Moving the MBTA Forward

We are pleased that former Pioneer Institute Research Director Steve Poftak has been named the next General Manager of the MBTA. While at Pioneer, Steve oversaw and directly authored a high-quality portfolio of research that spanned from transportation and infrastructure to pension and other state and local post-employment liabilities.

Pioneer has long been committed to advancing excellent mobility options for all residents and visitors, including a wide range of public transit services. After the T melted down in reaction to the winter of 2015’s record snowfall, the Institute combined academic-quality research with efforts to educate the public on a series of timely reforms, starting with our proposal to create a Fiscal and Management Control Board and including changes to the T’s sick time policy, troubled pension system, communications, paratransit services, opportunities for competitive contracting, fare collection and fare setting, corporate pass program, market pricing for parking, and much more.

In 2019 and beyond, the Institute will continue to aim for a T that is capable of attracting more riders, through better on-time performance and improved service. Going forward the Institute will focus on additional ferry and bus rapid transit options, revenue opportunities via the T’s corporate pass program, management reforms, investments that will increase ridership, commuter rail fare collection practices and economic development opportunities at the authority.

Greater Boston is enjoying one of its longest and most robust periods of economic growth. The Commonwealth’s ability to get the MBTA on the right track will affect quality of life, talent recruitment and retention and future growth. Success will require public sector leadership and strong support from the business community.

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