the MBTA to spend $8.2 billion for FY20-24.

-------

SOURCE: Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Sponsored Recommendations

The Science Behind Sustainable Concrete Sealing Solutions

Extend the lifespan and durability of any concrete. PoreShield is a USDA BioPreferred product and is approved for residential, commercial, and industrial use. It works great above...

Proven Concrete Protection That’s Safe & Sustainable

Real-life DOT field tests and university researchers have found that PoreShieldTM lasts for 10+ years and extends the life of concrete.

Revolutionizing Concrete Protection - A Sustainable Solution for Lasting Durability

The concrete at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center is subject to several potential sources of damage including livestock biowaste, food/beverage waste, and freeze/thaw...

The Future of Concrete Preservation

PoreShield is a cost-effective, nontoxic alternative to traditional concrete sealers. It works differently, absorbing deep into the concrete pores to block damage from salt ions...