Statement of MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng on the Recent Wage Increases Implemented by Veterans Transportation and National Express Transit

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) released the following statement in response to two of its contracted suppliers, Veterans Transportation and National Express Transit, recently implementing wage increases for drivers. The RIDE plays a critical role in ensuring mobility for individuals with disabilities who are unable to use fixed-route transit services. The MBTA ranks among the nation's largest transportation agencies, and demand for paratransit service has grown along with our other transportation modes.

In 2023, The RIDE provided 1.5 million trips to MBTA customers with disabilities. This transportation is provided to customers who are unable to take MBTA fixed route service. Demand for paratransit service continues to increase and providers have been unable to staff to the levels necessary to deliver the quality service that customers deserve.

The statement from MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng is as follows:

“We applaud Veterans Transportation and National Express Transit for their proactive efforts to invest in their frontline employees. This positive step will help attract and retain skilled drivers, leading to improved service reliability and on-time performance for our RIDE customers. We want high-quality, accessible transportation options for all members of our community. By offering competitive wages, our contracted service providers are better positioned to build and maintain a stable workforce of experienced drivers who deeply understand our customers’ needs. We look forward to the positive impacts of these wage increases and how they translate into operational improvements as we continue collaborating with our valued service providers to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient RIDE services that meet the evolving needs of our customers. Our shared goal is to ensure that every RIDE customer can count on dependable, timely transportation to help them stay connected to their communities and live independently.”