The MBTA took a big step toward addressing riders’ concerns Tuesday with the first meeting of the new Rider Oversight Committee, a panel formed in response to recent fare hikes and the resulting community outcry.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority General Manager Michael Mulhern addressed the panel, composed of community activists and public transportation riders, during the meeting at the MBTA offices.
“The MBTA has long been viewed as innovators in the field of public transportation,” Mulhern said, “but our greatest critics are at home.”
Despite Mulhern’s high regard for the T’s service, he conceded one area of weakness.
“The one thing we haven’t done very well in previous years is engage the public in dialogue,” he said. “This was a significant decision to develop the ROC. I have no idea where this is going to take us.”
Although the panel, which will meet monthly, geared the first meeting toward administrative details, frustrations over the current state of service boiled to the surface. Committee members tore into the MBTA for not providing sufficient disabled access and being unresponsive to riders’ concerns.
“It is clear that the T is at capacity,” said T Riders Union Coordinator Khalida Smalls. “I want to actually see better service, an immediate reaction. The T has tendency to say things are on the way, but no improvements happen.”
Despite her criticism, Smalls found some hope in Mulhern’s words.
“I am glad that he admitted that he did not know where this thing was going to go,” she said. “It can go where we need it to. I’m really glad he said that in a public forum.”
Smalls joined advocates from the Sierra Club and the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, among others on the panel.
On March 29, the Rider Oversight Committee will reconvene to discuss riders’ complaints and suggestions for improved service.
It remains uncertain how the committee will influence MBTA operations, but panel members were optimistic and said they hope to make ambitious changes to the T.
“If we do our jobs correctly and can get information to and from the public, we can hopefully get more public support and obtain additional funding,” said public representative Vera Jordan of Sharon. “That will make a huge difference on the T.”