Legislation
News topics:
Final Bond Bill Sets 20-Cent ‘Transit Access Fee’ For Uber/Lyft Rides
In 2018, there were about 50 million Uber and Lyft rides that originated in Boston and Cambridge alone, which could have contributed around $10 million in new revenue for the T had this policy been in place then.
January 6, 2021
It’s Decision Day for MBTA Service Cuts: Here’s What to Watch
To help fill a $600 million budget gap, the agency has proposed eliminating ferry service, ending dozens of lower-ridership bus routes, eliminating commuter rail service on nights and weekends, and closing several rail stations, including a portion of the Green Line in Mission Hill.
December 14, 2020
Rep. Pressley Calls on Feds to Fund Highways, Transit Equally
Since 1982, federal transportation funding has been governed by the "80-20 split," which restricts the federal Department of Transportation from spending more than 20 percent of its Highway Trust Fund money on transit projects, leaving the majority of federal funding for highway projects.
December 11, 2020
Poll Finds Strong Statewide Opposition to MBTA Cuts
64 percent of poll respondents oppose the MBTA's "forging ahead" service cuts, which include the elimination of 25 bus routes, ferry service, and weekend commuter rail service.
December 3, 2020
House, Senate Budget Proposals Would Force Severe MBTA Service Cuts
Democrats in the House have rejected proposed budget amendments that could have helped the MBTA avoid deep service cuts.
November 12, 2020
City of Cambridge Pitches an Expanded Bike Network Plan
The updated plan would add several key streets to the city's planned network of protected bikeways and prioritize certain projects for "quick-build" bike infrastructure improvements.
October 2, 2020
National Bike/Ped Groups Pitch ‘Greenway Stimulus’ for Pandemic Recovery
Representatives from more than 160 organizations across America signed a letter to Congress urging leaders to pass a Greenway Stimulus, which would be used to build off-street trails, on-street bike lanes, and generous shared-use sidewalks to connect communities in all 50 states.
September 15, 2020
The Red (Bottom) Line: The T’s Bleak Long-Term Budget Outlook
Editor's note: this story was originally published in August; we're featuring it again today to provide some context to the T's proposed service cuts. Some of the budget projections for 2021 and 2022 have changed, but those projections remain very uncertain.
August 13, 2020
New Climate Bill Commits to Reduced Tailpipe Emissions
The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a significant new climate bill on Friday night that commits the state to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by "at least 50 percent below the 1990 level" within the next decade.
August 3, 2020
Poll Finds Strong Support for ‘Big Changes’ in Commonwealth’s Transportation Systems
Two-thirds of respondents agreed that the state should "make big changes to the transportation system coming out of the COVID-19 crisis."
July 29, 2020
