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A bus driver at Sullivan Square. Courtesy of the MBTA.

Guest Column: Yes, Transit and Dense Urban Places Are Safe – Even In a Pandemic

By Nina Weiss and Dr. Tracy A. Corley | Sep 18, 2020 | No Comments

It's now clear that the density of cities isn't a major risk factor in the COVID-19 pandemic. But another factor – crowding within households, which disproportionately affects lower-income and historically marginalized communities in big cities and rural areas alike, is a real culprit.

A City of Boston rendering illustrates the center-running bus lane concept for Blue Hill Avenue near Walk Hill Street. Under the plan, bus lanes and dedicated stations would run in the middle of the street, away from double-parked cars and turning vehicles. Pedestrian crossings would also be significantly shorter. Courtesy of the City of Boston.

Washington Snubs Dorchester Bus Riders In Favor of a Suburban Highway Interchange

By Christian MilNeil | Sep 17, 2020 | No Comments

New bus lanes on Blue Hill Avenue would benefit roughly 20,000 bus riders in Dorchester and Mattapan, reduce their collective commuting times by 800 hours every day, and allow the T to make over 100 additional daily bus trips along existing routes using the same number of buses and drivers, according to a rejected application for federal funding.

Amtrak Allows Bikes on More Trains Throughout New England

By Christian MilNeil | Sep 16, 2020 | No Comments

Reservations are required, but Amtrak's new bike racks will allow passengers to take their bikes with them as carry-on luggage.

The Minuteman bike path in East Arlington, pictured in May 2019.

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National Bike/Ped Groups Pitch ‘Greenway Stimulus’ for Pandemic Recovery

By Kea Wilson | Sep 15, 2020 | No Comments

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.

Councilor Michelle Wu Announces Run for Mayor

By Christian MilNeil | Sep 15, 2020 | No Comments

Wu was a lead organizer for last summer's "Boston T Party" event in protest of the MBTA's fare increases, and more recently outlined a proposal for a municipal "Green New Deal" for Boston.

An outbound MBTA Fairmount Line train stops at the Talbot Avenue station in December 2012. Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0.

MBTA Board Update: More Baby Steps Toward All-Day Regional Rail Service

By Christian MilNeil | Sep 15, 2020 | No Comments

Trains to Lynn will depart every 30 minutes starting in November (up from every 30 to 90 minutes last year), and trains on the Fairmount Line will run every 45 minutes (up from every 60 minutes last year).

Tremont Street Before and After protected bike lanes 2020

Mayor Walsh Boasts of ‘Healthy Streets’ Transformations

By Christian MilNeil | Sep 15, 2020 | 1 Comment

In a sure sign that taking away lanes from cars to create safer, more efficient streets is a politically winning strategy, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is expected to hold a press conference Tuesday morning to boast about the ambitious changes being made under his administration’s “Healthy Streets” initiative. The Walsh administration is on track to […]

A rendering of a proposed new bus garage in Quincy, MA. Courtesy of the MBTA.

T Files Plans for New, Expanded Bus Garage in Quincy

By Christian MilNeil | Sep 11, 2020 | No Comments

The proposed facility would replace one of the T's oldest bus maintenance facilities and include space for an expanded bus fleet.

Proposed new cross-sections for American Legion Highway south of Walk Hill Street. Courtesy of the Boston Transportation Department.

Protected Bike Lanes Coming to American Legion Highway This Fall

By Christian MilNeil | Sep 10, 2020 | No Comments

The City of Boston plans to address a high-crash corridor on American Legion Highway in Mattapan and Roslindale with a quick-build protected bike lane project later this fall.

Two Green Line trains meet at the Mission Park stop of the E Branch on Huntington Ave. in Boston. This segment of the Green Line is one of the last remaining areas where trains must share a lane with car and truck traffic, and stations lack dedicated platforms where riders can board and disembark. Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Pi.1415926535, used with permission under a Creative Commons license.

The Tracks Are New, But the Green Line’s E Branch Still Gets Stuck in Traffic

By Christian MilNeil | Sep 10, 2020 | No Comments

Last week, the E Branch of the Green Line reopened to riders after a month-long construction project to replace tracks on Huntington Avenue. But, as we noted in our coverage of the reopening, the project did not address one of the biggest challenges that the E branch faces: the fact that cars and trucks are […]