MBTA Winter 2015: Failure and Recovery

[Equilibria]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

Mini-Me Deval bloated this state with high paying hack jobs that are going to drain us for years to come. As far as I am concerned, when the heat got turned up on her, she bailed out as fast as she could. She didn't say anything that every one didn't already know. She is a coward, nothing more. When you deal with old crap, you figure out a way to make it work, that's how real life/work is done. She didn't want to do that. Good riddance.

Anyone who thinks the rest of the Commonwealth is going is subsidize the T anymore than it already does after the Big Dig fiasco is going to be solely disappointed.

...and you are why the T is broken. Thanks kindly for the illustration.

 

[HalcyonEra]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

...and you are why the T is broken. Thanks kindly for the illustration.

No, I am not. Graft, nepotism and pure corruption is why the T is broken.

Exhibit A is Billy Bulger's kid collecting a hefty pension after retiring at 43. If I had my way I'd bankrupt it and then privitize the operations with properly drafted agreements allowing for iron-clad steep penalties for the failure to hit service levels.

 

[George_Apley]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

I know you don't mean this as absolutely as it sounds out of context, but placing the blame for this on the General Court misses the point of democracy. Elected officials represent their constituents, and a veto-proof majority for one party doesn't mean in MA what it means in the US Congress. State legislators are elected by their immediate neighbors and have similar views. There's no evidence that serious corruption, corporate special interests, or malfeasance have produced this situation, so pinning it on government is, frankly, unfair.

The MBTA is broken because the people of Massachusetts don't want to pay for it. Blaming Deval Patrick, the guy who created MassDOT, reformed transportation statewide, and spent a great deal of his political capital pushing a transportation spending package unprecedented in its size, is revisionist history. Citizens outside of the MBTA's service area don't think their tax dollars should be spent in Boston, and the people who use the system think (catastrophically) that it can continue to function at $2.25 per ride.

I actually doubt that Beverly Scott was fired or pressured to leave - I think she just had a crappy week at work when she wasn't planning on sticking around long-term anyway and maybe lost faith in some of the people above and below her. Blaming Charlie Baker isn't going to be helpful, since the solution will have to come from him. The people we need to start blaming are ourselves and our neighbors, who stiff this agency every time we ride it.

+1. I agree with this entirely.

The failure of the government is part and parcel with the failure of the people of the commonwealth. We dug this grave. That's why it's pointless to point fingers. The whole state is complicit in our failure to invest in the future. This isn't just a problem locally either (though our hyper-local NE politics enhance it), it's a modern American cultural problem. We don't like to invest over time to avoid catastrophe in the future. We like to put our fingers in our ears and go "lalalalalalala" until whatever system we're dealing with breaks.

 

[George_Apley]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

No, I am not. Graft, nepotism and pure corruption is why the T is broken.

Exhibit A is Billy Bulger's kid collecting a hefty pension after retiring at 43. If I had my way I'd bankrupt it and then privitize the operations with properly drafted agreements allowing for iron-clad steep penalties for the failure to hit service levels.

You could make the T squeaky clean, with modest pensions, busted unions and lower salaries and that still wouldn't make up the kind of investment it needs to succeed.

Rail against the unions and the pensions all you want. That kind of reform should certainly be part of whatever reform package the legislature produces, but I defy anyone who argues that this is the T's ONLY issue and there's no revenue problem at all to fucking PROVE IT.

 

[HalcyonEra]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

You could make the T squeaky clean, with modest pensions, busted unions and lower salaries and that still wouldn't make up the kind of investment it needs to succeed.

Rail against the unions and the pensions all you want. That kind of reform should certainly be part of whatever reform package the legislature produces, but I defy anyone who argues that this is the T's ONLY issue and there's no revenue problem at all to fucking PROVE IT.

You are missing the point and looking at our government spending addiction much too narrowly. Simply throwing money at a problem rarely corrects the problem, in fact it usually simply increases the problem. Innovation is required in any industry to be successful, government included. The base issue is not even unions in and of themselves, they are there to protect the workers for good reason. The problem resides in the good old boy network that government functions have become where rewards are delivered to those who keep things the way they are rather than improving the system. The private sector has a way of removing such obstacles but there is zero incentive for the public sector to do so, so long as the money train keeps flowing. The lure of lifetime pensions with healthcare is much too strong and thus any sort of reform that upsets that paradigm is met with stronger resistance from the entrenched.

 

[KentXie]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

No, I am not. Graft, nepotism and pure corruption is why the T is broken.

Exhibit A is Billy Bulger's kid collecting a hefty pension after retiring at 43. If I had my way I'd bankrupt it and then privitize the operations with properly drafted agreements allowing for iron-clad steep penalties for the failure to hit service levels.

