Norwood Commuters Don’t Cut Train-June 24, 1981

Outraged Transit Riders Packing Town Hall Condemn Proposed 46 Percent Commuter Rail Service Slash

“I can’t understand why you can’t trim the fat off the MBTA but instead you trim the lean out of commuter rail services,” Michael Wolff of Sharon told MBTA officials last night. More than 150 residents cheered loudly as Michael Wolff spoke to officials at a special meeting at Town Hall, one of several being held throughout the area to get public feedback on a proposed 46 percent service cut and a 19 percent fare increase for MBTA commuter rail services. “These cuts are neither advocated or supported by the MBTA,” countered Charles Cotton, supervisor of railroad finances for the MBTA, who claimed that a distinct lack of funding by the T’s advisory board had made the drastic structural changes necessary. Many of the regional residents at the meeting felt they were being forced to bear the heavy burden of internal political conflicts within the MBTA transit authority. “We should not be left as pawns in a political battle between Gov. Edward J. King and the communities,” said George Bailey of Sharon, a member of the MBTA Advisory Board and its subcommittee on commuter rail. George Bailey denied a claim by T management that the board will not approve an additional $47.1 million for commuter rail services, asserting that “there’s every indication that the budget figure will be approved. There’s no reason for a service cutback.”

Paul Lawler of Dedham, another member of the advisory board, said the problem surfaced when former MBTA Chairman Robert L. Foster, who resigned under pressure June 9, submitted a “highly inflated” budget to the board. The board refused to go along because “Robert L. Foster tried to scare us into a higher budget,” Paul Lawler said. “If we are to be pawns in a political scrap I feel insulted for being a pawn,” added Alfred Wallers of Millis, a member of the town council who stated he could not understand the cuts at a time when ridership is up and governments at all levels are encouraging public transportation. Dale Reed of Norfolk, who said he has been riding the rails into Boston for the last three years, also sharply criticized the transit management. “The evidence is mounting that something has to be done you have to clean house. You’re affecting my entire way of life—my business life, my home life, entertainment. You’re affecting the community I live in for the very reason I chose to live there,” Dale Reed said.

State Representative Gregory W. Sullivan (D-Norwood) also heavily criticized the MBTA management and said a legislative crackdown would help resolve the problem. “We worked for four years to bring the system up to grade. We have just finished renovating the entire line. It’s an insane idea to think the answer to the problems is not to allow services. The legislature will not allow rail cutbacks. We have to save money within the MBTA,” Gregory W. Sullivan said. Samuel D. Perry of Westwood, a member of the T’s consumer advisory panel, said his group was never consulted about the proposal and feels the cuts are completely senseless. “It does not make business sense to sell less product in an attempt to generate more revenue,” Samuel D. Perry remarked, noting that if the board wishes to make cuts, it should concentrate on the real culprits—payroll, personnel and productivity—not service.

The proposed service cutbacks would severely reduce the number of runs on the Norwood line from eight inbound and eight outbound to just six runs each way per day. The proposal calls for the elimination of the 10:24 a.m., 3:19 p.m., and 6:16 p.m. inbound runs, with one inbound run being added at 12:20 p.m.. The 6:41 a.m. inbound run would also be moved up to 6:36 a.m.. Outbound from Boston to Norwood, the proposal would eliminate the 9:05 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:18 p.m., 5:36 p.m., and 6:50 p.m. runs, while adding replacement runs at 11:00 a.m., 5:30 p.m., and 6:20 p.m., making the 6:20 p.m. train the latest run of the day from Boston to Norwood. Under the proposed fare increases, one-way fares between Boston and Norwood would rise from $1.50 to $1.75, and a monthly pass would rise to $46, representing an 18 percent increase. MBTA Assistant General Counsel John J. Cossey said the proposed changes are scheduled to take effect July 1, though transcripts of these public hearings will be provided to advisory board members before a final decision is made.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger