Highest paid MBTA worker rakes in $315K, fare hikes possible

BOSTON — State law allows for the MBTA to increase fares up to 10-percent every other year, but that’s not the only option on the table.

Monday was the last time the MBTA Fiscal Control Board will meet this year. They closed 2015 as they began it by tackling how to reign in the cost to operate the beleaguered T.

"The fare policy leaves an increase of up to 10-percent on the table,” Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack said.

A 10-percent increase would more than doubles the current biannual increase of 5-percent.

"We acknowledge that public transit is public. Taxpayers are always going to have to subsidize the T. But Massachusetts taxpayers are paying nearly over a billion dollars a year towards the T and riders are paying $600 million a year towards the T,” Pollack said.

Pollack says with fare increases should also come efforts at increasing ridership. She says the T currently averages 1.3 million riders on weekdays.

The MBTA is also looking at ways to control costs, specifically examining employee compensation.

During Monday’s hearing, the MBTA revealed their highest earning employee comes from the Maintenance and Weight Division.

That person earned $315,000 in 2015, with a base salary of $85,000, $171,000 in overtime, and $59,000 in back pay.

The worked claimed 4,455 hours this year. The board asked for an audit of this workers' hours and asked if this was an anomaly.

Another proposal to close the T's deficit is by making cuts to The Ride, the service for seniors and people with disabilities.

"We're requesting a task force be formed to look into other alternative financing other than cancel or change anything to The Ride program,” James White, a member of the MBTA’s Access Advisory Committee, said.

The proposal for fare increases will be formulates in January and the opened for public comment. The T plans 9 public meetings and 1 public hearing. They are also exploring ways people can submit comment online.

Cox Media Group