Boston's Transit System Loses $10.4 Million by Letting Federal Grants Lapse

The MBTA over the past 10 years has forfeited 
$10.4 million in federal money earmarked for new projects by allowing the grants to lapse, according to a federal agency that provides funding to regional transit systems. News of the lost federal funding comes in the wake of a critical report released Wednesday by Gov. Charlie Baker that found that the MBTA, which has repeatedly cried for more funding, has failed to spend more than $2.2 billion in capital funds over the past five years.

The unused money accounts for roughly half of the $4.5 billion the T has set aside since fiscal 2010 
for its so-called capital budget.

The MBTA has been blaming its winter woes on a lack of funding. None of the lost federal money was designated for maintenance or repair, according to the Federal Transit 
Administration.

“However, in the past 
10 years, $10.4 million in federal funding for earmarked expansion projects that were directed to MBTA have lapsed and are no longer available to the transit agency,” the FTA said, 
directing questions about the specific use of the funds to the MBTA.