Mass. senators offer plan to oversee MBTA

BOSTON (AP) -- Three Massachusetts state senators are proposing to create an independent control board to oversee the MBTA's finances.

The proposal is expected be offered Tuesday as an amendment to a T bailout bill before the Senate.

Republican Bruce Tarr of Gloucester and two Democrats from western Massachusetts -- James Welch of West Springfield and Gale Candaras of Wilbraham -- say the control board would be modeled after a state-run board that oversaw the Springfield's finances from 2004 to 2009.

The House-passed bailout offers state help to the MBTA to close the remainder of its deficit and stave off deeper service cuts on the Boston-area transit system.

The proposed control board would consist of the secretary of transportation, the MBTA board chairman and three members who live outside the T's service area.