MBTA's Eng on Healey's big transpo funding push

Eng told Axios the new funding plan would stabilize the MBTA and the path it's been on since Healey took office.

• The T has spent unprecedented amounts on repairs and new hires to improve service and reliability.
• "I have a commitment to make sure that we are continuing to improve how we deliver, how we think outside the box, how we solve problems, but to make sure that what we do and how we spend the money actually is focused on the things that the public has been waiting for," Eng said.

"This does not just mean, 'Let's go back to the old way of doing business.' This means, if people are going to invest in us and trust us, we've got to demonstrate that that was a wise investment," Eng said.

• "I need to make sure that whatever we do, we spend it wisely, properly, and that when we're done, we actually deliver the results that the public has been asking for and the results that we've promised."

Between the lines: Part of Eng's mission at the T and Commuter Rail is to improve the outlying system to give cities and towns more incentive to build housing close to stations.

• He says he'll continue to pursue "more safe, more reliable and robust service," so trains are the preferred option for getting into and around Boston.
• Better service will spur conversations about building housing near stations, Eng said.

The bottom line: "Each community has to decide for themselves on that, but I know if you're going to invest in housing, whether it's more dense or not, that transportation system is vital," he said.