Salem Mayor Pushes Back Against Proposed MBTA Service Cuts

SALEM, MA — Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll called proposed MBTA commuter rail, bus route and other service cuts "an enormous hardship to many Salem workers and residents" as the North Shore looks to recover from the coronavirus health crisis in 2021.

Driscoll urged those who might be affected by the cuts — which include eliminating late-night and weekend commuter rail service and slashing bus route such as Routes 451 connecting Salem to Beverly, 465 connecting Salem to Danvers and 456 connecting Salem to Lynn — to make their voices heard through written comment to the T and through speaking out at upcoming public forums on the service reductions.

"The proposed changes to MBTA service would be an enormous hardship to many Salem workers and residents," Driscoll said in a statement to Patch, "not to mention the visitors who play such an important role in our local economy.

"If our Commonwealth and our communities are just beginning to recover from this recession in the year ahead, it seems a particularly bad time to eliminate weekend and night commuter rail service and cancel three of the five bus routes in Salem, all three of which connect Salem to our neighboring communities."

Under the plan outlined Monday, service levels would drop an average of about 15 percent on buses, 30 percent on subways and 35 percent on commuter rail overall.

The proposal also shutters the Prides Crossing commuter rail station in Beverly.

The MBTA cited low ridership during the pandemic, and lost revenue because of it, for the need to reduce service through the $130 million in cutbacks.

But there are those on the North Shore who are concerned that cuts perhaps necessary in the short-term due to less travel back and forth to Boston due to working from home and entertainment because of to the coronavirus crisis will not be restored when transportation needs increase as life begins to get back to normal in the next year.

"There's certainly going to be some elements of the system that are going to take much longer to recover than others, and I don't think any of us are interested in not being efficient with the use of taxpayer money," allowed Fiscal and Management Control Board Chair Joseph Aiello of the potentially extended reductions on Monday.

The cuts are meant to stem an estimated $579 million shortfall exacerbated in the pandemic for an MBTA that has battled budget issues for the past decade.

"Using limited resources to operate nearly empty trains, ferries and buses is not a responsible use of the funding provided by riders, communities, and taxpayers, and it does not help support the transportation needs of our region," MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak wrote in an open letter to riders. "Saving resources now will help the MBTA to bring back service when it is needed after the pandemic has faded."

But Driscoll said the proposed MBTA cuts would work counter to community transportation initiatives aimed at curbing traffic and making travel more environmentally friendly on the North Shore.

"We are working diligently at the local level to try to provide transportation options for residents — from micro-mobility like bikes, to our new ride share shuttles and an expanded ferry service," Driscoll said. "Without the backbone of the MBTA’s trains and buses, however, those efforts can only partially succeed."

She urged "residents, employers and workers who rely, even somewhat, on commuter rail or MBTA bus service" to provide written comments on the proposed changes here or attend one of the upcoming public forums on Nov. 19, Nov. 24 and Dec. 2.

"Share your perspectives on the proposed service cuts and what they would mean to you," Driscoll said.

More Patch Coverage: Drastic MBTA Cuts Could Leave North Shore Commuters Stranded

MBTA Outlines Plan for Widespread Service Cuts in 2021

Struggling MBTA Plans Deep Service Cuts Across The Board