In an interview before the hearing, MBTA General Manager Jonathan Davis
said he doesn’t have the authority to ask the state for more money, and
later he explained to the crowd that 30 cents of every dollar spent
goes to debt payment.
“We’re probably the most highly leveraged transit currently in the
U.S.,” Davis said. The majority of the $5.2 billion in debt owed was
borrowed to pay for public transit improvements mandated by the Big Dig,
according to Davis – such as the Silver Line. Now that debt threatens
to crumble the public transit system in place today. At another point in
the hearing, Davis said, “Right now we can’t afford the transit system
we have.”
1 comment:
Now and in the future, as Trimet struggles to stay afloat, Hansen, Playfair, and soon MacF will all be enjoying their six-figure pensions. In the meantime, the rail debt service sandbags get heavier and heavier on the Trimet ship.
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