March 17, 2021
Pressley, Clark, Mass. Lawmakers Push Commonwealth for Answers on MBTA Cuts
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05) along with the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation, including Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward Markey (D-MA), and Representatives Richard Neal (MA-1), James P. McGovern (MA-2), Lori Trahan (MA-3), Jake Auchincloss (MA-4), Seth Moulton (MA-6), Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-8), and William Keating (MA-9), sent a letter to the MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak expressing concerns regarding the MBTA’s service cuts that began this week. This is the delegation’s second letter requesting an explanation for the cuts following an initial request sent in December 2020 and follows the enactment of the American Rescue Plan Act, which provides Massachusetts over $1 billion in mass transit funding. Congresswoman Pressley also submitted a public comment letter to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Control and Management Board in December 2020 expressing her strong opposition to the Board’s proposed cuts to transit service in the Commonwealth.
The full letter is available here. In October 2019, Congresswoman Pressley founded the Future of Transportation Caucus, a Congressional caucus focused on centering equity, access, and sustainability in our transportation systems. In June, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, she led a letter advocating for $50 billion in annual emergency funds to support and sustain our nations public transit systems. Later that month, she introduced the Freedom to Move Act, which would provide federal grants to transit agencies that move to a fare-free model. Rep. Pressley is also a co-chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus and a tireless advocate for sustainable and equity focused transportation and infrastructure policies. # # #
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