MBTA releases video of Red Line derailment

Agency says service returning to normal on stretch of track

By Chris Lisinski MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Jul 19, 2019

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE MBTA RELEASED video Friday of a June 11 Red Line derailment that officials say will continue to cause delays through most of the summer, the same day T officials said service on a stretch of track will return to normal two weeks earlier than expected. After being instructed by the(...)

Baker bill seeks new rules for commercial drivers

Proposed crackdown follows NH crash, ensuing scandal

By Andy Metzger Charlie Baker, Erin Deveney, Jamey Tesler, RMV, Stephanie Pollack, Volodymyr Zhukovskyy 0 Comments Jul 19, 2019

JUST UNDER A MONTH after a truck crash that killed seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire, Gov. Charlie Baker filed legislation Friday that he says would enhance safety by keeping dangerous commercial drivers off the road. The bill aims to accomplish that goal by increasing penalties for repeat bad drivers and requiring trucking businesses to sign(...)

Charlie Baker/ Marty Walsh/ MBTA/ reliability/ satisfaction/ survey/ Tommy Vitolo

Riders give T worst marks yet in June performance review

Satisfaction took a big hit after Red Line derailment

By Andy Metzger 0 Comments Jul 17, 2019

RIDERS’ OPINIONS OF the MBTA plummeted in June, perhaps unsurprisingly, as more than half of the respondents to the T’s regular survey were at least somewhat dissatisfied with the service overall. The June rating of 2.5 out of 5 is the lowest since that survey began in February 2016, and a striking dip from ratings(...)

Walsh unloads on T

Mayor says system 'not currently a functional service'

By Chris Lisinski Marty Walsh, MBTA 0 Comments Jul 17, 2019

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE BOSTON MAYOR MARTY WALSH called Wednesday for the MBTA to invest about $9 million in running Red Line and commuter rail trains more frequently, slamming the system — wracked with ongoing delays after a derailment last month — as “not currently a functional service” for much of the city. His request,(...)

Talk of new transportation revenues premature

Let’s first unleash support from the private sector

By Christopher Anderson MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Jul 14, 2019

THE ROARING MASSACHUSETTS private economy is the envy of the nation. For a second consecutive year, it has helped create a substantial state budget surplus—even while the rate of state spending continues to advance. But CNBC recently lowered Massachusetts’ ranking in its annual Top States for Business from No. 8 to No. 14, with the(...)

License suspensions now total 1,607 after RMV review

Agency failed to notify other states about violations by their drivers in Mass.

By Chris Lisinski State Government, Transportation 0 Comments Jul 12, 2019

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE REGISTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLES has not only been failing to review out-of-state violations by Massachusetts drivers, but has often failed to warn other states about infractions by their drivers in the Bay State. State officials said Friday that license suspensions here in Massachusetts stemming from a mishandled notification backlog had(...)

Sometimes a Mr. Fix-it needs to get under the hood

More on that Baker visit to the Red Line derailment site

By Andy Metzger Charlie Baker, Transportation 0 Comments Jul 12, 2019

IT MUST HAVE BEEN A SIGHT. Gov. Charlie Baker, who has steadfastly refused to ride the MBTA as governor, was nevertheless there on a Red Line passenger platform about a week after the June 11 derailment and crash that has precipitated a summer full of delays. The governor wasn’t at JFK/UMass to catch a train,(...)

Finding a new way to make a difference

Now I help shape public policy through advocacy, writing

By James Aloisi State Government, Transportation 0 Comments Jul 11, 2019

I KNEW I WOULD LIKE Rocketman, the Elton John biopic. I love his music, grew up with it, and I’m proud to say that I know the actual lyrics to Rocketman and Bennie and the Jets. The movie did not disappoint – what a great performance by Taron Egerton — but it did surprise me in(...)

House leaders parlay on transpo legislation

Promise multi-pronged solution by end of the year

By Colin A. Young Massachusetts Legislature, Robert DeLeo, Transportation 0 Comments Jul 10, 2019

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE House Speaker Robert DeLeo met with the House chairs of the ways and means, revenue and transportation committees for about two hours Wednesday morning to sketch out the broad transportation financing package expected to get a vote in the House this fall. As congestion on the roads and unreliable service on(...)

T cautious on biz-funded management initiative

Novel program has provided training to 41 employees

By Bruce Mohl MBTA 0 Comments Jul 10, 2019

DESPITE A DESPERATE NEED for management talent, the MBTA has moved very cautiously in taking advantage of a novel initiative spearheaded by several Massachusetts business groups offering money for training and recruitment efforts as well as loaned executives. The T has spent just over a third of the $365,000 provided by the business groups in the(...)