Skip to Content
Streetsblog Massachusetts home
Streetsblog Massachusetts home
Log In
Legislation

Poll Finds Strong Statewide Opposition to MBTA Cuts

A November 2020 survey of 1,340 Massachusetts residents found strong opposition to the MBTA’s proposed 2021 service cut plan. Courtesy of the MassINC Polling Group.

StreetsblogMASS relies on the generous support of readers like you. Help us meet our year-end fundraising goals – give today!
StreetsblogMASS relies on the generous support of readers like you. Help us meet our year-end fundraising goals – give today!
StreetsblogMASS relies on the generous support of readers like you. Help us meet our year-end fundraising goals – give today!

A new statewide poll finds strong opposition to the MBTA's proposed 2021 service cuts, and a desire for the Massachusetts Legislature to increase funding for transit instead of cutting service.

The MassINC Polling Group polled 1,340 Massachusetts residents between November 19-30, 2020, and found that 64 percent of respondents oppose the MBTA's "forging ahead" service cuts, which include the elimination of 25 bus routes, ferry service, and weekend commuter rail service (editor's note: this poll was sponsored by The Barr Foundation, a major financial supporter of StreetsblogMASS).

The poll found that a similar proportion of respondents (66 percent) wanted the Massachusetts Legislature to take action and increase state funding to help the agency fill its budget gap.

Public support for the T holds up even among residents who live well beyond its service area. Among the 158 poll respondents from western Massachusetts, 58 percent opposed the service cuts and 61 percent supported additional state funding.

While the T has framed the cuts as temporary measures that can be reversed once the agency's financial outlook improves, the poll found widespread skepticism of that promise: only 37 percent of respondents thought it was likely that service would be restored to pre-pandemic levels after new COVID-19 vaccines become widely available.

Pollsters also asked respondents about their travel habits and public transit use before and during the pandemic, and whether they expected to use transit after the pandemic ends.

Travel habits and post-pandemic expectations, from a November 2020 statewide poll of Massachusetts residents. Courtesy of MassINC Polling Group.
Travel habits and post-pandemic expectations, from a November 2020 statewide poll of Massachusetts residents. Courtesy of MassINC Polling Group.
Travel habits and post-pandemic expectations, from a November 2020 statewide poll of Massachusetts residents. Courtesy of MassINC Polling Group.

Consistent with the T's ridership statistics, the poll found that there's been a large increase in people who "never" use transit since the pandemic began. But the poll also suggests that respondents generally intend to return to their pre-pandemic travel habits once a vaccine is widely available.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Massachusetts

MassDOT Makes More Space for Bikes and Pedestrians In Revised Designs for Medford Main Street

"It really did feel like they really did listen and change a lot of stuff,” says Ellery Klein, a Medford road safety advocate.

May 9, 2025

Mass. Senate Budget Revives Threat of MBTA Layoffs and Service Cuts

If it were enacted as the state's new budget law, the Senate proposal would force the T's budget writers to fill a budget shortfall of roughly $200 million this year, with virtually no reserve funding available to cushion the blow.

MassDOT Road Project Will Shut Down Half of the Orange Line for 9 Days, Starting Friday

The silver lining: the new bridges that MassDOT is building will create wider sidewalks, protected bike paths, and more dedicated bus lanes to improve connections between East Somerville and Sullivan Square.

See all posts