MBTA Winter 2015: Failure and Recovery

[FK4]

It's FMLA not MLA. So you're right there were certainly not medical issues that tripled during that period. But FMLA isn't just personal medical reasons.

Correct; I was paraphrasing, but your semantics do not change the issue. FMLA paperwork is filled out by a doctor and covers personal illness as well as personal obligation to other family members due to medical illness or injury, or the birth of a child. So unless three times as many T employees suddenly developed grave medical illness and/or had three times as many children born in the house and/or three times as many parents who needed help with chemotherapy, this is a flagrant abuse of FMLA.

 

[Max Power]

Well, that crazy, psychotic procurement process mightttt have something to do with the gap in planned/actual capital spending...

 

[whighlander]

I dont know, people... I have to say Im disappointed at all this kicking and screaming... there is a lot of reasonable stuff here in the report.

On p 16, they propose that the state officially shoulders the legacy and Big Dig debts

Perhaps someone can explain p 17 to me, because they are reporting that every year the MBTA spends roughly half of what it plans to spend each year in capital. If this is true in any way, it's embarassing.

p 17 - why in the world the T doesnt have a decent database of repairs is beyond me (oh, they dont have enough money to record this stuff? great excuse!)

p 18: states exactly what the T ought to be doing:




Page 19, all excellent ideas that unions and politically connected people of all kinds will immediately oppose:


p 27 is pretty embarassing... as in my last post, Feb 2015 FMLA - for MEDICAL absence, not snow issues - 2,389 vs Feb 2014 842.

p 28 YESSS a logical mechanism for determing the NEEDS of transit rather than what looks good on a map


It really doesnt even seem that people have even read this document - for instance, at the end it recommends that the governor, among the recommendations:






Rec's for the legislature include AMENDING EXISTING LAW TO:


and


this report sounds pretty reasonable to me. the agency is clearly utterly rotten to the core and NO the sole excuse is not lack of funding, which does not explain high absentee rates, backward records keeping, and total lack of clear vision. fix the system, figure what the immediate needs are, and fix those, while developing a new and well-reasoned analysis of where the next expansion ought to be.

FK -- a good one page summary

While the report needs a more thorough back-up -- this powerpoint slide show is sort of the executive summary of a full report -- Gov Baker asked the quite distinguished panel for something to guide him in immediately starting to make changes

If you want another metaphor:

A Taxi arrives at the BCEC where a Medical Administration Convention is just underway.

Out hobbles a patient bleeding profusely [no one has noticed a Pit Bull gnawing on his right leg] -- the keynote speaker is the administrator of one of the Boston Super Hospitals [a doctor from long ago -- Baker was Welds Admin & Finance] asks for help from the rest of the docs -- now mostly involved in management [the panel]

They are specialists in many disciplines not too many are ER -- and so they find the patient has problems with Aphasia, Breathing, a Tape Worm -- the report

However, the first priority is to perform a Pit Bull-ecotomy from the patients leg and sew-up the area where the gnawing was underway and hook up some IV's

The rest can be fixed later -- lets save the Leg and the patient first

By the way as Scott says in those lawn commercials Read the Report RRRRead it

 

[Equilibria]

this report sounds pretty reasonable to me. the agency is clearly utterly rotten to the core and NO the sole excuse is not lack of funding, which does not explain high absentee rates, backward records keeping, and total lack of clear vision. fix the system, figure what the immediate needs are, and fix those, while developing a new and well-reasoned analysis of where the next expansion ought to be.

You cherry-picked the reasonable recommendations (and stated a bunch of them twice from both the body and the summary at the end), and yes, they are there. There is some meat to this thing. There is not, however, anything reasonable about this report. It's written in an almost comically hostile and alarmist tone (with hilarious periodic statements about how much the authors "appreciate everyone's hard work.") It constantly makes claims that it can't back up with data, so it obfuscates and misleads the reader (I actually think raising fares is necessary, but their presentation of data is wretched). To address a couple of your points.

FMLA is not worker's comp, though the way the report presents it implies so (full disclosure: I just looked it up on Wikipedia, so I'm no expert). It allows for paid time off for things like caring for a sick family member, pregnancy, sickness of a child, etc. Simply saying that 30% of MBTA employees qualify for it is not shocking to me - it means that they have children, elderly parents, or could become pregnant. It's extremely misleading and frankly insulting and dehumanizing to the employees for this report to present it in the way that it does. Again, I'm not saying that there isn't abuse, I'm saying that this report is terribly constructed.

