By Jenna Furdon

The stubborn temperament of today's economy rears its ugly head once again as MBTA officials and Dorchester residents struggle with once unlikely but now similar fates: lack of finances, debt management, and layoffs. In Tuesday's public hearing at the Vietnamese American Community Center, where T officials and riders addressed the proposed MBTA fare increase, residents acknowledged the MBTA's economic plight but also revealed a proposal of their own: Earn the right to raise the costs of a token.

Amidst complaints of poor service, inadequate security and squalid station conditions, panel participants at the Fields Corner hearing agreed that the MBTA needs to address its ailments before officials can institute a fare increase.

"The T doesn't deserve the increase," Joseph Bowden, a Boston College student and frequent Green Line rider, said. Beat the Fare Increase Action Network advocate Jodi Sugerman-Brozan added, "Why should we pay more money for the same service?"

T officials say their proposal to increase fares by 25-33 percent stems from the need to close the authority's impending $25 million budget gap projected for fiscal year 2004. The MBTA attributes this gap to the 4 percent ridership decrease for the overall system.

"We need to rejuvenate the MBTA service. We need to try to move forward, increase fares, and get the Boston rail back on track," said state Representative Martin Walsh.

Despite multiple cost-saving initiatives put into effect such as layoffs and rebid contracts, the MBTA continues to stare into the face of a budget shortfall which, if not alleviated, will amount to a $302 million financial gap over five years, officials say.

"Despite our efforts, we don't have enough revenue to support operational expenses. Our revenue stream is stagnant. The gap will only grow over time if we do not increase fares," the T's Susan Wolfson explained.

A looming financial gap of this magnitude will ultimately deliver drastic service cuts, according to the T. If the proposed fare increase is not implemented by January 2004, the T says riders will most definitely feel the pain: 20 bus routes will be axed, Night Owl service will be discontinued, and 50-100 percent of all Saturday and Sunday service will be eliminated.

Further cuts will be necessary if the fare increase is delayed beyond July 2004, the T said.

"Of course there will be concerns over raising the fares, but people need to be concerned by the decrease in service that will occur if there's no increase," MBTA General Manager Michael Mulhern explained.

But in a community so dependent on public transportation, there lies a grave concern for the financial impact the increase will have on its residents. Many area students who rely on MBTA services to get to and from school spoke of the difficulties an increase will have on their everyday lives.

Boston Latin Academy student Jonathan Lewis said, "We won't be able to pay for our bus passes. We can't get jobs. We're all struggling. Look at all the teens that will be affected by this."

Mulhern noted that people have been able to appreciate the MBTA's economic battle because they're facing the same conditions.

But residents are demanding a change in MBTA services before they're willing to dig up the extra change. The majority pointed out that the need for advancements, like free rail-to-bus transfers and automated fare collection systems, were promises that have yet to be delivered.

Mulhern assured that "We are on the verge of delivering these improvements."

In the meantime, due to the often-cited unpredictable and unreliable nature of the services, residents are opting to use their cars because of the unpredictable and unreliable nature of the services. The increase in vehicles on the road doesn't bode well for many residents; the amount of traffic is already out of control, and according to many, it's only getting worse. On top of that, more cars equal more pollution, which leads to serious health consequences like asthma and lung cancer.

As a "pass-through" community, the burden of extra cars is taking its toll on Dorchester, but people have run out of options. "It's cheaper and safer to drive a car. [The fares] aren't worth what we're paying now," said Rosanne Foley of the Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition.

A solution to this predicament? Riders need the MBTA, and the MBTA needs riders, but who will give? Chris Stanley, an Ashmont station design team member, said, "There needs to be some kind of middle ground. There are signs that the T is flexible. We need to make people proud to be in Dorchester, so I urge the T and Michael Mulhern to show compassion and work something out as a community."