Mass. Transportation Secretary Warns Of MBTA Cuts

BOSTON (AP) — Transportation Secretary James Aloisi says MBTA riders face a 25-percent increase in fares, a 50-percent cut in evening service and an end to their commuter boat subsidies unless the state overhauls its transportation system.

Aloisi also told Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority board members Thursday that the state would have to cut 20 bus routes, RIDE van service to nine communities and its subsidy for suburban bus service.

The comments came the week before Gov. Deval Patrick unveils a sweeping transportation plan. A draft of that plan called for a 27-cent hike in state gasoline tax.

The draft written by Aloisi also calls for streamlining the transportation bureaucracy into four units and creating a system where drivers would be charged for their mileage on roads within Massachusetts.