Elections and Politics
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Legislature’s Budget Compromise Includes Big Funding Increase for Regional Transit Authorities
The proposed budget includes dedicated funds to continue fare-free service at the state's regional transit authorities and a new discounted fare program for low-income riders at the MBTA.
July 31, 2023
Emails Reveal State Officials’ Flawed Excuses For Taking Away Riverbend Park Access in Cambridge
Emails obtained under the Massachusetts Public Records law reveal how Governor Healey's newly-hired Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Rebecca Tepper, decided to restrict access to public parkland by cancelling her agency's popular car-free Saturdays on Memorial Drive in Cambridge earlier this year.
July 26, 2023
Read Sec. Tepper’s Memo Regarding Her Cancellation of Car-Free Riverbend Park Events
This is an annotated copy of the March 25, 2023 memo from Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper to Governor Maura Healey.
July 26, 2023
An Unpublished Report Tallies How Much Money the T Needs to Fix Its Problems.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
