Word: mta
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...which to construct high buildings. While stony Manhatten Island packs over 85,000 people to the square mile with more being squeezed in every day, Boston manages only 18,000 and the figure is not going up. Inexpensive operation of a transit system in decentralized Boston is impossible. MTA authorities chose the fairest way out of their deficit problem when they hiked the fare from ten to fifteen cents...
Another plan involved raising again the MTA tax assessment on the suburbs. Unfortunately, the less prosperous towns like Chelsca and Somerville were already paying to the limit, and inhabitants of the wealthier areas balked at paying more while they commuted mainly by automobiles...
...possibility was an MTA request for a grant from the state emergency relief fund. This was smothered at an early stage. The state fund was not big enough to take care of the MTA as well as necessary statewide projects. Furthermore, sectional opposition from the western part of the state insured defeat of the plan. This opposition also killed the proposal to consider subway track as public highway. This would have made the MTA eligible for a cut of the state gasoline tax. Finally, authorities looked hopefully at the New York system of obtaining revenue through city sales taxes...
Even strict economy measures, such as abolishing rents and taxes on MTA property and payroll reductions, will not bring the yearly deficit below $3,000,000. The only feasible solution is the fare hike. From now on Bostonians will just have to fumble for that extra nickel...
...have always felt that the operation of a transit system is a legitimate function of municipal government. Therefore, it is a poor idea to overload the MTA riders with what seems to us to be outrageously high fares in terms of the services offered. We think that the mere existence of the MTA greatly enhances the value of the real estate in the Boston area. It is more fitting that the burden of metropolitan transit deficits should fall on the landowners of the individual municipalities which encompass the system. They are the most able to pay, and also gain considerably...