Not having enough money is an excellent excuse for bad record-keeping. Databases cost money to build and maintain. If staff are overworked, they have limited time update any database you build. That doesn't mean that everyone at the T can legitimately claim that they're too overworked and underfunded to record their work and take inventory, but it only has to be true for one link in the chain to make the whole system fail.

As Aloisi pointed out yesterday, the T cannot sell budgeted bonds when it doesn't receive permission to go ahead or matching funds from other agencies. Bond bills are four-year things. If you don't realize three years in advance that litigation or environmental review or political wind change (like, say, a GOP Governor who's bent on destroying your credibility) is going to screw with you, you might not be able to take the bonds. Bonds are not money, they are an obligation to pay debt service later. It's not like the T sat on a pile of billions of dollars all this time. They didn't spend as much as they were authorized to spend. If they had, their budget problems would be worse.

 

[whighlander]

You cherry-picked the reasonable recommendations (and stated a bunch of them twice from both the body and the summary at the end), and yes, they are there. There is some meat to this thing....

Not having enough money is an excellent excuse for bad record-keeping. Databases cost money to build and maintain. If staff are overworked, they have limited time update any database you build. That doesn't mean that everyone at the T can legitimately claim that they're too overworked and underfunded to record their work and take inventory, but it only has to be true for one link in the chain to make the whole system fail.

Equilib -- the T has admitted that it got money from the original Stimulus for the database of capital assets and their state of repair

they twice have delayed the implementation deadline -- I think that it currently is supposed to happen in July this summer

Meanwhile there is something of the order of $20B in assets that they are responsible for maintaining in a state of good repair and they don't know when they should begin the 25 year process to buy replacements for the rolling stock?

That's like a home purchaser moving into a house with a 20 year old roof [with 25 year MFBF] and blithely ignoring the possibility of leaks for the next 5 years until the rains come through his bedroom ceiling

 

[Equilibria]

Equilib -- the T has admitted that it got money from the original Stimulus for the database of capital assets and their state of repair

they twice have delayed the implementation deadline -- I think that it currently is supposed to happen in July this summer

How much money did they get? Is it enough? Did it require a match from the legislature, MBTA, or MassDOT? If so, was that match delayed? How many times did the manager of the project get fired/reassigned/transferred?

I don't know the answer to any of these questions. Neither do the authors of the report, I suspect.

 

[FK4]

You cherry-picked the reasonable recommendations (and stated a bunch of them twice from both the body and the summary at the end), and yes, they are there. There is some meat to this thing. There is not, however, anything reasonable about this report. It's written in an almost comically hostile and alarmist tone (with hilarious periodic statements about how much the authors "appreciate everyone's hard work.") It constantly makes claims that it can't back up with data, so it obfuscates and misleads the reader (I actually think raising fares is necessary, but their presentation of data is wretched). To address a couple of your points.

FMLA is not worker's comp, though the way the report presents it implies so (full disclosure: I just looked it up on Wikipedia, so I'm no expert). It allows for paid time off for things like caring for a sick family member, pregnancy, sickness of a child, etc. Simply saying that 30% of MBTA employees qualify for it is not shocking to me - it means that they have children, elderly parents, or could become pregnant. It's extremely misleading and frankly insulting and dehumanizing to the employees for this report to present it in the way that it does. Again, I'm not saying that there isn't abuse, I'm saying that this report is terribly constructed.

Not having enough money is an excellent excuse for bad record-keeping. Databases cost money to build and maintain. If staff are overworked, they have limited time update any database you build. That doesn't mean that everyone at the T can legitimately claim that they're too overworked and underfunded to record their work and take inventory, but it only has to be true for one link in the chain to make the whole system fail.

As Aloisi pointed out yesterday, the T cannot sell budgeted bonds when it doesn't receive permission to go ahead or matching funds from other agencies. Bond bills are four-year things. If you don't realize three years in advance that litigation or environmental review or political wind change (like, say, a GOP Governor who's bent on destroying your credibility) is going to screw with you, you might not be able to take the bonds. Bonds are not money, they are an obligation to pay debt service later. It's not like the T sat on a pile of billions of dollars all this time. They didn't spend as much as they were authorized to spend. If they had, their budget problems would be worse.

