Boston, MA – T Riders and advocates rallied before the MBTA Board Meeting today, asking the legislature to fully invest in a sustainable public transportation system. Despite approximately $160 million of new revenue through a sales tax increase, the MBTA is planning another round of fare increases and service cuts, the fourth since 2000.

“The MBTA's budget is like a leaking ship. The transportation reorganization bill and sales tax increase will fill some gaps, but if we don't plug all the holes, the T will still sink,” said T Riders Union (TRU) member Taisha O’Bryant.

Almost one-third of the T's operational budget goes towards repaying $8.1 billion of debt, which includes $1.67 billion of Big Dig debt the State pushed on the transit authority and riders in 2000. Even accounting for the new sales tax revenue and transit reform, that budget is in crisis.

“To stay afloat, the T continues to raise fares and cut service, which loses riders. Our legislators need to stop this vicious cycle,” said O’Bryant. “T riders deserve an affordable, reliable and green transit system, especially now when so many workers and families are suffering. Our legislature bailed out Turnpike drivers—now we need to help the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on the T.”

While the fare increase details have not been released and any public hearings are yet to be announced, the effect on riders is clear and far reaching.

Anike Staples-Martin, Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project (REEP) Youth Organizer said, “Young people are hurting too. My student pass went up more than 80 percent in the past two years. If fares go up again, I don't know how I'll be able to afford to get to school, my job, and my after school program.”

Advocates from On the Move: The Greater Boston Transportation Justice Coalition (OTM) say the issue goes deeper. The MBTA’s service area includes over 73 percent of the Massachusetts population and over 50 percent of the State’s jobs. The transit coalition warns that higher fares will bleed the T of riders, which means more cars on the road, more congestion and more greenhouse gas emissions.

TRU members are also asking the MBTA board of directors to stop the accelerated fare increase and service cuts process in order to give the legislature time to resolve the funding issue.

“It’s not fair. I’m being doubly taxed for transit. I’m paying for a sales tax increase and now a fare increase, why?” said TRU member Gwen Vincent. “There’s no need. The MBTA is guaranteed $160 million from the state sales tax increase this fiscal year.”