The more administrative tasks like setting tariffs and carrier rates and managing buses should be handled by a separate entity, Shapiro said.īarrett, however, said keeping certain transit responsibilities within the DPU would exacerbate the situation the state is facing today, “where transportation safety and climate change are at war with each other.” While Barrett envisions a new commission that would take on all transportation responsibilities from the DPU, Shapiro said a new agency should solely focus on safety. However, they differ somewhat in their approach. Lucas: Mistakes happen! I know but the Globe doesn’t It would also allow the Office of the Inspector General to expand its independent statewide oversight role to this new safety agency, which is to prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse, and monitor public and private transportation spending, he said. This solution would free up the DPU to focus on its “many other statutory responsibilities,” particularly those regarding climate and energy. “Rather, the OIG would have oversight of the new safety agency.” “That agency should not be the OIG,” he added. “I do believe that a new safety agency, as defined by the FTA, is needed,” Shapiro said, referring to the feds’ critique in last year’s safety management inspection that state safety oversight be independent from the governor’s office. He envisions two branches within this potential entity, one for the region’s subway system, which aligns with the Federal Transit Administration’s oversight authority and a smaller one focused on everything else: buses, regional transit authorities and ferries. Testifying Monday at a Joint Committee on Transportation hearing, Shapiro said that he instead favors moving this watchdog role from the Department of Public Utilities to a new independent agency “focused solely on safety of the MBTA.” Thanks, but no thanks, Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro said of a state lawmaker’s proposal to move safety oversight of the MBTA into his office.
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