Boston Globe: Mass. congressional delegation calls on MBTA to justify service cuts

The Massachusetts congressional delegation on Wednesday called on MBTA officials to justify service cuts amid increased federal transit funding, saying the reductions disproportionately affect essential workers from low-income communities.

In a letter, the lawmakers expressed frustration that MBTA officials have yet to respond to a previous correspondence the delegation sent in December that voiced concerns about service cuts.

Since then, Congress has secured more than $250 million for the MBTA, and the American Rescue Plan is expected to add an estimated $1 billion to the state’s transit funding, the letter said.

"We urge you to provide evidence that justifies decreased service despite this robust federal relief, as we previously requested, or immediately reverse the recent service cuts, which disproportionately harm essential workers and low-income communities who rely on the MBTA for commutes and access to critical services,” the lawmakers said in the letter, which was addressed to MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak.

The letter was signed by the entire delegation, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, as well as Representatives Katherine M. Clark, Richard Neal, James McGovern, Stephen Lynch, William Keating, Seth Moulton, Lori Trahan, Ayanna Pressley, and Jake Auchincloss.

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Read the full article here.

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