Ahead of Senate Vote Demonstrators Demand Fair Transit System

BOSTON/State House - Demanding a more equitable transit system Wednesday, demonstrators targeted the State House where the Senate is expected to vote on a transportation bill next week. The bill proposed by the Senate gives more funding to infrastructure than the $500m called for by the House bill, but still falls short of Governor Deval Patrick’s requested $1.9 billion for transportation and education. An MBTA board meeting at the Transportation Building was also picketed by demonstrators as officials met to pass a budget expecting state funding to close a $118 million deficit. Following the picket, approximately 150 members of a number of community, labor, and environmental groups marched to the State House. One of the main organizers of the protest, Diana Bell of Community Labor United, said: “Our communities can’t afford another year of fare hikes and service cuts.”