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The MBTA is exploring every avenue to close a budget gap next year, including selling the naming rights to T stations.
But an advocacy group out of Washington, D.C., sent MassDOT Secretary Rich Davey a letter yesterday and urged him to reconsider.
“This approach undermines the integrity of the city’s public transportation system and harms its citizens,” wrote Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen’s Commercial Alert.
The group said selling station names to corporations forces transit-takers to promote brands.
Davey said it’s “imperative,” however, for the T to do “anything they can to raise money that’s not at the fare box.”
“If they are down in Washington, they should be looking for ways to help us find money for the T,” he said.
Paul Regan, executive director of the MBTA Advisory Board, said a similar idea failed in the past.
“The money just might not be there,” he said.
Regan said signage changes could confuse tourists and locals, as well.
The T hired IMG Worldwide this month to examine the possible market for selling station names.
Follow Steve Annear on Twitter @steveannear
But an advocacy group out of Washington, D.C., sent MassDOT Secretary Rich Davey a letter yesterday and urged him to reconsider.
“This approach undermines the integrity of the city’s public transportation system and harms its citizens,” wrote Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen’s Commercial Alert.
The group said selling station names to corporations forces transit-takers to promote brands.
Davey said it’s “imperative,” however, for the T to do “anything they can to raise money that’s not at the fare box.”
“If they are down in Washington, they should be looking for ways to help us find money for the T,” he said.
Paul Regan, executive director of the MBTA Advisory Board, said a similar idea failed in the past.
“The money just might not be there,” he said.
Regan said signage changes could confuse tourists and locals, as well.
The T hired IMG Worldwide this month to examine the possible market for selling station names.
Follow Steve Annear on Twitter @steveannear
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