At First Meeting, Pollack Stresses Transportation Board Is Separate From MBTA Control Panel

Holding out hope that the Legislature will create a special panel to manage the MBTA, the Baker administration's top transportation official told the reconstituted state transportation board Wednesday not to confuse themselves with that as-yet-uncreated panel.

"What I and the governor do not expect you to be is a fiscal and management control board for the MBTA," Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack told the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Board of Directors on Wednesday afternoon. She said, "Do not be mistaken and believe that you must be the control board."

While the MassDOT Board has long overseen the MBTA, Pollack has said a control board would be able to more exclusively focus on the MBTA.

On Wednesday, she said even though the administration is committed to "one MassDOT," she believes separate oversight of the MBTA is prudent.

Pollack previously asked for and received the resignations of the entire transportation board that had been appointed by former Gov. Deval Patrick, and Dominic Blue was the only member of the old board appointed to the new board.

"I'd rather be part of the solution than a person that complains," Blue said. He said it is "kind of scary to say I have the most seniority" on the new seven-member board.