Guest Op-Ed: MBTA Cuts Impact on Commuters

By the Public Transit Public Good Riders, Workers and Communities United for Transit Justice

On December 2, 2020 we conducted a series IVR surveys of residents in communities served by the MBTA during afternoon and evening hours.

467 individual respondents completed the survey giving a Margin of Error of +/- 4.53%. Below are the topline results of the survey.

Question Response Rates

1. Gender

• Male 38.9%

• Female 61.1%

2. AGE

• Under 30 16.1%

• Between 30-49 33.6%

• Between 50-65 26.6%

• Over 65 23.8%

3. Have you utilized public transportation in the last two years?

• HAVE used public transportation 57.5%

• HAVE NOT used public transportation 38.8%

• UNSURE 3.7%

4. The MBTA announced it is planning millions of dollars in cuts to its services and staff. Do you support cuts to public transportation funding?

• OPPOSE 67.0%

• SUPPORT 16.4%

• UNSURE 16.6%

5. If the MBTA cuts millions of dollars in funding from the system, are you CONCERNED about the impact it will have on SAFETY for riders and workers?

• ARE CONCERNED 70.0%

• ARE NOT CONCERNED 21.8%

• UNSURE 8.3%

6. If the MBTA cuts millions of dollars in funding from the system, are you CONCERNED about the impact it will have on the ability of frontline workers to get to their jobs?

• ARE CONCERNED 75.8%

• ARE NOT CONCERNED 16.6%

• UNSURE 7.7%

7. If the MBTA cuts millions of dollars in funding from the system, are you CONCERNED about the impact it will have on local businesses and on a postpandemic economic recovery?

• ARE CONCERNED 69.9%

• ARE NOT CONCERNED 22.0%

• UNSURE 8.1%