BOSTON — The public is now weighing in on the proposed cuts the MBTA wants to make to keep the T running during the pandemic. Every mode of public transportation would be impacted.
The group called ‘Save The Ferry’ was at the Hingham ferry station chanting, “hey hey ho ho the ferry can’t go." The group’s leader, Jason McCann, said, “we don’t appreciate a proposal to completely cut a line of service. Completely cut it.”
>> MBTA outlines plan for widespread service cuts in 2021
The ferry service from Hingham, Hull, and Charlestown may be one of the many cuts coming to the MBTA because of lower ridership during the pandemic.
“We’ve heard from multiple nurses who have ridden the ferry throughout the pandemic, essential workers, front line workers who rely on the ferry to get in from Hingham and Hull to Boston,” said McCann.
Commuter rail service is also seeing big proposed cuts including no service after 9 p.m. and weekends to fewer trains and stations closing. Plymouth could be one of the stations to temporarily close.
“A lot of people live here and they want to commute into Boston to work or for pleasure," said Debra Adams.
The T says it picked stations to close based on the fact they are not used a lot and they are located near another station for people to use. The subway and bus routes also have a list of potential cuts including less frequent trains. The cuts are supposed to be temporary. When we asked Lynda Lamber if she is confident about it being temporary she told us, “I hope so. I don’t think it should happen at all.”
None of the cuts are official yet. In the coming weeks, there will be remote public feedback hearings and then a vote on December 4.
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