Worcester Business Journal

www.wbjournal.com March 2, 2015 • Worcester Business Journal 29 For the thousands who depend on the T to get them to and from work, and that includes hundreds of commuters from Central Massachusetts who ride the train for about three hours a day, the lack of reliability undermines the whole system. Any frustration over the money they pay in fares, which rose 5 percent last summer, is dwarfed by the system's failures that kept them, on many days, from even getting to work. F u n d i n g p u b l i c transportation is not a new issue in Massachusetts, but it's an issue that is coming home to roost today because of the events of the last five weeks. Fixing the T, which includes the issues of long-term funding and the inadequacy of its antiquated equipment, is a topic that requires a deep discussion. That's why Gov. Charlie Baker made the right call last month when he assigned a seven-person commission to review the system's most pressing issues and recommend possible solutions. Clearly, this is not an issue merely for those who live inside the Route 128 belt. The T has become increasingly important to commuters beyond Greater B oston, especially in Central Massachusetts, which has become a key beneficiary of commuter rail expansion over the last 20 years. Especially over the last two years, the increased service on the Framingham-Worcester line — with former lieutenant governor Timothy Murray at the forefront — has helped ease congestion on what has become one of the T's busiest stretches of rail outside the subway system. But, over the last 25 years, as the system grew to accommodate more of the growing population living outside the Boston area, so have the calls for more funding at the T, either to cover an operational deficit or to upgrade equipment. Clearly, the time has arrived to take a long, hard look at the system and — pun intended — put it back on the right track. There has been a loud call for more funding, either through fare increases, taxation or capital spending. But the review must begin by looking at the system's cost structure and wringing out whatever inefficiencies can be found. The T needs to be able to operate effectively, but it will take meaningful reforms as well as new investments to reach the desired outcome. Once that's done, any request for more money will have a stronger justification. Baker should demand any recommended reforms before he has to make the hard choices on new funding. Will he eventually abandon his campaign pledge to hold the line on taxes, and allow a hike in the gasoline tax? Will he advocate a c apit a l improvement c a mp a i g n f i n a n c e d through bonds? The governor has not been allowed the traditional first 100 days to settle into the job and establish his priorities. The brutal winter has forced the issue, and what to do with the T has reached a crisis stage and demands strong leadership now. Many elected officials face a conundrum after they take office when tough choices force them to come face to face with campaign pledges that may not be prudent to keep. But the stakes are high when it comes to public transit, especially today, as Boston vies to host the 2024 Summer Olympics and would like to boast of a robust public transportation network that can successfully move the expected millions who would come to the Bay State in nine years should Boston win the bid. Further, urban areas are increasingly popular for millennials as places to settle down, and the pressure on public transit to remain a reliable, more cost-effective way to commute to work is only increasing. Part of the selling strategy for attracting new residents to Central Massachusetts is easy access to Boston. Getting public transportation right is a critical issue for the long-term viability of the state, not just the commuters who have been stranded by the recent winter storms. n MBTA's woes put Baker in a tough spot E D I T O R I A L The Worcester Business Journal welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Please send submissions to Rick Saia, editor, at rsaia@wbjournal.com. Letters can also be faxed to 508-755-8860. M assachusetts companies need workers with the right skills who can help them succeed in a rapidly changing global economy. But that goal remains at risk because our education system is not keeping pace with the demands of the commonwealth's economy. Experts estimate that almost three-quarters of all jobs in Massachusetts will require post-secondary training by the year 2020. Since that's just five years away, that's sobering news as we confront a shortfall of 55,000 to 65,000 graduates from the state's public schools over the next decade. A shrinking college-age population and growing proportions of low-income and minorities mean that the need for educated workers can be met only by raising college completion rates, closing achievement gaps, and attracting students from underserved populations. But funding is an issue: Massachusetts' per-student appropriation for higher education is only 60 percent of the average of the top 10 states, and the commonwealth ranks 46th in need- based state financial aid. Meanwhile, employers that are struggling to find qualified workers understand that outcomes in higher education depend on the effectiveness of early education and primary and secondary schools. The most important, immediate step to strengthen K-12 education is completion of the transition to the Common Core curriculum and Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) assessment program, to which Massachusetts committed itself in 2010. These initiatives are cooperative undertakings by several states, with Massachusetts playing a leading role. Far from backing off the MCAS program, implemented as part of the commonwealth's education reform initiatives in the 1990s, Common Core and PARCC include comparable or superior standards in a much more useful form. While MCAS is basically an eighth-grade-level test administered to high school sophomores, a new system will have greater bearing on student preparation for college and the workplace. And economies of scale in the multi-state approach will permit a more student-centered assessment process that supports targeted assistance. Recently, the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education commissioned a team of international experts to conduct a review of education in the commonwealth, using the world's best systems as a benchmark, and to outline steps to keep our system globally competitive. We support that effort. In education, as in business, "the best" is not something you are, but something you do. To be and stay the best, we must measure ourselves against the best and foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. Government and business must work together to develop the best educational system in the world to educate and train workers with the right skills for a global economy. As part of that effort, they should consolidate education and workforce development systems that remain separate and inconsistent. They should also elevate the role of vocational education and its potential to provide people with the necessary skills to realize their economic dreams. n Andre Mayer is senior advisor at Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), based in Boston. AIM recently released its Blueprint for the Next Century, a plan for economic growth that addresses the role of education in developing necessary workplace skills. Mass. schools not keeping pace with needs of our economy BY ANDRE MAYER Special to the Worcester Business Journal V I E W P O I N T Andre Mayer A fter a month of weather we'd soon like to forget, the MBTA is slowly restoring its service to levels that the system's riders had experienced — and expected — before the first blizzard struck on Jan. 27. But restoring the public trust in the transit system? That's going to take much longer. "In order to fix the problems with the MBTA, they first must be diagnosed." Gov. Charlie Baker, announcing the creation of a seven-person commission to review MBTA operations

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