Photo: Jason Lawrence
July 21, 2021 (BOSTON, MA) – The Massachusetts Legislature has passed a bill that will create a permanent oversight board for the MBTA after the temporary Fiscal and Management Control Board expired at the end of June. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement in response.
“The era of kicking the can down the road at the MBTA is over,” said Staci Rubin, Vice President of Environmental Justice at CLF. “People in nearly 200 communities depend on the T to get where they need to go, and it’s time we get a reliable, affordable system that works for everyone. This bill will make sure that the oversight board understands the issues plaguing the MBTA and has the vision to create a better system for everyone.”
The legislation will create a seven-member board responsible for overseeing everything from fare increases to expansion projects to major funding decisions. One of the board members will be required to be a regular MBTA rider and resident of an environmental justice community. The new board will also have 3 subcommittees including one focused on safety, health, and environment and another focused on planning and workforce development.
The bill will now head to Governor Baker for his signature.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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