As soon as I read "privitize [sic] the operations," I knew you have no idea how public transit work.

 

[Arlington]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

I know you don't mean this as absolutely as it sounds out of context, but placing the blame for this on the General Court misses the point of democracy. Elected officials represent their constituents, and a veto-proof majority for one party doesn't mean in MA what it means in the US Congress. State legislators are elected by their immediate neighbors and have similar views. There's no evidence that serious corruption, corporate special interests, or malfeasance have produced this situation, so pinning it on government is, frankly, unfair....Blaming Charlie Baker isn't going to be helpful, since the solution will have to come from him. The people we need to start blaming are ourselves and our neighbors, who stiff this agency every time we ride it.

Kinda.

Yes, democracy is flawed in that we let politicians bribe us with our own money, and worse (in one party states) let them bribe core primary voters with the money of non-voters. In Mass, that core votes Democrat and is either social-enviro-liberal or union-affiliated, with state employee unions (usually teachers) most motivated and numerous.

And all of us would rather that our particular favorite government program (a pension, suburban roads, public schools, welfare, healthcare) be seen not only as untouchable, but so privileged that other people should pay for it such that we get out way more than we contribute.

Put those two together, and we're beholden to whichever politicians can best motivate in the primaries, and bamboozle in the general election that their votes are somehow representative.

So I'm still going to localize the problem not in John Adam's constitution of 1780, nor in the electorate, but in the primary election constituencies and the politicians who empower them and who are elected by them. If those groups oppose a "jungle primary" (such as California has adopted), then we'll know where the power and problem lie.

 

[citylover94]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

Public transit has never truly worked as a private run enterprise it just doesn't have a high enough profit margin if it can even make a profit and to make a profit there would have to be huge service cuts to the lower density or middle density areas that are currently served such as Waltham, Watertown, Revere, etc.

It just doesn't work. It would be nice if it did, but it doesn't and the only way to make it work would cause huge issues we would be left with the subway, green line and silver line and some of the most used busses and that is it.

 

[HalcyonEra]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

As soon as I read "privitize [sic] the operations," I knew you have no idea how public transit work.

Sorry professor, I was typing on my phone. Next time I will take the time to ensure the spelling is correct before I hit submit.

I am not suggesting outsourcing the entire operation or even implying that a subsidy is not required. But that agency has been poorly run for at least the past 40 years, so continue to feed it and see where it is another 40. The redundancy in government operations is staggering and not sustainable. There is never any incentive to fix it until the public revolts. This state has the 5th largest budget in the country despite it's small landmass and population. And what exactly do we have to show for it besides a crappy infrastructure?

 

[KentXie]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

Sorry professor, I was typing on my phone. Next time I will take the time to ensure the spelling is correct before I hit submit.

I am not suggesting outsourcing the entire operation or even implying that a subsidy is not required. But that agency has been poorly run for at least the past 40 years, so continue to feed it and see where it is another 40. The redundancy in government operations is staggering and not sustainable. There is never any incentive to fix it until the public revolts. This state has the 5th largest budget in the country despite it's small landmass and population. And what exactly do we have to show for it besides a crappy infrastructure?

I'm not criticizing you on your spelling. I'm criticizing the fact that you think that public transit should be privatized. See citylover's post for the simple explanation.

 

[Equilibria]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

Public transit has never truly worked as a private run enterprise it just doesn't have a high enough profit margin if it can even make a profit and to make a profit there would have to be huge service cuts to the lower density or middle density areas that are currently served such as Waltham, Watertown, Revere, etc.

It just doesn't work. It would be nice if it did, but it doesn't and the only way to make it work would cause huge issues we would be left with the subway, green line and silver line and some of the most used busses and that is it.

All this, and the fact that the commuter rail is ALREADY privatized under the exact conditions proposed, and the result has been continuous disaster no matter who holds the contract. At least the T is actually getting penalty payments from Keolis, but the service still stinks.

 

[HenryAlan]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

The only reason I can see to be happy that attention turns to the governor is that it will hopefully force him to try to fx the T in a meaningful way. But the wrath should be directed at the legislature first, governor second, and politics should have nothing to do with it.

Agree, mostly, but the extent to which Baker's actions as Secretary of Finance and Administration contributed to the MBTA's financial difficulties is something that needs to be recognized. Yes, I'm more interested in knowing what Baker can and will do, and am also hopeful that this immediate crisis will help to focus his attention on some reform and investment. But so far, he has basically thrown up his hands and said that he has no control over the agency. This does not give me confidence. Were he to acknowledge his past mistakes, on the other hand, I would probably feel quite a bit more confident that he is actually looking at real problems, a first step in finding real solutions.

 

[HalcyonEra]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

I'm not criticizing you on your spelling. I'm criticizing the fact that you think that public transit should be privatized. See citylover's post for the simple explanation.

