T management issues concern McGee

LYNN – State Sen. Thomas M. McGee warned Tuesday against attempting to rebuild the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority after its problem-filled winter when tools for fixing the transit agency may be close at hand.The Lynn Democrat identified “management issues” as one of the MBTA?s biggest problems. He said fixing the ways MBTA managers order and purchase equipment and other needs is a problem that can be fixed without setting up a new system for overseeing the agency.McGee helped preside on Monday over a three-house legislative hearing on recommendations for fixing the MBTA on the heels of a winter that saw trains fall behind schedule or stop running.McGee serves as state Senate chairman of the Legislature?s Joint Committee on Transportation and the committee is gearing up to review Gov. Charlie Baker?s MBTA reform proposals. He hopes MBTA riders will attend committee hearings in several weeks focused on agency reform.?This is an opportunity for anyone to come in. We will have a chance to have a public hearing, possibly more than one, on the governor?s legislation,” he said.Before the MBTA broke down this winter, McGee staked out a claim on transportation reform in the Legislature. A former daily Blue Line rider, he reviewed maintenance conditions in the Market Street commuter rail garage several times; helped shepherd the Lynn commuter ferry into existence and urged debate over ways to pay for billions of dollars of Massachusetts transportation infrastructure improvements.On Tuesday, McGee said he is more interested in asking questions about the MBTA?s shortcomings and the best ways to repair them rather than rejecting or endorsing fix-it plans for the agency.?There is a substantial amount of data the committee wants to see. We are focused on trying to get some specifics,” he said.He said recent polls indicate a large majority of Massachusetts residents want state elected officials to focus on improving public transportation across the state. That effort, said McGee, must include discussions on ways the MBTA can specifically function efficiently with Massachusetts? highway system.?How do we make the T work as an agency that is part of the whole transportation system?” he asked.