Tracking Transportation

Keeping track of transportation

T notes: Lessons from Toronto

MBTA signs contract for digital billboards on highways

By Bruce Mohl MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Sep 23, 2019

TORONTO TRANSIT OFFICIALS on Monday briefed the MBTA on their vision for commuter rail – a vision that many Massachusetts transit advocates would like to see the T emulate. Three officials from Metrolinx, a Toronto transportation agency, said they are in the process of building a $16.2 billion electrified rail system that would offer service(...)

McGee: Cut commuter rail fares from Lynn

Mayor, lawmakers urge subway-like service into Boston

By Bruce Mohl MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Sep 23, 2019

LYNN MAYOR THOMAS MCGEE, backed by three lawmakers from the area, urged MBTA officials to test more frequent commuter rail service to and from Boston at prices similar to those charged subway riders. McGee said Lynn is tired of waiting for the Blue Line to be extended to Lynn, an idea that he said has(...)

Dustup at T over bus improvement efforts

Control board chief calls agency’s response ‘timid’

By Bruce Mohl MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Sep 23, 2019

THE MBTA’s OVERSIGHT BOARD, which has been urging the transit authority to think big when it comes to improving bus service, accused the agency of adopting a timid approach after hearing yet another update on its efforts Monday. In its presentation to the Fiscal and Management Control Board, the T’s Better Bus team said it(...)

T notes: Half-price reverse commute fare to Foxboro

Big time savings for Silver Line buses using Seaport ramp

By Bruce Mohl MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Sep 16, 2019

THE MBTA INTENDS to begin testing commuter rail service between Boston and Foxboro starting October 21, complete with a half-price fare for people who reverse commute to the suburb. The normal one-way fare between Foxboro, which is in zone 4, and Boston, which is in zone 1A, is $8.75. The T plans to test whether(...)

MBTA: Weakened steel ring led to June derailment

Discovery has led to more stringent inspections

By Andy Metzger MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Sep 16, 2019

This story has been edited to include additional comments made after the findings were first disclosed. A BRITTLE STEEL AXLE on the front of the third car of a 50-year-old Red Line train snapped on June 11, according to engineers who on Monday disclosed their findings about the cause of the subsequent derailment that has(...)

Universal congestion pricing is the way to go

Rideshare accounts for 8% of VMT in Suffolk County

By Tyler George Transportation 0 Comments Sep 15, 2019

MASSACHUSETTS LIVES and breathes as the Commonwealth of firsts. From the Mayflower to the continent’s first subway system, this state knows what groundbreaking transportation looks like. While we have accomplished many firsts, Massachusetts transportation seems to be at a standstill. In recent months, there’s been much conversation (and ire) about the MBTA and transportation woes(...)

Pollack’s comment on HOV lane anecdotal

Most recent research suggests far fewer violators

By Bruce Mohl Transportation 0 Comments Sep 12, 2019

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY Stephanie Pollack is famous for her love of data, but it appears she went with anecdotal evidence on Tuesday when she told local officials that 80 to 90 percent of the cars using a high occupancy vehicle lane on I-93 heading into Boston from the north have only one person in the vehicle.(...)

TransitMatters: South Station expansion unnecessary

Quicker train ‘turns’ would eliminate need for more tracks

By Bruce Mohl MBTA, Transportation 0 Comments Sep 12, 2019

THE ADVOCACY GROUP TransitMatters says a number of relatively simple changes in commuter rail operations could increase the number of trains moving in and out of South Station and make a planned $2.5 billion expansion of the facility unnecessary. South Station has 13 tracks that currently serve 20 trains per hour in and out. By(...)

Pollack: HOV lanes aren’t working

Transpo secretary says most of the users are single people in cars

By Colin A. Young Transportation 0 Comments Sep 12, 2019

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE HIGH-OCCUPANCY VEHICLE lanes, or carpool lanes, north and south of Boston are not really what they’re cracked up to be. The HOV lanes, which are intended to give vehicles with at least two occupants a more efficient travel lane, are overwhelmingly used by cars with only a driver, Transportation Secretary(...)

Congestion may be bad, but commute times changing little

Workers and employers find a way to keep trips to work reasonable

By Bruce Mohl Transportation 0 Comments Sep 10, 2019

BOSTON IS STRUGGLING with the worst congestion in the nation, but drivers surprisingly say they haven’t seen a big increase in their commuting time over the last decade. According to US Census data, the average travel time to work for Bostonians was 27.5 minutes in 2007. In 2017, the travel time was up only 2.3(...)