Environment
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USDOT Pressures States To Spend New Infrastructure Funds Sustainably
As states begin cashing no-strings-attached federal infrastructure checks, U.S. DOT is pushing them to spend those funds on projects that will help end the climate and roadway death crises.
December 17, 2021
L.A. Times Analysis Shows Racist Harms of Freeway Projects
In five states — California, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas — the paper found that large highway building projects demolished homes predominantly in Black and Latino neighborhoods.
November 13, 2021
What’s In (And What’s Out Of) the New Reconciliation Bill For Sustainable Transport
Most programs favored by sustainable transportation advocates have survived negotiations over the massive social infrastructure package that's held up the country's transportation ambitions for months — though a few of them have gotten a little skinnier.
November 2, 2021
Environmentalists Press for All-Electric MBTA Bus Fleet By 2030
"We’ve been pushing the T to set an ambitious deadline for electrification is because the T needs to make a plan for a new fleet, to get its garages modernized, and to make sure there’s enough funding available in the state budget," explained Veena Dharmaraj, Director of Transportation at the Massachusetts Sierra Club.
September 30, 2021
Progressive Dems Demand $30B for Transit, Deemphasize EVs
Mass transit must be at the center of America's strategy to end climate change — and the next spending package needs to devote at least half our transportation dollars to getting people out of cars and onto public transportation, a coalition of lawmakers says.
September 13, 2021
Please Stay On The Grass: More Absorbent Streets Could Mean Less Catastrophically Flooded Subways
Ripping up some asphalt is a start.
September 3, 2021
Mass. Fiscal Alliance Launches Referendum to Overturn Key Climate Policy
Earlier this week, the Massachusetts Attorney General's office certified a ballot question that, if it's approved by voters in 2022, would "prohibit Massachusetts from imposing any tax, fee, revenue-generating measure, or market-based compliance measure if it would reduce or restrict the supply of gasoline."
September 2, 2021
Federal Infrastructure Bill Could Buy Big Projects, But Not Long-Term Fiscal Stability
A massive influx of federal funds (and the looming possibility of a major federal infrastructure bill) is shoring up budgets at the state's major transit agencies in spite of the past year's dip in ridership and fare collections, and opening up possibilities for funding major projects, like the electrification of the regional rail network and a new link between the Red and Blue lines in downtown Boston.
August 25, 2021
MBTA Flood Resiliency Projects Face Major Test As Henri Approaches
Forecasters say that Henri could bring up to 8 inches of rainfall to parts of the state, plus sustained high winds and storm surges that could flood low-lying areas along the coast.
August 20, 2021
Mayor Janey Is Missing From Vision Zero Candidate Survey
Mayor Walsh adopted ambitious goals to reduce tailpipe pollution, but made little progress on implementing policies that could reduce traffic and pollution. The next Mayor will likely feel more heat – literally and politically – to take bolder action.
August 10, 2021
