[2618] in peace2
SAY NO TO T-FARE HIKES!
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Julia Steinberger)
Fri Jul 11 18:10:13 2003
Message-Id: <200307112209.SAA01447@cathedral-seven.mit.edu>
To: peace-announce@MIT.EDU, save@MIT.EDU
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 18:09:50 -0400
From: Julia Steinberger <julias@MIT.EDU>
Raising T costs will hurt the people who depend on
public transit most, and those who can afford them
will use their cars instead ...
This is bad social and environmental policy. Let's
do something about it: join the T-riders Union!
Cambridge Meeting:
Thursday, July 17 from 6-8PM
YWCA 7 Temple St., Cambridge
(see end of email for projected fare hikes ...)
Julia
From: Khalida Smalls <khalida@tridersunion.org>
Subject: Stand Up For Transit Justice Now!
T Riders Union & On the Move:
Greater Boston Transportation Justice Coalition
Stand Up For Transit Justice Now!
Beat the Fare Increase
Why Oppose the Fare Increase?
1. Buses are overcrowded, don't run on time, and have broken air
conditioning. Why should you pay more for less? You shouldn't. Say
no to the fare increase.
2. It is UNJUST: Transit-dependent riders and bus riders will be hit
hardest. Commuter rail users will get hit hard too- we don't want
people to abandon the system! Less cars not more...
3. It will create more ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS: As people stop taking
the T and start driving, pollution from cars will drastically
increase. AND we already have the highest asthma rates in the
country!
4. There has been NO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: We, the public, have not
been heard by the officials deciding to raise fares. They also
refuse to give us any information on why it is necessary to raise
fares or anything that says they are following the law in doing an
increase... there are other ways to get money... (here's a novel
idea, raise your ridership numbers by improving service and
advertising what you have now!)
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Come to the ...
Cambridge Meeting
Thursday, July 17 from 6-8PM
YWCA 7 Temple St., Cambridge
a.. Talk to your friends who ride the T. Let them know that the fare hike is unjust and if they are interested, have them give us a call.
b.. Join us for an OUTREACH DAY. Give us a call, we would love your help going out and talking to other T riders. The larger the opposition to the fare increase, the better our chances of winning.
c.. Have an outreach day in your area. Just let us know and we will send you all the materials you need.
d.. Join our ACTION NETWORK! You will receive alerts about rallies and demonstrations we are holding.
Who is On the Move?
On the Move: Greater Boston Transportation Justice Coalition is a coalition of community-based and environmental organizations that have come together to create a common agenda to achieve transportation justice - an environmentally and socially just transportation program that is integral to the preservation and creation of livable communities. More than 50 organizations from Greater Boston have endorsed our Platform for Transportation Justice and Livable Communities including the T Riders Union!
What is the MBTA's Proposal?
On March 13, 2003, the MBTA Board of Directors passed a budget for fiscal year 2004 (July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004) which assumes a fare increase in January 2004 in order to generate $25 million towards their total $1.18 billion budget for fiscal year. Under their proposed fare structure bus riders will pay 33% more, subway riders will pay 25% more and commuter rail riders will pay 18 - 30% more. Monthly and weekly passes will also increase by 25%.
The MBTA will hold a series of public hearings on the fare increase in early September. The final vote to implement the fare increase will be taken by the Board of Directors at their meeting on October 9th.
The Proposed Fare Increase (for base fares and most used passes)
Current January 2004 % Increase
Subway (base fare) $1.00 up to $1.25 (25%)
Bus (base fare) $0.75 up to $1.00 (33%)
Bus Pass $25.00 up to $31.00 (24%)
Subway Pass $35.00 up to $44.00 (26%)
Combo Pass $57.00 up to $71.00 (25%)
Commuter Rail Passes $85.00-169.00 up to $106.00-211.00 (25%)
The MBTA and the State don't prioritize the needs of transit-dependent communities or PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION in general! WE NEED TO SHOW THEM HOW WE FEEL. GET READY FOR ACTIONS!
For more information, contact Jodi Sugerman-Brozan at 617-442-3343 x23 or jodi@ace-ej.org OR Khalida Smalls at x21, khalida@tridersunion.org
