Town Officials Vow to Fight Loss of Transit Services
Town of Cohasset, Christopher G. Senior,
Town Manager
Town of Hingham, Tom Mayo, Town Administrator
Town of Hull, Philip E. Lemnios, Town Manager
Town of Scituate, James Boudreau, Town Administrator
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Nov. 9, 2020
Contact: Matthew Reid
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: matt@jgpr.net
Towns of Cohasset, Hingham,
Hull and Scituate Oppose Proposed Cuts to Greenbush Schedule and Elimination of
Ferry Service. Cuts Would Eliminate Hingham-Hull Ferry Service as Early as
March 2021
SOUTH SHORE -- The Towns of Cohasset,
Hingham, Hull and Scituate oppose the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority's
(MBTA) series of proposed changes to its transit service that were announced
today, Nov. 9, which would result in numerous cuts and service reductions
impacting the Greenbush Commuter Rail Line and Hingham-Hull Ferry.
The
proposed changes are part of the MBTA’s Forging Ahead effort, which
it claims will protect “core essential transit services.”
Included in the proposed cuts is a plan to
eliminate all service of the Hingham-Hull Ferry as early as March 2021, and
eliminating all service after 9 p.m. and all weekend service to Commuter Rail
lines as early as January 2021.
The Towns of Cohasset, Hingham, Hull and
Scituate oppose the proposed closing of the Ferry and the service cutbacks to
the Greenbush Line. These changes would cause severe hardships to those who
rely on these services to get to and from work, to access important medical
appointments and to reach the City of Boston for a variety of other reasons.
The proposed cuts would also result in an increase in traffic congestion
throughout the region.
"Working and visiting Boston would become
immensely more difficult if these proposed cuts become a reality," Hull
Town Manager Philip E. Lemnios said. "Not only would riders of the ferry
and Greenbush Line be impacted, but so too would motorists, business owners,
residents and visitors throughout the South Shore region."
"The closing of the Hingham-Hull Ferry
would not only have a severe negative impact on those who use the boat on a
daily basis, but the extra riders being diverted to the Greenbush Line would
put a tremendous amount of stress on the rail service, the station parking lots
and the neighborhoods where the stations are located as well," Cohasset
Town Manager Christopher Senior said. "The MBTA's current plan does not
address the issue of how they would make up for the elimination of late night
and weekend Commuter Rail service, especially for essential workers. Nor have
they confirmed that additional cuts would not be made in the future, which is
why it is important that residents make their voices heard about the
preservation of these services."
A comprehensive public engagement process
has begun and will run through Dec. 4. Officials from Cohasset, Hingham, Hull
and Scituate encourage residents to reach out to the MBTA to voice concerns
over the proposed cuts and reductions. Click here to view a list of virtual
public hearings and to access a feedback form to leave specific commentary.
The MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control
Board is scheduled to vote on the changes on Dec. 7.
Learn More
The Towns of Cohasset, Hingham, Hull and
Scituate have launched a Save the Greenbush-Save the Boat campaign in response
to the proposed cuts.
Campaign Website
Campaign
Facebook Page.
Website; Save the Greenbush Save the Boat
