Do They Really Need Money?

Later this week, a detailed debate will begin about whether to incease MBTA fare. And the debate will focus on whether the MBTA really needs money and how much they needs.

"Some of the challenges with predicting the T's needs are beyond the agency's control - swings in the larger economy will affect how much the agency collects in fare revenues and how much it pays in fuel costs.

And Secretary of Transportation James A. Aloisi Jr., though largely dependent on the Legislature, has left several specific questions about the MBTA's needs unanswered since announcing a fare hike earlier this month.

Eventually everyone will have to show their cards. Aloisi has promised that the T will spell out a menu of potential service cuts and fare hikes of 15 percent to 20 percent within the next week."