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Hundreds protest MBTA plans

THIS STORY APPEARED IN

February 12, 2012|By Matt Byrne

At a meeting Wednesday night, Medford residents voiced their opinions… (Matt Byrne/Globe Staff )

Hundreds of Medford residents turned out Wednesday night to deliver a message to state officials over the proposed MBTA fare hikes and service cuts.

“Love it or hate it, the T is my lifeline,’’ said Audrey Stanwood of Mystic Street, articulating a message that scores delivered to state Representatives Paul Donato, Sean Garballey, Carl Sciortino, and state Senator Patricia Jehlen.

The proposed service cuts and fare increases are to plug a roughly $160 million budget hole this year, part of the MBTA’s ongoing effort to stabilize its finances.

“We also need to realize that the T is not alone,’’ Sciortino told the crowd, which sat rapt at Medford City Hall. “Our whole system needs to be adequately funded.’’

Garballey - a Democratic from Arlington who cochairs the MBTA caucus with Jehlen, a Democrat from Somerville who also represents Medford, Winchester, and Woburn - called the cuts draconian, and promised to deliver the public’s comments to state transportation leaders as they hash out how - and who - will have to pay for the cuts.

Jehlen, meanwhile, stressed that the T’s troubles are structural, and the agency, saddled with billions in debt, requires more than just budget cuts to even the keel.

“The T can’t fix it. They can make adjustments, but they have a $165 million shortfall. The T can’t do it by themselves,’’ she said.

The meeting came after House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo Tuesday rejected in his annual address Governor Deval Patrick’s proposal to raise $260 million in new revenue by levying a new deposit for bottled water and taxing candy, soda, and cigarettes, the Globe reported.

Still, the scope and potential impact of the cuts to bus service resounded with the audience.

John Falco, who said he is a regular rider of the Route 325 bus that runs from the Fellsway West opposite Elm Street to downtown Boston via Interstate 93, lamented that his ride to work is affected if either of the two plans the MBTA is proposing are implemented.

“It’s unfortunate that [the 325] is being cut in both scenarios,’’ Falco said. “We’re basically forcing people into their cars.’’