Recent Streetsblog MASS posts about MBTA

The Massachusetts State House in downtown Boston.

State House Update: Baker Vetoes RTA Budget Increase, Proposal Advances for New T Governing Board

By Christian MilNeil | Jul 19, 2021 | No Comments

Governor Baker used his line-item veto power to flat-fund state assistance for regional transit authorities at $90.5 million for the third year in a row.

A rendering of a proposed Mystic River bike and pedestrian bridge, which could connect the Northern Strand multi-use path in the City of Everett to the Assembly Orange Line Station in Somerville. Rendering by AECOM, courtesy of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Mass. RAISE Grant Applications Seek Funds for Mystic Bike-Ped Bridge, Blue Hill Ave.

By Christian MilNeil | Jul 15, 2021 | No Comments

The Commonwealth's bids for this year's round of federal RAISE grants include Boston's Blue Hill Avenue busway, a bike and pedestrian bridge over the Mystic River, a transformation of the Lynnway in Lynn, and a fencing and surveillance project for the Connecticut River rail line in the Pioneer Valley.

A rendering of the proposed center-running busway and new shared-use pathway along the Lynnway in Lynn, which is currently a 6- to 7-lane wide roadway with no bus or bike lanes. The city is partnering with state agencies to seek federal funds for the $15 million project. Courtesy of MassDOT and VHB.

State Agencies Seek to Transform the Lynnway With New Bike Path and Bus Rapid Transit

By Christian MilNeil | Jul 14, 2021 | No Comments

The project would remove car lanes on the Lynnway to create center-running bus lanes with transit signal priority, a shared use path, improved bus stops, and safer crosswalks along a 1.5 mile corridor along Lynn's harborfront.

A rendering of Amtrak's new Acela trains, scheduled to enter service in 2022.

New Northeast Corridor Rail Plan Would Boost MBTA Providence Line Projects

By Christian MilNeil | Jul 14, 2021 | No Comments

If all of the recommended projects from the new "Connect NEC 2035" plan were funded and built, the Commission estimates that Amtrak's travel times between Boston and New York City could be cut by 28 minutes, and that the MBTA would be able to operate considerably more trains at higher speeds between Rhode Island and South Station.

New development, new sidewalks, and new protected bike lanes line Washington Street in Brookline Village. The town is moving forward with a proposal to set aside one lane in each direction on the newly-reconstructed street as dedicated bus lanes for the MBTA's route 60, 65, and 66 buses.

MBTA Will Paint 4.8 Miles of New Bus Lanes This Summer

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 28, 2021 | No Comments

The MBTA has reached agreements with the cities of Boston, Somerville, Revere, Malden, Lynn, and the Town of Brookline to paint roughly 4.8 miles of new dedicated bus lanes this summer in an effort to improve bus service reliability as traffic congestion comes roaring back in the wake of the pandemic. Most of those new […]

Does A Fare-Free 28 Also Need to Pay For A Free RIDE?

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 16, 2021 | No Comments

“Giving primarily white and wealthy transit riders a free trip, while forcing primarily Black and low income riders to jump through hoops to access similar fare-free service, is exactly what structural racism looks like," says Stacy Thompson, executive director of the LivableStreets Alliance.

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