I disagree about the way the report reads, and I think it should be alarmist. This is a panel of people convened to examine a problem, and they are clearly shocked at what they found. As for the citations and details, this "report" is the power point for public consumption and a summation of key points, not the entire report which assuredly exists and is far longer and more detailed.

Yes - I cherry picked the recommendations that resonated the most strongly with me, because people on here are crying about how the report basically says fire everyone, starve to T of money and everything will be OK. There are many important points in this report that recommend positive changes that are very urgently needed.

Im very familiar with FMLA, and as the chart on slide 27 shows, the number of cancelled bus trips due to FMLA tripled this February. Please read my post, #876. Let's get all upset about poor, dehumanized people... FMLA is a good act and I am very glad it is there, but it widely abused, much like both short term and long term disability. There are plenty of people who very much need these protections, but it also easy to go "doctor shopping" to find someone who will sign the form. As I already said in #876 (which you repeated, above), FMLA covers needs of individuals for their own medical illnesses as well as time due to medical or injury needs of primary relatives, and birth of a child. This number tripled for this February over the last February. 33% more babies were not born. 33% more wives didnt get cancer. A third is a HUGE factor. This is abuse and nothing short of it.

 

[Equilibria]

I disagree about the way the report reads, and I think it should be alarmist. This is a panel of people convened to examine a problem, and they are clearly shocked at what they found. As for the citations and details, this "report" is the power point for public consumption and a summation of key points, not the entire report which assuredly exists and is far longer and more detailed.

They're not shocked at what they found. The Governor hired them to write a report that distanced him from the problem and laid all the blame for February's failures at the feet of the prior administration. That's what they produced.

Yes - I cherry picked the recommendations that resonated the most strongly with me, because people on here are crying about how the report basically says fire everyone, starve to T of money and everything will be OK. There are many important points in this report that recommend positive changes that are very urgently needed.

That's exactly what it says. It also has some constructive points. They are buried somewhere in there among the recommendations to fire everyone, crack down on unions, and raise fares and fees on everyone and everything who uses the system while raising not one solitary new dollar from any other source.

The constructive changes are specific and will make a positive difference if implemented, but the report claims to be about systemic problems with systemic solutions. The systemic solutions it presents essentially amount to making yet more pedantic "on the condition that" funding mandates at the legislature level (many of which tried and failed in prior generations) and revamping the leadership structure to ensure that every incoming Governor not only can throw everyone out when they take office, but that they actually have to. It explicitly insists on a patronage-driven board.

It's all presided over by an arrogant Governor who hasn't ever taken responsibility for this agency and its problems (the report suggests that he take responsibility when he sacks the board as sacrificial lambs, without giving any justification for their firing). He got exactly the report he asked for when he hired these people.

 

[George_Apley]

^ Wouldn't be so sure this isn't the whole report. This was a month-long meta-committee. The political benefit was the fast turnaround. The limitations are obviously that it can't be an especially deep look by design.

 

[whighlander]

I disagree about the way the report reads, and I think it should be alarmist. This is a panel of people convened to examine a problem, and they are clearly shocked at what they found. As for the citations and details, this "report" is the power point for public consumption and a summation of key points, not the entire report which assuredly exists and is far longer and more detailed.

Yes - I cherry picked the recommendations that resonated the most strongly with me, because people on here are crying about how the report basically says fire everyone, starve to T of money and everything will be OK. There are many important points in this report that recommend positive changes that are very urgently needed.

Im very familiar with FMLA, and as the chart on slide 27 shows, the number of cancelled bus trips due to FMLA tripled this February. Please read my post, #876. Let's get all upset about poor, dehumanized people... FMLA is a good act and I am very glad it is there, but it widely abused, much like both short term and long term disability. There are plenty of people who very much need these protections, but it also easy to go "doctor shopping" to find someone who will sign the form. As I already said in #876 (which you repeated, above), FMLA covers needs of individuals for their own medical illnesses as well as time due to medical or injury needs of primary relatives, and birth of a child. This number tripled for this February over the last February. 33% more babies were not born. 33% more wives didnt get cancer. A third is a HUGE factor. This is abuse and nothing short of it.

