For Immediate Release
Reggie Ramos
Executive Director
Transportation for Massachusetts
rramos@t4ma.org
Yesterday, Governor Healey submitted her budget proposal to the Legislature. The budget features significant transportation appropriations. We appreciate the increase in the MBTA’s operating funds from $187 million to $314 million particularly as the MBTA has been warning of a financial cliff with an estimated gap anywhere from $567 million to $652 million.
We support the Governor’s inclusion of $45 million for low-income fares for the MBTA. We are finally seeing years of work and collaboration in providing reduced fares on the fixed routes and The Ride for low-income riders come to fruition. Low-income fares are a cornerstone of equitable transportation. We hope this signals a sustained commitment to low-income fares in the future.
While we see an increase for the MBTA, funding transfers for the Regional Transit Authorities remain the same at $94 million with a decrease of $15 million in Fair Share funding from $90 million to $75 million for FY25 that would eliminate grants for transportation innovation ultimately impacting communities. We appreciate the Governor’s continuing grants for fare-free programs on the RTAs and hope that future increases in investments will continue. To this day, some RTAs are not able to deliver service late nights and weekends due to a shortage of resources.
The Governor yesterday also issued Executive Order 626, creating the Governor’s Transportation Funding Task Force, charged with recommending a sustainable transportation finance plan for Massachusetts. Finding sustainable and reliable funding sources for transportation is critical as this assures the commonwealth of a steady flow of much needed dollars to address the needed statewide investments in transportation.
To fulfill the task premised on equity, T4MA believes that it is essential for the task force to reflect the diversity of Massachusetts for it to arrive at a holistic transportation funding structure. Identifying funding sources and creating revenue that is equitable and not regressive can only truly happen in inclusive conversations that center the lived experiences of those most impacted by transportation policies. We will continue to advocate that the voices of people with disabilities, environmental justice communities, labor advocates, and transportation advocates, among others, are heard and that they are engaged meaningfully in this process. We hope the composition of the task force will include all of these perspectives.
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About T4MA:
Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA), established in 2010, is a statewide coalition focused on improving Massachusetts’ transportation systems. T4MA is committed to addressing the decades of inequitable transportation policies adversely impacting low-income, working class and Black, Indigenous and communities of color. We strive to eradicate the long lasting impacts of inequitable transportation policies that have resulted in Massachusetts with some of the highest childhood asthma rates in the nation, transit deserts in rural and urban communities, socially isolated residents who lack transportation options, and a lack of opportunity and access to jobs, healthcare, and education for people.
We envision and work towards a Commonwealth with transportation systems that connect people with their choice of housing, economic opportunities, healthcare, and accessible and reliable public transportation that benefits residents in all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. Our coalition advocates at the state, federal, and local levels for transportation policies that are just, equitable, and sustainable.