Public Statement on Nonrenewal of Keolis Commuter Rail Contract
Pioneer Institute welcomes the news that the MBTA will not renew its contract with problem-plagued commuter rail operator Keolis Commuter Services when the term ends in 2022. If the MBTA can put an effective bidding process into place for the next contract, this is a positive development for the hundred thousand-plus riders who depend on the system every day.
Since 2013, Pioneer Institute has published a steady stream of research, op-eds, blog commentary, and media appearances critical of Keolis’ performance, and calling for greater penalties for lack of performance and even re-opening the current contract. Increasingly frequent cancellations have incurred a reported $14 million in fines over the past two years, many of which have been forgiven by the MBTA, and the system has been hampered by insufficient staffing, defective equipment, and train shortages. While Pioneer, too, is impatient to see Keolis’ service improve, the Institute also opposed the MBTA’s decision to waive fines and pay the vendor an additional $66 million, on top of its $2.68 billion contract.
We are guided by a basic premise: when procuring a public service through a private contractor, the terms of the contract must be enforced – or the public suffers.
Two years ago, Pioneer Institute proposed a comprehensive fix for the MBTA, which included the establishment of a control board, and other powers. In that document, and before, Pioneer is on the record repeatedly (1) questioning the procurement process which ultimately led to only two commuter rail bidders and (2) calling for the penalty provisions of the contract to be consistently enforced.
We applaud this decision and look forward to pressing for the kind of open procurements that will attract more high-quality bidders, as well as providing insights on the type of contract that might actively promote higher quality service and the modernization of commuter rail systems, vehicles, and infrastructure.
Get Our Fix the T Updates!
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/MBTA-Keolis-Performance-Feature.jpg
623
930
Scott Haller
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Scott Haller2015-04-15 15:10:392019-07-11 11:31:04Is Keolis Up to the Task?
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/RIDE.jpg
307
410
Greg Sullivan
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Greg Sullivan2015-04-07 15:59:292019-07-11 11:31:04What if “The Ride” operated like the best big paratransit systems in the US?
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/THERIDEbus.jpg
243
500
Greg Sullivan
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Greg Sullivan2015-04-07 10:37:222019-07-11 11:31:04Guess Who Runs the Best Paratransit System in the MBTA’s District? Hint: It’s Not the T
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Top-Secret11.jpg
334
623
Mary Connaughton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Mary Connaughton2015-04-07 10:03:442015-04-07 10:03:44Public Left in Dark on Carmen’s Union Contract
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/OPEB.png
260
718
Mary Connaughton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Mary Connaughton2015-04-06 12:03:362019-07-11 11:32:26And What About the T’s Retirement Costs?
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/MBTAvSEPTA-640x341.jpg
399
726
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2015-04-02 12:03:422021-01-28 15:23:53The MBTA Commuter Rail’s Cost Structure Is Off the Rails
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/MBTA-Winter-Recap-Feature.jpg
854
1280
Scott Haller
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Scott Haller2015-03-30 15:32:592019-07-11 11:32:26Sunshine Must Return to MBTA This Spring
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/20150213_081733.jpg
1836
3264
Mary Connaughton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Mary Connaughton2015-03-30 12:42:232019-07-11 11:32:26Time to Fine Keolis
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/MBTA-Parking-Feautre.jpg
3744
5616
Scott Haller
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Scott Haller2015-03-27 16:40:102019-07-11 11:32:26Commuter Parking Woes Highlight the MBTA’s Problem With Planning
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/RedLineCharlesMGH.jpg
768
1024
Greg Sullivan
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Greg Sullivan2015-03-25 15:18:052019-07-11 11:32:27The MBTA’s Problem is Not Lack of Funding
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/MBTA-Subway-Returns-Feature-2.jpg
480
640
Scott Haller
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Scott Haller2015-03-23 16:11:042019-07-11 11:32:27When Will Commuter Rail Return to Full Service?
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/rthrthrthth3.jpg
551
800
Jim Stergios
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Jim Stergios2015-03-23 15:01:472019-07-11 11:32:27How to measure the MBTA’s operational efficiency
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/8155198479_97c3135129_o.jpg
498
1290
Greg Sullivan
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Greg Sullivan2015-03-16 12:51:532019-07-11 11:32:27The Myth of the Underfunded MBTA
0
0
Scott Haller
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Scott Haller2015-03-12 12:12:002019-07-11 11:32:27Will MBTA Win Back Riders?
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/6161598532_4c347c9ce3_o.png
2612
3707
Greg Sullivan
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Greg Sullivan2015-03-12 10:55:222019-07-11 11:32:28Setting the Record Straight on MBTA Expansion
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
0
0
Jim Stergios
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Jim Stergios2015-03-06 13:55:562021-10-29 14:52:48Getting our priorities straight on the BCEC and the MBTA
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/commuterrail-300x169.jpg
169
300
Jim Stergios
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Jim Stergios2015-03-06 12:46:152019-07-11 11:32:28Getting our priorities straight on the BCEC and the MBTA
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/greenplow.jpg
378
525
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2015-03-03 08:45:172019-07-10 14:50:54New Report Outlines Massachusetts’ Experience with State Receiverships
