Published February 23, 2011

Orange Line train in the snow (biggie_robs/Flickr)

The T is introducing a plan to cover a projected $130 million deficit (a small piece of its multi-billion-dollar debt) without cutting service or raising fares, the Globe reports. The plan calls for the following:

• Stop giving refunds to customers who wait 30+ minutes for a ride
• Sell more advertising, right down to the Charlie Card
• Keep staffing levels low, below 6,000 employees
• Sell parking revenue to investors in exchange for cash upfront
• Lease a parking garage below TD garden

People are really unhappy about that first idea, the Herald reports. Doing away with refunds would require an amendment to the T’s “Customer Bill of Rights,” which is framed in a display case at T headquarters. “The bottom line is that we cannot afford that program anymore,” MBTA General Manager Richard Davey said to the Herald.

The MBTA says it also plans to introduce countdown clocks for Red, Orange and Blue Line trains. It’s not clear how much that would cost.

What do you think?

Speaking of the MBTA, the woman who lost and then found her snake on a Red Line train is now stuck with a $650 bill. Workers had to disinfect and sterilize the trolley car where the snake was found. (“So, the MBTA only scrubs and disinfects trains when a snake is found on board? Gross.”)