State budget
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Baker Vetoes Key Policies In Transportation Bond Bill
Baker used his line-item veto power to delete many of the bill's policy proposals, including language that would have established a low-income transit fare program, guidelines and financing for the massive Allston Multimodal Project, and a proposal to raise more money for transportation projects with increased fees on Uber and Lyft rides.
January 18, 2021
Higher Uber/Lyft Fees Could Boost Funding for Street Safety and Transit
Historically, municipalities have used their share of fees on Uber and Lyft to finance local transportation improvements, including quick-build safety projects and small transit services. Under new legislation awaiting Governor Baker's signature, that funding could increase significantly.
January 14, 2021
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
Senate Budget Raises Fees on Uber/Lyft, But It’s No Lifeline for the T
The Massachusetts Senate has unanimously passed a $46 billion budget for the current fiscal year, but while the final legislation includes an amendment that will raise fees on Uber, Lyft, and other app-based ride-hailing companies, those additional funds are unlikely to help the MBTA, which faces a severe deficit and is planning a dramatic suite of service cuts in the new year.
November 19, 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
Advocates Launch #TransitIsEssential Campaign As T Floats Severe Service Cuts
The MBTA is proposing to eliminate 25 bus routes, all of its ferry services, and weekend commuter rail service to help plug an expected budget gap of up to $600 million.
November 9, 2020
Environmental and Labor Organizations Call For Corporate Taxes To Fund Transportation
Amid ongoing rumors of a state transportation funding bill being drafted in the Massachusetts State House, two broad coalitions of environmental justice and labor advocates have issued a detailed proposal to raise new revenues by closing corporate tax loopholes and getting a "fair share" from the large, profitable corporations that benefit most from an efficient transportation system.
January 15, 2020
Report: Higher Gas Tax, Like Higher Transit Fares, Could Increase Inequality
While many sustainable transportation advocates champion higher gasoline taxes as a way to pay for transportation improvements, a new report from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) warns that higher gasoline taxes will exacerbate the state's growing income inequality – unless the state simultaneously passes other tax policies to benefit low-income families.
October 17, 2019
