In a new report, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation recommended a structural change that would leave the MBTA in charge only of subway and bus operations, stripping it of Commuter Rail, ferry and construction responsibilities.
The committee also recommended moving state safety oversight of the agency from the Department of Public Utilities to a new entity, with both chairs favoring a move to the Inspector General’s office, citing its independence from the governor.
The 78-page report, released Tuesday, is the result of three MBTA oversight hearings held by the committee, and is meant to inform potential legislation for the future of the agency, including the panel’s main stated objective of “consistent safe and reliable service at the T.”
“The hearings demonstrated a consensus that the T needs to do better, particularly when it comes to prioritizing safety, recruiting and retaining a well-trained workforce, and addressing deferred maintenance and bringing the system into a state of good repair,” the report said.
Both committee chairs, state Sen. Brendan Crighton and Rep. William Straus, raised “ideas” about approaches that can be taken to improve the MBTA, but those broached by Straus would represent a complete overhaul.
“One idea for consideration is that the MBTA be allowed to focus on its core mission of serving as the metropolitan region’s bus and rapid transit service agency, thus allowing the authority to become a more responsive and efficient agency with an improved safety record,” Straus said.
Straus said responsibility of the Commuter Rail and oversight of the MBTA’s contract with Keolis Commuter Services could be transferred to MassDOT’s Rail and Transit Division, or another office, under direct supervision of the secretary of transportation.
He also suggested that the Fairmount Line, which except for a small portion in Milton operates almost exclusively in Boston, be transferred from a Commuter Rail to subway operation, and thus remain under the control of the MBTA.
Much like the Commuter Rail, which operates outside of the Federal Transit Administration’s jurisdiction, the MBTA’s ferry service could be transferred to a new water transportation division within MassDOT or a new ferry-based regional transit authority, Straus said.
Large capital projects could also be managed by MassDOT, through its newly-created “high performance project” unit, Straus said, citing the success the MBTA has had with removing itself from direct involvement in the Green Line Extension and South Coast Rail.
Citing the termination of the MBTA’s past chief safety officer and whistleblower Ron Nickle in March 2019, Straus said it was important for the CSO to be protected from retaliatory action when reporting safety concerns “up and out of the authority when disagreements with MBTA leadership exist.”
The report also highlighted notable safety incidents from 2015-22, a lack of transparency from the MBTA, and reiterated the committee’s disappointment with a lack of cooperation from the Federal Transit Administration.
The committee was tasked with holding oversight hearings after the FTA launched its safety management inspection of the T, which was prompted by a fatality on the Red Line.
