Mary Skelton Roberts, an Orange Line passenger who works in the clean energy field, was selected by Mayor Wu to represent Boston on the MBTA board.
The city of Boston gained a seat on the board through a provision in the $56 billion state budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey earlier this year. Wu, a public transportation advocate who also rides the Orange Line and whose campaign platform is free public transportation, was claiming the Boston seat.
Roberts, who lives in Jamaica Plain and holds a master’s degree in urban planning, is the founder of Climate, a new Boston-based nonprofit aimed at accelerating toward a “clean energy future.” – Serves as a senior advisor for the Beacon Project. She was also a member of the Governor’s Council on Latino Empowerment and worked at the Barr Foundation, focusing on modernizing transportation systems and making communities more walkable.
“She brings a lot of transportation expertise and deep connections to the community,” Wu said.
Roberts’ appointment comes as the MBTA struggles to provide fast and reliable service and comes under intense scrutiny from federal regulators for safety lapses.
The MBTA will close the Ashmont-Mattapan section of the Red Line in October to lift speed limits on the tracks and polish up aging station buildings at JFK/UMass Station and Sabine Hill, which have been plagued by collapse. It is planned to carry out track construction for the purpose of stairs. According to T officials, this initiative will compress six months of night and weekend work into 16 days starting October 14th.
Wu and Roberts separately recalled running into each other on the Orange Line over the years. “Understanding the direct impact of when a system is working and when it’s not working is the most important expertise for this type of work,” Wu said of Roberts’ experience as a commuter. talked about.
Roberts, who also rides the No. 39 bus that runs from Forest Hills to Back Bay, will join the board at a board meeting later this week. The volunteer term is four years.
“We are at a moment in time where the future of this city and this Commonwealth depends on what we do with public transportation, and it is time to shine a spotlight on why we have to get this right,” Roberts said. Told.
Most of the MBTA Board of Directors is appointed by the Governor and is chaired by Thomas Glynn. Glynn previously served as general manager of the MBTA during the administration of Governor Michael Dukakis and CEO of Massport, which operates Logan Airport, during the administration of Governor Deval Patrick. Other members include Monica Tibbits Nutt, Acting Secretary of Transportation Healey; Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch. Massachusetts AFL-CIO Vice President Robert Butler; commercial banker Eric Goodwine; former Lynn Mayor Thomas McGee; Chanda Smart has worked at companies including Gillette and American Express.
Wu said city staff and Roberts will create a “long list” of topics for each board meeting, based in part on what is discussed on the agenda. Wu and Roberts said that because buses are under the jurisdiction of the MBTA and roads belong to the city, improving bus service and the passenger experience through traffic lights and dedicated lanes will be key areas of focus. Ta.
“You have to lean into the bus,” Roberts said.
Wu personally attended the long-running MBTA board meeting in August and indicated he would also lobby the MBTA board on fare policy.
Wu pointed out that when the Orange Line was shut down for a month of repairs last year, commuter rail became essentially free and ridership soared. “When the financial barrier is reduced, it creates interest,” Wu said.
Mr Roberts said free public transport was “long overdue”. While she was at the Barr Foundation, she funded her two-week pilot to increase Silver Line bus fares in 2017. “I would like to see it more often,” she said.
The city is currently working with the City of T on a free pilot program for three bus routes, the 23, 28 and 29, which serve Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan. The pilot project, paid for by the city, is scheduled to end on February 29, 2024.
After Mr. Healey signed a budget in August that included provisions for a seat on the Boston board, the Wu administration put out a public call for names and ideas. About 150 people submitted ideas for specific lines, routes and signage, and about 100 expressed interest to the board.
Mr. Wu wants those who responded to be able to participate in further conversations until Mr. Roberts takes a seat on the board. “Now that we have direct representation on the board, we really want this to be a seat that reflects the wants and needs of the entire city when it comes to public transportation,” she said.