THE MBTA’S proposed new fare evasion policy calls for sharply lower fines with the possibility that the offender’s driver’s license will not be renewed if two or more penalties are outstanding. Previously, only MBTA transit police could issue citations for fare evasion and the fines were $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second […]
MBTA
Posted inTransportation
T notes: Train derailed while using 46-year-old switch
MBTA OFFICIALS said the new Orange Line train that derailed on March 16 did so in a work zone near Wellington Station while moving slowly from one track to another using a 46-year-old switch. Jeff Gonneville, deputy general manager of the MBTA, declined to say whether 46 years exceeded the useful life of the switch. […]
Posted inTransportation
Amid shortage of riders, T to restore service
MBTA OFFICIALS said on Monday that they plan to restore bus, subway, and commuter rail service to pre-pandemic levels as soon as possible even though they are forecasting that ridership will not return to pre-pandemic levels for at least five years. The T abandoned its plan to reduce service levels after being pressured by the […]
Posted inThe Download
Should we still call it ‘commuter’ rail?
The MBTA is launching a fairly radical change to its commuter rail operations on April 5, running fewer trains at the traditional morning and evening peaks and spreading service out at regular intervals over the course of the day – what some call regional rail. On the Framingham-Worcester line, trains currently depart from Worcester for […]
Posted inTransportation
Should we still call it ‘commuter’ rail?
THE MBTA is launching a fairly radical change to its commuter rail operations on April 5, running fewer trains at the traditional morning and evening peaks and spreading service out at regular intervals over the course of the day – what some call regional rail. On the Framingham-Worcester line, trains currently depart from Worcester for […]
Posted inTransportation
New Orange Line train derails; none injured
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE ONE OF THE MBTA’s new Orange Line trains derailed in a work zone near Wellington Station on Tuesday morning, creating significant delays while passengers were shifted to shuttle buses, the agency said. A spokesman for the T said the northbound train derailed while crossing over to the southbound track and “moving […]
Posted inTransportation
Lynch: Congressional delegation ‘furious’ about T cuts
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE MEMBERS OF THE state’s Congressional delegation will have “hard discussions” with the MBTA and Gov. Charlie Baker in hopes of encouraging the transit agency to back off of service cuts, US Rep. Stephen Lynch said Monday. Lynch joined Boston Mayor Martin Walsh for a press conference to tout provisions of the […]
Posted inTransportation
T notes: Capital spending about to start falling
THE MBTA said its spending on capital projects is expected to start falling in fiscal 2023 and plummet to half its current level by fiscal 2026, prompting the chair of the T’s oversight board to say the transit authority should start scaling back or delaying long-term projects to conserve funding. Joe Aiello, the chair of […]
Posted inTransportation
T projects fare revenue to be down for at least 5 years
THE MBTA is projecting that fare revenue will not return to pre-pandemic levels for the next five years and possibly longer, and transit authority officials say they are counting on federal stimulus funds and spending controls – not additional state funding – to close the gap. Using three scenarios for future ridership, the T is […]
Posted inNews Analysis
Poll shows support for both EVs, public transit
THE FUTURE of transportation in Massachusetts is at a crossroads. As the debate between Gov. Charlie Baker and state lawmakers over the climate bill continues, one key issue is whether the best way to lower emissions is to invest in public transit or convert more cars on the road to electric vehicles, or EVs. The Baker […]