Massachusetts lawmakers OK MBTA fiscal control board

The Massachusetts Senate late last week approved the creation of a fiscal control board to oversee the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) for the next three years.

The five-member board will include three members from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Board (MassDOT), according to radio station WBUR Boston. The board will manage the MBTA for at least three years, but no more than five years.

The new fiscal control board will include the state transportation secretary, along with two other members who have experience in transportation finance, WBUR reported.

Massachusetts Gov. Charles Baker last month called for the creation of such a board as part of reforming the MBTA and its operation of The T.

"Establishing a focused, dedicated group of experts to diagnose and fix the problems of the MBTA is an important first step toward creating the world-class transit system the commonwealth deserves," Baker said in a prepared statement.

The Senate approved the measure as part of a $38.1 billion state budget plan.