After years of fighting, Boston gets a seat on the MBTA board

Driving the news: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu chose Mary Skelton Roberts to join the board that has ultimate authority over the beleaguered transit system, her office announced Monday.

• Seven of the nine board members are appointed by the governor, one by the MBTA Advisory Board and now one by the mayor.

Catch up fast: Boston leaders, including Wu and former Mayor Marty Walsh, have been pushing for the power to appoint a member to the state-run board for nearly a decade.

• Wu almost secured an appointment last year, but lawmakers failed to authorize the change in time.
• This year's state budget finally approved the addition of Boston's seat.

Zoom in: A Jamaica Plain resident, Roberts is a senior advisor to the Climate Beacon Conference and perhaps more importantly, a regular on the Orange Line and 39 bus.

• Wu said Roberts will bring a deep background in transit and climate policy and a rider's perspective.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the governor now appoints seven of the MBTA board's nine members, not six.