We are a group of eighth grade students at Ephraim Curtis Middle School in Sudbury, Massachusetts. We are working to advocate for Senate Bill S.2246, the Freedom to Move Act, which is now pending in the Massachusetts legislature. Transportation in Massachusetts has been overlooked and viewed as expendable, but in the wake of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) current funding deficit and new projections of service cuts by 2028, concerns have been aroused. The T has taken meaningful steps to refurbish its filthy, antiquated equipment, expand service to the farthest reaches of the state, and eclipse Massachusetts environmental goals, but all this progress will be lost unless the Freedom to Move Act is passed.

The Freedom to Move Act offers three significant benefits. First, the MBTA is running out of money. Because of this critical lack of funding, the T is expected to shut down as soon as 2028 unless considerable funding steps are taken. Importantly, this budget gap now prevents the MBTA from upgrading its aging equipment. The use of out-dated equipment causes service to be unreliable, slow, and dirty, which harms both passengers and the environment. 

Second, Massachusetts commuters are driving now more than ever. Traffic on Massachusetts roads is only getting worse. Solutions previously attempted to address this issue, such as highway widening, are not nearly as efficient or cost-effective as improving public transportation in the ways S.2246 suggests. For example, pollution produced by the overwhelming amount of cars on the road is a significant issue. The easiest way to cut back on emissions and climate change is simply taking cars off of the road by encouraging people to opt for more efficient, cheaper public transportation, such as faster and zero emission electrified rail services in and out of Boston or more frequent bus service.

Third, many people, particularly in Western Massachusetts, lack access to any forms of public transportation. Anyone who lives west of Worcester and Fitchburg has no MBTA service at all. If more people had access to public transportation, even more cars could be taken off of the road. The availability of a cost-effective, environmentally friendly option, such as expanded bus service or a commuter rail line, would further reduce the effects of car emissions on climate change. The more climate change can be reduced, the better. Moreover, offering public transportation options such as buses or train lines to residents in Western Massachusetts is a simple and cost effective way to do that.

By signing this petition you can help Massachusetts legislators to better understand the importance of passing the Freedom to Move Act. Please support our effort to raise awareness about this bill. With the support of local residents, public transportation throughout Massachusetts can be transformed. If you take public transit and find issues, whether that be in terms of reliability or availability, this legislation provides an excellent way to help improve it and make change!

Thank you for supporting our cause. Every signature matters! - Tanner Grant and Tristan Bronner