Today
the Senate Republican Caucus distributed the following press release regarding
a letter the caucus sent to Governor Baker urging him to take action on the
issues currently hampering the state’s public transportation system:
Senate
Republican Caucus Urges Gov. Baker to Take Public Transportation Action
Caucus
Stands with the Administration in Seeking Solutions
Boston- Expressing
concern of the current state of the Commonwealth’s public transportation
system, the Senate Republican Caucus sent a letter to Governor Charlie Baker
today to urge him to take the necessary steps in improving Massachusetts’
public transportation system.
“These
past few weeks of arctic cold temperatures coupled with abnormal amounts of
precipitation have stressed the need for further action to prevent the type of
commuter gridlock that has prevented so many from receiving a timely commute to
work, home, and other important destinations,” wrote the caucus.
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr
(R-Gloucester), Assistant Minority Leader Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth),
Assistant Minority Leader Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), Senate Minority Whip
Donald Humason (R-Westfield), Assistant Minority Whip Ryan Fattman (R-Webster)
and Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth) the Ranking Republican on the Senate Committee
on Ways and Means, highlighted several issues currently plaguing the public
transportation system within their letter. Those issues include:
- A lack of timely communications to inform
passengers of delays, cancellations, and diversions;
- A failure of Keolis to fulfill a lengthy list
of promised service improvements, e.g., on time performance, equipment
performance, safety, customer service, customer satisfaction, ridership
growth, etc.;
- The failure of a strong working relationship
between Keolis and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA);
and
- The purchase of different types of equipment
(locomotives, coaches, and control cars) throughout the years from
different manufacturers, preventing the formation of a fleet of
standardized equipment, which now requires additional training,
maintenance and inventory issues and challenges.
“With ridership
currently falling over the past decade, an aging infrastructure that has been
pieced together through the years, and costs continuing to skyrocket to operate
the nation’s oldest public transportation system, we stand with you in
exploring methods to ensure the types of adverse issues that have prohibited
timely commutes are stymied,” wrote Senate Republicans.
The senators are optimistic that Governor
Baker and the legislature can work cooperatively to bring a cost effective,
world class transportation system that commuters can depend on through reforms
to address their concerns.
“We urge you to take all necessary action
in improving Massachusetts’ public transportation system. The Commonwealth depends on a system that
delivers a world class service to commuters, and we are dedicated in working
with you to ensure the people of this state receive such a system,” wrote the
caucus.
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* Posted below is the letter sent
today by the Senate Republican Caucus to Governor Charlie Baker.
