There are many reasons to completely revamp the MBTA besides its horrible service and its terrible winter disaster.
The news of the loss of federal funding of over $22 billion in capital fund over the last five years is the most recent reason to make some drastic changes.
Reportedly, in the past ten years, $10.4 million in federal funding earmarked expansion projects that were directed to the MBTA have lapsed and are no longer available to the transportation agency.
The “T” has consistently cried and cried for more money and has apparently failed to spend billions of dollars that they had in the a budget. That’s nearly half of the $4.5 billion that the “T” has set aside since fiscal 2010 for its so-called capital budget.
The funding, which the “T” must provide matching funds, were for expansion projects and could not be reprogrammed to any state-of-the-good projects according to the MBTA. The Federal Transit Administration verified this.
In order to complete these earmarked projects, it would likely require additional formula funds the “T” noted in media interviews.
Instead, of diverting funds for these expansion projects, the MBTA has apparently chosen to dedicate its limited capital funds toward improving the existing infrastructure.
The loss of scarce federal funding is another example that further requires the need to reform MBTA practices by reviewing and revamping the MBTA to provide better service to its thousands of customers.
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