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Town of Lexington Commission on Disability Victoria Buckley, Chair February 11, 2012 Jon Davis, General Manager Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Ten Park Plaza Boston, MA 02116 Dear Mr. Davis: The Lexington Commission on Disability strongly opposes the MBTA’s proposed cuts. The budget cuts being discussed by the MBTA could result in Lexington losing its bus service – the 76 and the 62 buses – as well as $80,000 in the suburban subsidy program. The cost of RIDE services could be increased dramatically. In times of economic stress and environmental concerns, these are not cuts that would be welcomed at all. The simple fact is that people who take mass transit often have no other means to get to work. Our biggest concern is the proposed increase in paratransit (RIDE) fares, an increase ranging from 125% to 500%. The Commission advocates for its citizens with disabilities and we feel that this fare increase could be devastating to the independence of these individuals. These are your most vulnerable customers who have the most needs. These are people getting to treatment services and getting to and from work who cannot afford huge cost increases. We need to support and advocate for our neediest citizens. The savings can be documented in dollars and cents but the costs are bigger than dollars, since they impact individuals’ independence and self-worth. We need to look at some of those individuals, some of those 695 people in Lexington who use the RIDE: We have the proud hard-working man with difficulties in four limbs due to cerebral palsy who goes to work every day with pride. We have the middle-aged man with severe anxiety and paranoia who goes back and forth to treatment daily with the RIDE so he can learn ways to deal with his illness. We have a young man with a power wheelchair trying to go to his college classes with his personal care assistant. We have people of all ages and all types of special abilities who without the RIDE would not be able to get to work or get to medical care and treatment. We have a responsibility to support these individuals’ efforts to be independent and successful. 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420