(title image courtesy milesintransit.com)
In light of the dramatic plunge in daily ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic, MBTA revenues are down dramatically in FY20. Given the way that MBTA funding works, the agency is now forced to deal with the potential for severe service cuts beginning in Q1 2021 as they look to consolidate resources and focus on core high-ridership services, where public transit options are most critical.
Today the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) shared a presentation on potential service cuts, some of which would impact Melrose, where ridership and service needs remain relatively low compared to rest of the system overall. They are:
- Suspension of service to Melrose Cedar Park station (low ridership; not ADA accessible; nearby service at Wyoming Hill)
- Suspension of the 131/136 bus lines (low ridership; low system criticality).
- Elimination of evening/weekend service on Haverhill Line
- Reduced frequency along 132 bus line
If you or others you know continue to rely on public transit during the pandemic, please contact (or encourage others to contact) the offices of Jason Lewis and Kate Lipper-Garabedian to share their needs. Please also encourage them to attend to the (online or in person) Merrimack Valley regional service meeting, 6PM on December 1st.