Allston project could mean big commute changes

Fewer car lanes, rail tracks under consideration; Charles River option?

By Bruce Mohl Transportation 0 Comments May 20, 2019

STATE TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS, grappling with the tradeoffs involved in replacing a deteriorating section of the Massachusetts Turnpike in a space-constrained area near Boston University, say they are considering a number of temporary solutions, including reducing the number of Turnpike lanes, eliminating one of the two commuter rail tracks on the Worcester Line, or building a(...)

T to free the ramp, but only at certain times

Shortcut to Ted Williams Tunnel for Silver Line buses coming this summer

By Bruce Mohl MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments May 20, 2019

AFTER YEARS OF PRODDING from transit advocates, MBTA officials said on Monday they plan to start allowing Silver Line buses headed to the airport to use an emergency ramp into the Ted Williams Tunnel – but only when tunnel traffic is moving at less than 30 miles per hour. Jeffrey Gonneville, the T’s deputy general(...)

Don’t be fooled by congestion pricing

Fees could hurt economy, drive workers away

By Christine Banning Transportation 0 Comments May 19, 2019

NEARLY 700,000 PEOPLE call Boston home, and every day approximately 395,000 people head to work during the city’s peak commute hours. The majority of these trips (60 percent) originate outside of Boston, with 95,000 workers commuting alone and 36,000 choosing to carpool. Because Boston is considering charging congestion pricing fees, it’s important to know the(...)

Isolation problem: T fares rising faster than cost of driving

Trend could hinder efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

By Andy Metzger comparison, cost, data, driving, Fares, gas price, gas tax, MBTA, per gallon, Transportation 0 Comments May 16, 2019

IN NOVEMBER 1990, Bill Weld won his first election as governor, NBC aired the first full season of Seinfeld, and someone driving from Melrose to catch a Bruins game could expect to pay 87 cents more for the car trip than the $1.65 train fare into North Station. A lot has changed since then. Looking(...)

House overwhelmingly passes distracted driving bill

Reps remember those slain during debate on legislation

By Katie Lannan Massachusetts Legislature, Transportation 0 Comments May 15, 2019

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STATE REPRESENTATIVES INVOKED the memories of people killed in distracted driving crashes on Wednesday before voting 155-2 to pass a bill banning motorists from using handheld cellphones and electronic devices behind the wheel. Parents of three victims — Katie Brannelly, Merritt Levitan and Jordan Cibley — were in the House chamber(...)

Closing HOV lanes is hard to understand

Adding highway capacity just increases traffic

By James Aloisi Transportation 0 Comments May 15, 2019

IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT that you are on a diet – not a New Year’s resolution diet that lasts for nine days, but a serious, honest-to-goodness effort to change your eating habits. One thing is certain: you won’t reach your weight goal unless you start eating smaller portions. Portion control is a proven way to(...)

T notes: Closing of HOV lane on I-93 hit

Could late-night service be on chopping block – again?

By Bruce Mohl MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments May 13, 2019

TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATES criticized state officials on Monday for eliminating the high-occupancy-vehicle lane on I-93 while repair work is being done on the Tobin Bridge and the stretch of elevated highway leading up to the bridge in Chelsea. Chris Dempsey, the director of Transportation for Massachusetts, predicted the temporary elimination of the lane on I-93 will(...)

T puts modernization cost at $10.1b

Number could be factor in ongoing revenue discussion

By Bruce Mohl MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments May 13, 2019

THE MBTA ESTIMATED on Monday that it would cost $10.1 billion to fully modernize its assets, a projection that may influence the debate on Beacon Hill over whether the agency needs additional revenue. The T has long used a figure of $7.3 billion to estimate the amount of money needed to bring the system into(...)

State transportation policies fail communities of color

More can be done to address public health and environmental inequities

By Chris Dempsey and Maria Belén Power Buses, Chelsea, MBTA, Tobin Bridge 0 Comments May 12, 2019

IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND the intersection of public health, transportation, and the environment, come visit Chelsea. Though just 2.5 square miles and one of the densest municipalities in the state, the community is cut in two by Route 1 and the Tobin Bridge. It hosts one of the largest fruit and vegetable distribution centers(...)

Pass a ban on drivers using hand-held phones, Massachusetts

Outlawing dialing and other behavior will make roads safer

By John Donohue Arbella, cell phones, distracted driving, texting 0 Comments May 10, 2019

MASSACHUSETTS IS A PIONEER with many civic, scientific and technological advancements, yet we lag behind many other states in creating safer roads. We must pass legislation to ban texting and driving this year. Last year, Rhode Island and Georgia joined the growing number of states who have passed hands-free driving laws. That means four states(...)