Politics & Government
Neighboring Selectmen Ask Legislators to Oppose Bus Cuts
The Marblehead board members are worried that MBTA cuts could include the 441 route, which also serves Swampscott.
A bus line that serves Swampscott and Marblehead could be on the chopping block.
That line is the 441, which makes stops on Paradise Road including Vinnin Square. The 441 was proposed for elimination in 2012 but, in the end, preserved by the MBTA.
The Board of Selectmen in Marblehead recently asked legislators to oppose proposed cuts in service.
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After an update from John Heffernan, Marblehead's liaison with MBTA, the Selectmen agreed that the town should oppose the proposed cuts in service because Marblehead's Route 441 to Wonderland Station has a low ridership and would probably be a candidate for discontinuation.
The Selectmen instructed Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren to draft a letter to state Sen. Tom McGee, D-Lynn, and state Rep. Lori Erhlich, D-Marblehead, opposing the cuts in service.
Find out what's happening in Swampscottwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The MBTA, facing a $161 million budget shortfall this year, has proposed two options for fare increases and/or service cuts. The proposals, now before the state legislature, would go into effect in July.
The first option would raise overall fares by 43 percent and cut service only minimally. The second option would increase overall fares by 35 percent and make sweeping service cuts, especially in bus service.
If the shortfall amount and proposed fixes sound familiar, its because similar numbers were tossed around last year before there was indeed a fare hike.
Some legislators are casting a suspicious eye on the T's never-ending budget woes, citing recent revelations of sweetheart, non-public pensions paid out to relatively young employees.
A map of the route may be found at this link or in the attached PDF.
