US visitor to warn of PTA dangers
Page 21
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• The author of articles detailing the deficiencies of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority—resembling in many ways the proposed UK Passenger Transport Authorities —is coming to Britain next week. The PVOA is sponsoring six meetings around the country to which it is inviting members of local authorities and other bodies within the contemplated PTA areas to hear this American transport consultant, Mr. Thomas Lenthall, warn of the pitfalls which will be encountered if the Transport Bill goes through unchanged.
He hopes also to make a deeper study of the British proposals for comparison with his experience of the MBTA.
Living in Boston, Mr. Lenthall has written with personal experience of the MBTA, which he has described as "not a model to be imitated but a warning against the rejection of basic commercial and financial disciplines". He has pointed out that, in the Boston area, up to 10 per cent of the household rate is needed to subsidize the MBTA and he considers that disjointed control, only nominally in the hands of local authorities, is largely to blame.
Mr. Lenthall was recently appointed a consultant to the MBTA by its new general manager following his work in a similar capacity for a Federal urban transport study.
After a Press conference in London on May 1. Mr. Lenthall will speak at meetings in Birmingham (May 2), Liverpool (May 6), Manchester (May 7), and Newcastle (May 8). He will be holding a national Press conference in London after his tour.
Set up in 1964, the Massachusetts Bay Transport Authority covers 79 towns and cities with a population of 2,750,000 and in three years its deficit rose by more than half to over £10.5m and was expected to be even higher in the latest financial year.