Disgruntled commuter rail riders—including many from Lincoln—scored a reprieve when the MBTA announced it would not eliminate Lincoln stops beginning December 14 as previously announced.
Five state senators and six state representatives from communities affected by the schedules gave MBTA and state officials a stack of complaints from constituents about planned changes on four commuter rail lines, the Boston Globe reported last week. One of the changes was eliminating the 5:30 p.m. train from North Station that stops in Lincoln, as well as the 7:50 a.m. inbound stop.
Among the complaints were letters from Lincoln residents and a petition circulated by Lincolnite Ruth Rothstein that garnered more than 200 signatures.
In the meetings with state officials, “I explained that these schedule changes will create tremendous hardship for my constituents,” state Sen. Michael Barrett said in a statement last week. “I’m pleased to report that we’ve scored a victory, if not forever, then for now. The T will delay cuts in train stops in Concord and Lincoln until May of 2016. It has committed to reconsidering its prior schedule changes and will be entertaining ‘robust public engagement’ before making any new scheduling decisions.
“A new proposed schedule is expected next month, following which there will be the kind of opportunity to comment that was lacking this time around. As their revised plan moves forward, I’ll be sure to let you know of new developments. Let’s keep pushing on this,” Barrett added.
How do these proposed cuts make any sense except? During those peak times, it would mean more vehicle traffic headed in and out of the inner cities. Where would they park? What towns do the people proposing these cuts in the schedule live?
I think the reprieve wouldn’t have happened without the oomph provided by local residents. I personally wrote to EVERBODY at the MBTA and all of our local and state reps. We don’t take such things lying down. We grumble audibly!
On the other hand, I feel really sorry for communities which don’t have such an activist population, perhaps less educated or less politically aware. The MBTA might cut their stops and they would take it on the chin.
If the MBTA would take the citizens into their confidence (HaHa) and let everybody know what’s what, I feel certain that people in towns like Lincoln would rise up and protest curtailment of services to other less vocal communities.
Truly, Diana