Everyone in Massachusetts who drives or takes public transportation will eventually pay more for the privilege.
"Our citizens do not want less transportation,” Gov. Deval Patrick said during his State of the Commonwealth speech. “They want more. They do not want us to spend more on the same old thing."
That's good news for the MBTA, which has been dealing with the same old thing for years.
In South Boston, Bob Didrikson, president of the MBTA Inspectors Union Local 600, hopes the legislature goes along with Patrick’s tax proposal.
“Hopefully with all the money they're planning on investing into transportation and to the T, it'll help increase our jobs and provide better service out there."
Next door, the local steelworkers union also stands to benefit from the Governor's proposal. Members would get busier rebuilding the state's aging infrastructure.
United Steelworkers representative Donna Blythe-Shaw said her members are also hopeful for job security that could come in the form of contracts for state road work.
"The number of employees that we're responsible for are management and mid-management, bridge and tunnel inspectors of Mass Highway," she said.
But it isn't just about jobs. Both unions say the transportation investments will keep Boston and the state functioning.
"If we don't have funding to improve our highways, and if we don't have funding to improve our public transportation, obviously the quality of life that we have in Boston and in other areas will deteriorate," Blythe-Shaw said.
These union reps know not to celebrate too early. It's one thing to see the Governor's proposal. It's another to see how the House and Senate will vote.
