Recent comments in /f/boston

chrfr t1_je5p92r wrote

Reply to comment by ToadScoper in Transit experts say new MBTA general manager will 'fail' without more resources by ToadScoper

This board is the one which didn’t ask any questions at all when Jeff Gonneville went in front of them to provide an update on the latest CRRC Red/Orange train car fiasco. They’re not actually taking any leadership and need to be removed immediately. Until that happens, there’s no GM who will ever find success with the MBTA.

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ToadScoper OP t1_je5os92 wrote

Reply to comment by michael_scarn_21 in Transit experts say new MBTA general manager will 'fail' without more resources by ToadScoper

The real issue with the T is the Baker-appointed control board which has failed the agency on every possible level since it was formed in 2021. Unfortunately, our governor does not recognize this, so even if the new manager is competent and transparent nothing will happen with the current board in charge. Imo appointing a new competent and proactive board is far more of a priority than a new gm

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ToadScoper OP t1_je5nprn wrote

Reply to comment by NaggeringU in Transit experts say new MBTA general manager will 'fail' without more resources by ToadScoper

Austerity is not viable when nobody trusts a failing agency. Governance and management need to be restructured, and transparency needs to be restored with the public. A new manager is not going to solve anything if there are no other changes to T management. Only then will we might see the T get back on track, or at least to the point of it operating beyond the bare minimum

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michael_scarn_21 t1_je5nmyk wrote

Reply to Transit experts say new MBTA general manager will 'fail' without more resources by ToadScoper

We need an honest manager who is not a yes guy. "This is the funding we receive and this is why it's inadequate to meet our needs." This new guy is near the end of his career so I hope he won't be afraid to rock the boat like this. Call the state out for underfunding the T. Also fix the culture of bad management at the T, no more safety inspections being signed off without an actual inspection and we need an effective oversight board that holds the T to account.

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NaggeringU t1_je5mkx1 wrote

Reply to Transit experts say new MBTA general manager will 'fail' without more resources by ToadScoper

Austerity is necessary. Get back to consistency, then we can talk improvement.

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  1. Lobby the state to remove the price caps on MBTA
  2. Increase subway price to $150
  3. Decrease frequency of all lines during rush hour to once a half hour
  4. Use increased revenue and decreased expenses to fully audit (really this time) and repair tracks on all lines
  5. Remove slow zones on all lines
  6. Increase speed to precovid 25mph+ speeds
  7. Once above four have been done successfully begin to increase rush hour frequency back to pre-covid.
  8. Stop any expansions of any line on the MBTA until the debt is completely paid off. Lobby the state to refinance the debt to make it more manageable, if necessary.

If by some miracle the state gives any meaningfully high amount of money to the MBTA it should be used to pay off the debt. IMHO state money should be used to pay off the debt, so in the future, revenue can be used to expand the MBTA as exposed to running in place.

Of course, no one wants to pay more for less, so ...

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ToadScoper OP t1_je5ltpr wrote

Reply to Transit experts say new MBTA general manager will 'fail' without more resources by ToadScoper

Beyond funding, the MBTA needs way more than a new manager to fix its woes; it needs an entire governance restructuring that relieves the current hands-off Baker-appointed control board that has been more than a failure for operating the T as of recently. If the governor wants the T to be more transparent, it needs to appoint a proactive board of transit experts instead of the wet towels that currently occupy the board.

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