Dear Governor Baker,

I am writing on behalf of the MBTA’s front line workers and riders, to express my opposition for your administration’s proposals to privatize some services of the MBTA.  I ride the service everyday and can appreciate the many challenges that are currently being faced by the agency. However, experience has proven that privatization has a negative impact on service. One does not have to travel far to see this. Within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Keolis, a private company managing our Commuter Rail system in and around Greater Boston, has failed to live up to riders’ expectations.  The MBTA had to give Keolis $66 Million to ensure that they could live up to these expectations. Additionally, Keolis has failed to collect $35 million in fares, which the citizens of the Commonwealth have to compensate for in tax dollars.

Other, more recent attempts to outsource parts of the T to private companies have been troublesome as well. LAZ Parking, which is contracted to manage the T’s parking lots, is currently being investigated for missing revenue.  Revenue collection routes that collect cash from the T’s fare vending machines have been slashed, which results in clogged machines, and lost revenue.  Low-income janitors have seen their healthcare taken away as a cost saving measure.  We cannot let this trend continue. After a 9.3% fare increase, the over 1 million everyday riders of the T deserve a public transportation system that can live up to there needs. Similarly, the hardworking men and women at the MBTA on the front lines deserve to keep their jobs under a public entity, where they can make a decent living. It is uncertain what would happen to thousands of employees at the MBTA, who are worried about losing their jobs and benefits, careers were assumed to last over 23 years and when terminated will greatly affect their families. I hope that you will consider amending your proposals to privatize the MBTA and continue to work with the MBTA to give its’ riders the services that they need and deserve.

Sincerely,

Sam Hegg