Elections and Politics
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An Unpublished Report Tallies How Much Money the T Needs to Fix Its Problems. Why Doesn’t the T Want Anyone to See It?
"The public sees that more does need to be spent," says Rep. William Straus, the House Chair of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Transportation. "But how do we give them what they need when we don’t have a calculated number?"
June 29, 2023
State House Transportation Committee Discusses Bills Regarding East-West Rail, T Oversight
The legislature's Joint Committee on Transportation hosted a hybrid in-person and virtual public hearing on Monday afternoon to discuss several bills related to transit expansion projects, East-West rail, and MBTA oversight.
May 8, 2023
The T’s New 5-Year Capital Budget Puts Climate Progress In A Slow Zone
The T's latest Capital Investment Plan continues to postpone the transformational projects that will be necessary to electrify transit vehicles and lure more riders out of their cars.
May 4, 2023
House Budget Proposal Would Shift More Funds From Highways to Transit
The House proposes a $70 million increase in state funding for regional transit authorities – a 74 percent increase in state support – to fund better bus service and potentially expand popular fare-free policies.
April 20, 2023
Running Low On Pandemic Relief Funds, Fare-Free Buses Need Gov. Healey’s Help
The WRTA has been one of the few agencies that's maintained a continuous fare-free policy since March 2020, and its ridership last year was over 20 percent higher than it was in 2019, before the pandemic began, according to federal data.
April 11, 2023
Congress Resurrects E-Bike Tax Credit Proposal
A popular proposal for a federal e-bike credit is back in front of Congress — and this time, supporters have hard proof of concept that it will be the emissions-slashing, congestion-cutting, mode-shifting tool that Americans deserve.
March 22, 2023
Healey Admin. Recruits Transit Justice Leader to Lead MBTA’s Safety Oversight Agency
While at CLF, Rubin was involved in a number of advocacy efforts to make the MBTA work better for its lower-income riders.
March 15, 2023
Legislation Aims to Take the Measure of Traffic Impacts From App-Based Delivery Services
Because app-based food delivery services operate with very little oversight in Massachusetts, it’s difficult to estimate the scale of their impact.
March 14, 2023
Judge Dismisses Suit Against Cambridge’s Cycling Safety Ordinance
In a memorandum dismissing the case, Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Maureen Hogan observed that, contrary to the plaintiff's claims, the Cycling Safety Ordinance "does not prohibit individuals from visiting any businesses or residences, and the Plaintiffs have not plausibly suggested facts to the contrary."
March 13, 2023
Somerville Budget Plan Endorses Protected Bike Lanes for Highland Ave.
The city plans "protected bike lanes in both directions, following the anticipated completion of sewer separation work in 2024,” a spokesperson from Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne’s office told Streetsblog.
March 9, 2023
