A Takeover of the MBTA?

 Warning that a long-term federal intervention at the MBTA could lead to fare hikes and service cuts, a transit advocacy group on Wednesday slammed the T’s board of directors for “lax oversight” and called on Beacon Hill to reimagine how Massachusetts funds the agency.

The Federal Transit Administration plans to launch a nearly unprecedented safety inspection of the MBTA in the wake of a string of breakdowns, crashes and fatal incidents, including a Red Line door malfunction on April 10 that killed rider Robinson Lalin.

In a 562-word statement on Wednesday that touched on long-standing budget gaps at the T and a lack of details about ongoing safety work, TransitMatters said it “acknowledge(s) the importance of an FTA safety review” while voicing significant concerns about where the federal government’s new involvement could lead.

“The stakes are high. A full FTA takeover could result in forced fare hikes and service cuts, and put the federal government in charge of setting priorities,” the group said. “This is unacceptable and would be a significant setback for priorities like Bus Network Redesign, low-income fares, and more. We need new resources and strong leadership because climate change, as well as racial, socioeconomic, and regional equity demand that the T be able to focus on both safety and expanding service and access.”  https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/05/12/group-sees-high-stakes-in-fed-probe-of-mbta/