Tracking Transportation

Keeping track of transportation

Mass. should follow California’s lead on contractors

Prop. 22 is a roadmap for Bay State to follow

By Christopher Gilrein Economics, Transportation 0 Comments Dec 2, 2020

WITH THE 2020 Massachusetts election behind us, state lawmakers have returned to Beacon Hill to finish one unprecedented session, while also preparing to begin the next. Health care, policing, and climate change are commanding lawmakers attention for the rest of 2020, but debates around transportation and economic development also remain to be settled, and both(...)

Some ferry service must be maintained

We need a foundation to grow once COVID passes

By Alice Brown MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Nov 30, 2020

THE MOST WELL-ESTABLISHED ferry services in Boston Harbor are on the chopping block — deemed “non-essential” by the MBTA and proposed for elimination as a cost saving measure to the MBTA’s Fiscal Management Control Board (FMCB). Due to modest ridership that has yet to bounce back from the 14-week ferry shutdown, the services from Hull(...)

Regional rail can aid pandemic recovery

Commuter rail must shift to all-day, affordable, frequent service

By Tracy Corley, Ethan Finlan and Matt Robare MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Nov 28, 2020

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC is wreaking havoc on our economy. As of June, over 17 million Americans were out of workand Boston’s unemployment rate was roughly 18 percent. Many small businesses, the backbone of our Main Streets, have shut their doors forever. In the Gateway Cities, unemployment hovers at 19.2 percent; Lawrence has a jaw-dropping unemployment(...)

Carbon tax backers didn’t fare well in election

Could the political defeats explain Baker’s hesitancy on TCI?

By Paul D. Craney Charlie Baker, Climate change, Transportation 0 Comments Nov 26, 2020

ONE OF THE MOST overlooked stories on Election Day was the defeat of pro-carbon tax politicians across the nation and here in New England. The most notable carbon tax proponent to seek office in New England was Sara Gideon, the speaker of the Maine House who was challenging moderate incumbent Republican US Sen. Susan Collins.(...)

T buys hybrid buses after assurances on Chelsea

Officials say vehicles will go electric through community

By Bruce Mohl MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Nov 23, 2020

THE MBTA’S Fiscal and Management Control Board on Monday unanimously approved an $89 million contract for 45 new Silver Line buses after receiving assurances from staff members that the diesel hybrid vehicles would be able to operate on electric power as they navigate through the environmental justice community of Chelsea. The 60-foot New Flyer buses,(...)

Baker vows TCI decision by end of year

Gov says underlying assumptions in flux due to COVID

By Bruce Mohl Charlie Baker, Climate change, Transportation 0 Comments Nov 23, 2020

GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said the underlying assumptions about a proposal to assess a price on the carbon contained in automobile fuels are in flux, but he still intends to make a decision on whether to push ahead with the high-profile regional initiative by the end of the year. At a State House press conference on(...)

Greenwashing the MBTA’s hybrid buses

New vehicles will shift pollution burden to Chelsea, East Boston

By Ari Ofsevit MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Nov 21, 2020

“At Silver Line Way, you will hear the bus’s engine shut down for just a moment, as it converts to diesel power for the rest of the trip to Logan Airport.” These words have been repeated on every Silver Line trip since 2004, as buses have transported millions of passengers between South Station, Logan Airport,(...)

With travel way down, Massport to cut workforce 25%

Officials grapple with $400m budget gap over 3 years

By Chris Lisinski Transportation 0 Comments Nov 19, 2020

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE FACING MASSIVE financial strain inflicted by the pandemic, the Massachusetts Port Authority plans to slash its workforce by about 25 percent through a combination of voluntary retirements, buyouts, furloughs, and layoffs. The cost-cutting effort comes as Massport officials grapple with a $400 million budget gap projected over the next three fiscal(...)

Climate initiative could push gas prices higher than forecast

Analysis projects increase of between 13 and 24 cents a gallon

By Bruce Mohl Charlie Baker, Climate change, Energy 0 Comments Nov 19, 2020

A REGIONAL EFFORT led by Gov. Charlie Baker to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by putting a price on the carbon in vehicle fuels is likely to drive up the price of gasoline higher than earlier projected, according to a report by the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University. Under the so-called transportation climate initiative,(...)

Pollack punts on Allston I-90 project

Puts off 'throat' decision until summer; raises plan B

By Bruce Mohl MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Nov 18, 2020

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY Stephanie Pollack said she intends to postpone until next summer the selection of a preferred design for the so-called throat section of the I-90 Allston interchange, and may decide to rebuild a deteriorating stretch of the elevated Turnpike in the area and put off action on the larger highway project for at least(...)