January 7, 2012 12:25 PM

MBTA nixes takeover, ponders next rail contract

(AP) BOSTON — MBTA management has ruled out the possibility of taking over direct operation of the state's commuter rail network. Instead, it may seek a longer-term contract with a private operator to spur investment in an aging system that has become increasingly prone to breakdowns.

Who runs the trains and for how long is undoubtedly of less interest to 70,000 or so daily commuter rail passengers than whether the service is reliable and on time. But the cash-strapped Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's ability to provide consistently reliable service may well hinge on a series of crucial decisions it faces over the next 12-18 months.

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Future options include a new short-term contract with a private operator in the range of 5-10 years; a longer-term contract of 10-30 years; or having the MBTA itself run commuter rail, as it does buses and subways.

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In a recent memo to the MBTA's Board of Directors, acting general manager Jonathan Davis said the public option posed too many risks, adding that "the preferred option is to continue to outsource both operations and maintenance of the commuter rail system."

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