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How Boston’s Public Transportation Became A Nightmare: A Story Of Corruption And Mismanagement
Last Updated on: May 13th, 2023
To outsiders, it might seem like Boston is a great place, filled with all the attractions that city life brings. It is certainly better than many other cities in Massachusetts (and even in the US).
Boston has a thriving education scene and is home to several major institutions like Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
It is also one of the oldest cities in the United States and features several historical sites. The city has a rich and diverse culture and can be a great place for people of different backgrounds to make a life. Nevertheless, many aspects here leave much to be improved, thanks to the bureaucratic nature of local politics.
With plummeting ridership, the public transportation in Boston is one of the most obvious examples of the incompetence the city?s residents have to experience. In this article, we will explore how the situation managed to get so bad and if there is anything that can be done to rectify things.
What Exactly Is Wrong With Boston?s Public Transportation?
Boston?s public transport system, also known as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), has had a long and complex history. Referred to by residents as the ?T,? one of the biggest issues lies with its aging infrastructure.
This is because the entire system was developed during the mid-20th century, and updating features to modern standards has been a sluggish process. Many of the train cars are nearly half a century old, and it shows.
The T includes not just the subway system that dates back to the 1900s but also the fleet of buses that ply the streets of Boston. Through the decades, the T has suffered from budget shortfalls and the resulting lack of maintenance and upgrades. More recently, the rising labor costs and debt from previous projects have added more financial pressure to the system.
Frequent delays, breakdowns, and poor coordination are just some of the problems that have left residents frustrated and dissatisfied. With all these factors, it isn?t surprising that the T has seen a ridership drop.
The allegations of corruption and mismanagement have not helped win the hearts of residents, many of whom have given up hope of things ever changing.
Can Lobbying Help Improve Boston’s Transportation System?
However, it would be wrong to write off the T entirely. While the issues it faces are significant, it still manages to serve residents in its own way. One might argue that the experience can be improved, but how?
Well, lobbying is one option. People who are interested in advocating for change can start by hiring a good Boston lobbying firm.
Lobbying has been one of the many ways that individuals can exert pressure on the government to trigger change. In the case of Boston?s transportation system, it would be difficult for the average person to create change by themselves.
Hiring a top lobbying firm in Boston can help out in ways that you might not fully comprehend if you?ve never used them before. ?Sherpa Guides? is the term that the lobbying firm, Corry Associates, uses to describe one of the core aspects of the ?lobbying experience.?
It refers to the guidance and education that lobbying firms can provide to those who wish to bring social change. Such individuals have good ideas but aren?t familiar with the complexities involved in lobbying and dealing with politicians.
The Massachusetts legal system is not a simple thing to navigate, and a good lobbying firm can act as a guide about what is possible and what isn?t.
Lobbying is not going to turn around politics that have been stagnant for decades instantly. Ushering in tangible change in the transportation system is tough, even if you hire the best lobbying firm. However, it can help restart discussions and ensure constant push for action.
The General Motors Streetcar Conspiracy
Massachusetts is a powerful state with other powerful groups who find it in their best interests to keep things the way they are. In fact, such instances are part of Boston?s tangled history.
The General Motors Streetcar conspiracy during the 1950s is one example. A classic story of bribery and corruption that involved General Motors and other players that wanted to replace streetcars with buses. Ironically, lobbying was one of the methods GM used, along with buying up streetcar companies. They would then dismantle their systems and replace them with buses, which they were reaching a near monopoly in.
Many believe that the dismantling of streetcars and the push for buses and cars over public transportation was a bad idea, not just in Boston but in other cities as well. It has been seen that factors that make public transport a poor option have led to the growth of suburbanization and urban sprawl.
Conclusion
Of course, the GM conspiracy wasn?t the only scandal that plagued the city. The Breda trolleys that replaced perfectly working PCC streetcars on the green line were prone to frequent breakdowns. They were also smaller than PCC streetcars and more cramped to boot. The general incompetence of management for much of Boston?s T history and the role that unions played in protecting said management has disappointed residents. It is unfortunate that the consequences of corruption and poor accountability are still suffered by Boston?s residents to this day.
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