State Legislature adds one word so MBTA fares can be doubled

The one fingered salute
A Staco Communications graphic

– News from elsewhere covered by Quincy Quarry News

State Legislature adds a single word to a bill so that MBTA fare increases can be doubled.
Commonwealth Magazine meticulously reviewed the revisions of recent MBTA-related legislation and found that a single word “switcheroo” added to the bill late in going will allow fares increases to be increased by as much as 10% every two years from the previously assumed to be 5% increase every two years to instead as much as 5% ANNUALLY.

Riders railroaded yet again?
An MBTA file photo

The original language was revised with the single word addition during the bill’s stint in a joint conference committee so as to reconcile the State Representatives’ version of the bill with the State Senate’s version.
The original language: the MBTA “. . . shall not increase fares at intervals of less than 24 months or at a rate greater than 5 percent.”
And the revised slipping of the banana to MBTA riders enacted legislation language: the MBTA “. . . shall not increase fares at intervals of less than 24 months or at an annual (emphasis added, ed.) rate greater than 5 percent.”

MBTA finally cracking down on waste?
A Quincy Quarry News file photo

In short, by adding the single word “annual” into the so doubles the allowed increase to 10% over two years instead of the previous only 5% over two years.
Needless to say, those involved in this revision – and especially those with the General Court – are claiming that the change was inadvertent.

Similarly, Quincy Quarry was unable to discern in time for publication if this increase was made during the light of day on Beacon Hill or during one of its late night Toga Parties.

Toga, Toga, TOGA
An Animal House image

Regardless, Commonwealth Magazine well details the considerable as well as unctuous walkbacking posterior covering bloviating foisted by various denizens of Beacon Hill claiming ignorance, inadvertence and other such not gonna pass the sniff test excuses.
More importantly, will this potential increase in funding for the MBTA help to increase its woefully inept operations?  See what Boston Herald’s Howie Carr thinks here.

Needless to say, straphangers‘ futures hang in the balance.

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