FK -- Exactly -- the attitude of the T employees both union and management has always been one of entitlement -- its no accident that it used to be called Mr. Bulgers Transit Agency

T employees have been able to retire at 45 or even 43 after fulfilling 25 years of work with a disproportionate number retiring on disability pensions and other dodges

The T's relationship with its unions has always been both adversarial and replete with buy-out / give-aways to keep the labor peace -- there used to be legendary stories of the inefficiencies associated with union work rules

All of these things have to change and Now thanks to the Snow, they can change

Governor Baker is motivated and committed to fixing the T problem and the Legislature is likely to be responsive -- a New T can emerge from the Snowbank

First the pseudo-receivership for the next couple of years and then a renewed management structure can be put in place and finally a redrawn set of financial / operational guidelines for the future

 

[FK4]

A large number of MBTA employees may have had children who required adult supervision, but could not afford the amount of child care weeks of school closures demanded. I have no idea. My point is just that the MBTA employees are not necessarily sinister people hell bent on scamming the gov't and abusing the system. (And using the FMLA to care for kids would not be much different than using it to care for a healthy newborn.)

Look... The entire mbta obviously is not a bunch of scammers. But stick to the point - FMLA serves a specific purpose. That's how laws work. you don't just loosely apply it to anything you want because it seems like a nice thing to do. FMLA guidelines are specific and if your needs lie outside the scope of them then you need approval other than that of uncle Sam to take the day off. Period, end of story.

 

[CS]

I did not expect this report to be so politically motivated \ partisan. There are things in there that are absolutely useful but at the end of the day I got nothing concrete about fixing the debt.
I'm also troubled that these people don't know \ realize \ understand why transit, by nature, is insolvent.

You sure you didn't write this report Whighlander? :-D

 

[kevtron2000]

http://www.wbur.org/2015/04/08/governor-baker-mbta-report

it looks like the MBTA needs some serious fixes in its management. it also appears that fares will need to be increased to raise more revenue. it will be interesting to see whether Bostonians like a $4 one way on the subways and $2.50 one way on the Buses or not. Also, the new cost of the commuter rail might discourage riders to take public transit.

 

[FK4]

You're adorable, whigh. Don't ever change.

You're back!?

 

[MBTAddict]

^ Wouldn't be so sure this isn't the whole report. This was a month-long meta-committee. The political benefit was the fast turnaround. The limitations are obviously that it can't be an especially deep look by design.

This is it. It's the entire thing. Nowhere does it say "Summary" or "More info to follow."

 

[Scipio]

Dot News on recovery planning: http://www.dotnews.com/2015/winterization-t-racks-will-mean-shuttle-buses-summer

Looks like we're getting a summer of shuttle buses on the Red and Orange line while they harden and winterize tracks.

Also looks like South Coast Rail will stagger on for now:

Though the governor's task force recommended suspending all non-federally funded transit expansion projects, aides to Baker said spending related to the planning for expansion of commuter rail service to the South Coast would continue.

"That's a fairly large project, so the design and permitting effort's going to take a while," DePaola told the News Service. "So I don't think he is as concerned because there was no construction spending planned in the near-term, so any moratorium on construction spending on expansions doesn't really affect that at this point."

 

[TallIsGood]

I'm also troubled that these people don't know \ realize \ understand why transit, by nature, is insolvent.

Transit is not insolvent by nature. If transit is a service that is needed/desired, then folks will pay the cost of it. We have decided to subsidize it but that is a political decision, not one that is inherent.

 

[George_Apley]

Transit is not insolvent by nature. If transit is a service that is needed/desired, then folks will pay the cost of it. We have decided to subsidize it but that is a political decision, not one that is inherent.

Try ending subsidies for road transit and see how much people will pay for it...

 

[Matthew]

Transit is not insolvent by nature. If transit is a service that is needed/desired, then folks will pay the cost of it. We have decided to subsidize it but that is a political decision, not one that is inherent.

It is inherent, but only because we have decided to subsidize other forms of transportation.

In a world of an even playing field, where you don't have sprawl-zoning and subsidized-highways, then yes, it is possible to have unsubsidized transit too.

But you are right that it is a political decision to choose sprawl-zoning and subsidized-highways.

 

[BPLange7]

I don't think we will see $4 fares anytime soon. I think Subway fares could reasonably rise to $2.25-$2.50 within the next few years, $2 for bus and $85-$90 for a LinkPass. I'd be fine wIth getting them to a sustainable level and then tying increases to a CPI index.

I think they will try to push through bigger changes to the RIDE fare structure. ADA trips are capped by law at 2x the Fixed Route fare, but I don't think there is a cap for the Premium trips. Also - as a Federally mandated program that costs the T around $60M a year - it seems a little tough to count this against them when considering funding levels, fare recovery, etc.