Massachusetts’ transit agency has approved service cuts to the Boston area’s public transportation system.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Fiscal Management and Control Board voted to approve the cuts Monday by a 3-2 vote. The service reductions were proposed in the wake of plummeting ridership as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The cuts will eliminate weekend commuter rail services on seven lines, suspend 20 bus routes, and reduce ferry services and bus frequency.

They will also reduce subway service by 20% on the Green, Red, and Orange lines and by up to 5% on the Blue Line, which has shown higher ridership levels during the pandemic than other lines.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley joined other elected officials in opposing service cuts.

“To deny community access to consistent, affordable and accessible transit services, in the midst of this crisis, will be nothing but catastrophic, and would contribute to the public health crisis, while we are in the middle of a second surge, further destabilizing families,” Pressley said at a press conference Monday before the vote.

..."As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we worry that the proposed cuts will disproportionately impact riders from underserved communities. These riders likely have no other method of transportation and rely on MBTA services and expanded hours of service for their essential travel needs,” the lawmakers wrote, led by Democratic U.S. Katherine Clark.

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Original story here.