(Boston Orange編譯) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 在8月29日和波士頓市街道長Jascha Franklin-Hodge,移居街道聯盟 (LivableStreets Alliance) 、更好城市
(A Better City) ,以及交通有關係 (Transit Matters)等機構聯合發表聲明,呼籲聯邦、州、市政府合作,恢復麻州地鐵 (MBTA)服務。
麻州地鐵在8月24日發出通告,聲稱從8月28日起,紅藍橘線地鐵的夏季刪減服務模式,將展延進秋季。綠線地鐵服務也將縮減,巴士服務也將縮減。
這意味著正當學校開學之際,地鐵乘客將面對地鐵、巴士班次更少狀況。
在聯邦交通管理局 (FTA)發現麻州地鐵的操作控制中心人員嚴重不足後,麻州地鐵從6月20日起,把夏季的平日 (週一至週五) 服務量減少20%以來,麻州地鐵的紅藍橘線地鐵班次,已經更少了。
預定從9月19日起恢復營運的麻州地鐵橘線,今秋將增加週六的服務,但減少週日的服務。
麻州地鐵的巴士服務在12月時,因為駕駛人員不足,減少了大約3%,8月24日這天,麻州地鐵宣佈,入秋後,將刪減更多服務,有43條巴士路線將更少發車,9條巴士路線有變動,30條巴士路線的發車時間有變動。有2條巴士路線會增加服務。
麻州地鐵人員表示,根據疫情期間的搭乘量,該機構暫停了一些乘客量少的路線,把服務調至更仰賴巴士的社區。該機構今秋將持續監看使用狀況,適時調整。
麻州地鐵網站表示,紅線地鐵將在平日 (週一至週五) 期間,停駛Davis站,從10月30日起,週末停駛公園街站 (Park Street),已配合Alewife車站的軌道工作。
麻州地鐵在上個月時說,該機構現有17明調派員,想要再增聘15名。新增的調派員必須先接受10週培訓,才能上任,而麻州地鐵在同一時段只能培訓6明調派員。麻州地鐵在招聘調派員上,一直面對困難,最近甚至推出了簽約就有獎金1萬元的鼓勵策略。
波士頓市長吳弭的聲明稱麻州地鐵在8月24日宣佈,麻州地鐵系統及巴士網路將維持並進一步縮減服務,將危害本地區的未來交通。這些服務刪減將和前所未有的橘線及綠線停駛同時發生,勢將逼使本地區乘客面對更大挑戰,也讓人更加擔憂平等、移動力、環境及經濟等議題。這些情況也放大了長年來對基礎建設的投資不足,這些服務刪減更彰顯了麻州地鐵的無力解決嚴重的員工問題。
該聲明稱,為了重建民眾對交通系統的信心,他們呼籲美國交通部部長Buttigieg,以及代表麻州的國會議員們和麻州地鐵、以及聯邦交通管理局合作,為波士頓及這個地區恢復安全,可靠的服務。
該聲明稱,我們必須:
找到加速解決鐵路調派員短缺問題的辦法,以儘快恢復尖峰時段的服務。
立刻解決巴士操作員嚴重短缺問題。
支持改善麻州地鐵和乘客的溝通。
定期向公眾提交進展報告。
在波士頓都匯區人們的生活品質、移動能力受到直接影響之外,麻州地鐵的無法提供完整服務,也將使全美最糟糕的擠塞地點大為增加,未來出行模式也將使得減碳目標更難達成。在安全是麻州地鐵首要考量之際,麻州地鐵必須支持每一層級政府,僅及執行解決安全問題的計畫,為人民提供安全可靠,平等的交通選擇,以支持地方上的通勤和流動性。
我們隨時準備和麻州地鐵合作,加速恢復社區應享有的安全可靠服務。
MBTA Fall Service Cuts
are Yet Another Hit to Mobility in Greater Boston and the Region
Today Mayor Michelle Wu, Chief of Streets
Jascha Franklin-Hodge, LivableStreets Alliance, A Better City, and Transit
Matters issued the following joint statement:
MBTA Fall Service
Cuts are Yet Another Hit to Mobility in Greater Boston and the Region
Coordinated action
needed by Federal, State, and local agencies to restore service
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Wednesday’s announcement by the MBTA that it
would sustain and deepen
service cuts on the rapid
transit system and bus network puts the region’s transportation future in
jeopardy. Federal, state, and local officials must work together to restore
critical services as quickly as possible. These service cuts will overlap
with the unprecedented Orange and Green Line shutdowns, compounding
significant challenges for riders and the region, and raising serious
equity, mobility, environmental, and economic concerns. Magnifying the
impact of chronic underinvestment in infrastructure, these cuts underscore
the MBTA’s continued inability to address critical systemic staffing
issues.
Transit is essential to Boston and the
consequences of diminished service are felt every day by riders. These cuts
will ripple across our region this fall as students return to school, more
workers return to the office, and the Orange Line resumes service with the
expectation of major improvements. To rebuild trust in transit, we call on
Secretary Buttigieg and members of the Massachusetts Congressional
delegation to work with the MBTA and the FTA to restore safe, reliable
service to Boston and the region. We must:
· Find accelerated solutions to the rail
dispatcher shortage that
has resulted in substantial reduction in rail service since June. As
additional dispatchers enter service, the MBTA, with support from the FTA,
must prioritize restoration of peak period service levels as quickly as
possible.
· Immediately address the critical shortage of
bus operators which has led
to dwindling service for the most loyal and transit-dependent riders. The
Department of Transportation and Department of Labor must work with the
MBTA, state officials, and labor unions to understand and remove the
barriers to attracting this essential workforce, financial or contractual.
· Support improved MBTA communication with
riders in advance of
any significant future service disruptions that may be necessary to address
safety deficiencies identified by the FTA.
· Provide regular progress reports to the
public on staffing levels
and targets, headways, and ridership impacts in order to maintain
transparency and rebuild trust.
In addition to the direct impact on mobility
and quality of life for the people of Metro Boston, the MBTA’s inability to
provide full service will increase some of the nation’s worst congestion,
further lock in unsustainable travel patterns, and make our decarbonization
goals more difficult to reach. While safety must be the MBTA’s number one
priority, the MBTA needs the support of every level of government to
urgently implement a plan to address safety and provide
robust, reliable, and equitable transit options to support commuting and
mobility within the region. We stand ready and eager to partner on these
needs and accelerate the return of safe, reliable service that our
communities deserve.
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