BOSTON (
) -- The board overseeing the Boston-area's beleaguered public transit system has voted to offer free fares for one day and discounts for monthly pass holders to compensate riders for massive weather-related breakdowns.
Weeks after FOX25 first asked the question, transportation leaders are finally trying to make it up to you after the MBTA's performance in February. Right in the middle of the T's disastrous performance weeks ago, FOX25's Sharman Sacchetti first asked if people should be given refunds.
After that FOX25 stayed on transportation officials, and Wednesday, weeks later, the MassDOT voted unanimously to try to make it up to you. They are offering one full day of free fares, on the commuter rail and the T on April 24, during the week of April vacation.
The board is also giving all monthly pass-holders a 15 percent discount during the month of May. The total cost is $5 million dollars, something transportation leaders say they can manage. A 15 percent discount on a monthly pass, which costs $75, according to mbta.com, will be $11.25 for a 30-day month.
In a statement Governor Charlie Baker said he was "pleased" with the decision to offer discounts.
But will this restore public trust?
Sacchetti asked Interim MBTA GM Frank DePaola, who said, "I hope the public will see this as a genuine gesture to restore some value and regain their trust."
Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack said the board was "trying to strike a balance between acknowledging what people have gone through and expressing our gratitude to the customers, and drawing our customers back."
Some T riders agree, something needed to be done.
Surprisingly, Pollack says T ridership didn't decline in March.
Sacchetti asked Pollack if that's because people have no choice, and are basically, over a barrel. "I don't want people riding it because we have them over a barrel. I want them riding it because it gets them where they need to go." When asked if DePaola believes the T will be in a better position next winter, he said, "with the caveat that we'll still have 40 to 50-year-old cars three to four years away from replacement."
There were five options on the table that they'd been considering for weeks ranging anywhere from $3 to $11 million dollars. This wasn't any of those. Transportation leaders say they wanted to do it during April vacation week, so people could ride into the city and boost business as well.
Cox Media Group
