T Expands Bus Fleet; Eyes Parking Dilemmas
New Fleet Of Low-Emissions Buses Roll Out
POSTED: 12:23 pm EDT August 7, 2008
UPDATED: 12:40 pm EDT August 7, 2008
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LYNN, Mass. -- With record ridership, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is improving its bus service and addressing the problem of limited parking.
MBTA Expands Bus ServiceThe MBTA put the first of low-emission diesel buses into service in Lynn on Thursday. The buses, equipped with bike racks and security cameras, will serve more than 26,000 riders a day in 12 North Shore communities."Whether it is to get to the North Shore Community College, to medical appointments in Boston or to other services in the area," Lynn Mayor Edward Clancy said.Since 2000, the MBTA has spent more than $750 million to upgrade the system's bus service -- this while carrying a staggering $8 billion in bus debt, the highest of any transit agency on the country.But despite the record ridership, MBTA General Manager Dan Grabauskas warned that without a state bailout, it will have to other cut service or hike fares significantly."Even though we have seen an increase in ridership, and therefore, an increase in revenue, our expenses for fuel has more than doubled what we are taking in," he said.Another problem the MBTA is facing is limited parking at stations."A lot of our lots are full and they are full early in the morning both in the subway system and the commuter rail system," Grabauskas said.But for some commuters, dealing with parking issues and riding the MBTA is still a better deal than driving to work each day."The days when you have the money for gas, you deal with that. But sometimes its best with the parking and everything, it's best to catch the T," commuter Stephen Wright said.The entire fleet of 70 new buses should be in service by the fall.
MBTA Expands Bus ServiceThe MBTA put the first of low-emission diesel buses into service in Lynn on Thursday. The buses, equipped with bike racks and security cameras, will serve more than 26,000 riders a day in 12 North Shore communities."Whether it is to get to the North Shore Community College, to medical appointments in Boston or to other services in the area," Lynn Mayor Edward Clancy said.Since 2000, the MBTA has spent more than $750 million to upgrade the system's bus service -- this while carrying a staggering $8 billion in bus debt, the highest of any transit agency on the country.But despite the record ridership, MBTA General Manager Dan Grabauskas warned that without a state bailout, it will have to other cut service or hike fares significantly."Even though we have seen an increase in ridership, and therefore, an increase in revenue, our expenses for fuel has more than doubled what we are taking in," he said.Another problem the MBTA is facing is limited parking at stations."A lot of our lots are full and they are full early in the morning both in the subway system and the commuter rail system," Grabauskas said.But for some commuters, dealing with parking issues and riding the MBTA is still a better deal than driving to work each day."The days when you have the money for gas, you deal with that. But sometimes its best with the parking and everything, it's best to catch the T," commuter Stephen Wright said.The entire fleet of 70 new buses should be in service by the fall. Copyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
