Proposed MBTA Cuts Would Have Big Effect On Salem State Students

At Salem State University, there are quite a few students who rely on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) as a means of traveling, and the proposed cuts to services could put a big damper on many students' lives.

In the past few weeks, authorities at the MBTA have proposed two scenarios that would cut a lot of services, and increase prices by a considerable amount. The goal for the MBTA is to vote for a plan in April and to implement the plan on July 1.

The highlights in both scenarios include complete elimination of the weekend commuter rail and ferry service. Also, weekday commuter rail service would cease at 10 p.m.

A fare increase would also apply, as the first scenario calls for a 43 percent increase, while the second calls for a 35 percent increase.

The main difference between both scenarios is that the second one includes elimination of a larger amount of bus routes, which is the key aspect of cuts that's going to affect many Salem State students.

Getting to Salem from Dorchester, Mass. isn't an easy journey for Julian Henderson, a communications major. He said that under the new proposals, the bus lines he uses for work and school would be eliminated, and that's something that would hurt him a lot.

"There are four bus lines that I use regularly, the 435 and 436 for work and the 455 and 459 for school, that would be discontinued with these cuts," said Henderson.

"People from my job also wouldn't be able to get to work either, meaning a shortened staff, and more hours for those who are available."

Henderson said if those lines are eliminated, then he'd have to make some major life changes, which is something that he's already started to plan for.

"Just in case, I've already begun to look for a new job," he said.

"Right now I work at the Northshore Mall, and after work I usually get rides or drive home when I can, but for the most part, I wouldn't be able to get to work under these new service restrictions." He went on to say that since he lives in the Boston area, cutting service at 10 p.m. also means he would also have to depend on cabs to get him wherever he needs to go around the city, and some cab drivers aren't too fond of driving into his neighborhood.

Henderson wasn't the only SSU student who'd feel the pain of cut services. Tim Turner, a senior and public relations major from Salem, said he uses the bus system to get to and from work as well. Any more cuts to services would result in him quitting his job, he said.

"I work in Danvers, Mass. And the bus service to get there has already been cut, so if they cut it anymore, then I'd have to quit," said Turner. "Right now, there are only two Saturday buses that go in that direction, and the last one comes at 7 p.m., while on Sunday, there's just one bus and service for that one ends at 3 p.m."

As a result, Turner said he usually has to ask someone going in his direction for a ride home.

"I could walk home, but I'd have to walk five or six miles to get there," he added. "It's just easier and cheaper to take the bus since it costs about $12 to take a cab from Danvers, and in some cases more because once you hit the city, it can get expensive."

Jared McAvoy, a freshman and biology major, expressed similar sentiments to what Turner said. McAvoy said he uses the MBTA bus three days a week to get to school, and back home to Lynn, Mass.

"The cuts would be a major inconvenience for me as I'd have to pay more money for my monthly bus pass," he said.McAvoy also said that stopping trains at 10 p.m. could possibly be a major issue.

"Last semester, I had to stay on campus to work on an English assignment until about 10 p.m., and if that ever happened again, I'd be screwed," he added. McAvoy said his biggest issue is that if the cuts go through, instead of having the MBTA work around him, he'd have to work around an MBTA schedule, which is something that's definitely not customer friendly.

This is just a snapshot of how the proposed cuts to MBTA service would affect SSU students. Everyone knows that trying to put the perfect class schedule together, and getting that to synch with a job and recreational time isn't easy.

Depending on the situation a student is in, with the scenarios that the MBTA is proposing, it's going to make their lives a bit more hectic, stressful and uncertain.