You should not view the concept of privatization as an all or nothing proposition. Of course there is not enough revenue from ridership to sustain it so subsidies would be required, but maybe it should. The legislature was quick to index the gas tax to inflation, why not the same for public transit? People freaked out when it increased a few years ago.

At the end of the day you cannot tell me that there are not functions with the MBTA, Massport, the DOT, et al which are redundant and cannot be consolidated and run much more efficiently. Hell, do you think the state truly even uses its buying powers effectively?

The problems the T faces are deeply rooted in the system that enables it as others have mentioned. Scott walked because she saw it, understood it, and didn't want to deal with it.

 

[HalcyonEra]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

All this, and the fact that the commuter rail is ALREADY privatized under the exact conditions proposed, and the result has been continuous disaster no matter who holds the contract. At least the T is actually getting penalty payments from Keolis, but the service still stinks.

Then those penalties are insufficient.

 

[HenryAlan]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

Then those penalties are insufficient.

My first thought, as well, but then it's a fine line we tread looking for a penalty that's stiff enough to ensure better compliance, while at the same time not so stiff as to make the operator not bother. Think about the Laffer curve on taxation -- somewhere the penalty becomes too burdensome, and cuts in to operational viability.

 

[George_Apley]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

You are missing the point and looking at our government spending addiction much too narrowly. Simply throwing money at a problem rarely corrects the problem, in fact it usually simply increases the problem. Innovation is required in any industry to be successful, government included. The base issue is not even unions in and of themselves, they are there to protect the workers for good reason. The problem resides in the good old boy network that government functions have become where rewards are delivered to those who keep things the way they are rather than improving the system. The private sector has a way of removing such obstacles but there is zero incentive for the public sector to do so, so long as the money train keeps flowing. The lure of lifetime pensions with healthcare is much too strong and thus any sort of reform that upsets that paradigm is met with stronger resistance from the entrenched.

I think you're missing the point. Reform the bureaucracy. Reform the public sector unions. Reform the pension system. That doesn't change the point that the MBTA needs x amount of money to purchase the equipment needed to operate the system as it is. That number doesn't change no matter how much we clean house of public sector unions, or how many of the old boys we throw out of office. This is equipment and upgrades that the system would need even if it was privatized tomorrow.

 

[HalcyonEra]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

My first thought, as well, but then it's a fine line we tread looking for a penalty that's stiff enough to ensure better compliance, while at the same time not so stiff as to make the operator not bother. Think about the Laffer curve on taxation -- somewhere the penalty becomes too burdensome, and cuts in to operational viability.

True. And conversely accelerators for better than expected service levels are dicey because you lose the budgeting benefit of a fixed cost.

 

[HalcyonEra]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

I think you're missing the point. Reform the bureaucracy. Reform the public sector unions. Reform the pension system. That doesn't change the point that the MBTA needs x amount of money to purchase the equipment needed to operate the system as it is. That number doesn't change no matter how much we clean house of public sector unions, or how many of the old boys we throw out of office. This is equipment and upgrades that the system would need even if it was privatized tomorrow.

You are preaching to the choir. I agree the equipment is necessary and I am just as disgusted with our infrastructure, not only here, but nationwide as anyone. It's a disgrace. However, there is not an infinite amount of money available. To increase capital spends you have to lower operating costs. We as a citizenry have allowed this to happen and it must be corrected because it not sustainable.

 

[George_Apley]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

You are preaching to the choir. I agree the equipment is necessary and I am just as disgusted with our infrastructure, not only here, but nationwide as anyone. It's a disgrace. However, there is not an infinite amount of money available. To increase capital spends you have to lower operating costs. We as a citizenry have allowed this to happen and it must be corrected because it not sustainable.

No arguments here on that.

 

[WormtownNative]

Re: Dr. Beverly Scott resigns

Kinda.

Yes, democracy is flawed in that we let politicians bribe us with our own money, and worse (in one party states) let them bribe core primary voters with the money of non-voters. In Mass, that core votes Democrat and is either social-enviro-liberal or union-affiliated, with state employee unions (usually teachers) most motivated and numerous.

And all of us would rather that our particular favorite government program (a pension, suburban roads, public schools, welfare, healthcare) be seen not only as untouchable, but so privileged that other people should pay for it such that we get out way more than we contribute.

Put those two together, and we're beholden to whichever politicians can best motivate in the primaries, and bamboozle in the general election that their votes are somehow representative.

So I'm still going to localize the problem not in John Adam's constitution of 1780, nor in the electorate, but in the primary election constituencies and the politicians who empower them and who are elected by them. If those groups oppose a "jungle primary" (such as California has adopted), then we'll know where the power and problem lie.