Massachusetts Residents Believe MBTA Services Won’t Return

The Berkshire Eagle reports a majority of Massachusetts residents believe that if the MBTA sharply cuts back on services to balance its budget next year those commuting options will not return after the state's economy fully reopens, according to a new MassINC poll.

The MBTA has proposed a variety of service cuts as part of a plan to deal with a $579 million shortfall in a budget decimated by the decline in ridership during the pandemic.

The Fiscal and Management Control Board plans to vote on the package Dec. 7, and has faced blowback from riders, legislators and transit advocates.

The online survey of 1,340 Massachusetts residents found that 64 percent somewhat or strongly oppose the cuts in service proposed by the MBTA, including less frequent subway and commuter trains, the elimination of 25 bus routes and the cancellation of ferry service.