BOSTON, September 7, 2023 — This is a good first step for transparency, and it also highlights the need for more stable MBTA funding. The report clearly demonstrates why the Legislature’s failure to properly fund operations, including maintenance, in a timely manner and before a crisis contributes to safety issues.
What's missing here is real accountability. While the problems may have been systemic, the failure to make staffing changes undermines credibility in the system. The General Manager spoke about rebuilding a number of things, but “trust” was not one of them. However, after the Orange Line failed to provide the promised results, riders’ faith in the effectiveness of upcoming diversions is lacking.
We have seen numerous reports on T safety in the past, riders need to know that this will be different. Having the same staff who oversaw the deterioration of the system escape any meaningful accountability is not going to rebuild trust or move us forward.
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