BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker is praising the Massachusetts Senate for supporting his proposal to create a financial control board to oversee management of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

A measure was adopted by the Senate on Thursday night to create a five-member board with broad powers to manage all aspects of the MBTA for the next three to five years.

Three members of the panel will come from the Baker-appointed Massachusetts Department of Transportation board, including state Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack.

Democratic House Speaker Robert DeLeo on Wednesday said he would also support the creation of the control board.

Boston’s record-setting snowfall of more than 9 feet last winter caused widespread delays and shutdowns of MBTA service, frustrating politicians and the public, and prompting Baker to seek greater control of the transit system.

The move to create the control board – and to give Baker the power to appoint three of its five members – is another step toward putting the future of the MBTA firmly into Baker’s hands.

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Baker has already named every member of the state’s seven-person Massachusetts Department of Transportation, which oversees operations at the MBTA, the Registry of Motor Vehicles and other transportation departments.

Baker has filed a bill that would create a new DOT board, expanding it to 11 members.

The governor said the T is in such dire shape it needs a separate board focused solely on getting it on more solid financial and management footing.

The Republican governor acknowledged Friday that his push for greater control of the troubled transit system will also place greater credit – or blame – at his doorstep if the efforts fail.


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