A City On The Move
Banker & Tradesman’s coverage of transit issues throughout the region, including debates over the merits of dedicated bus lanes, advocacy for the Allston interchange and the ongoing saga of the Green Line Extension.
Healey Budget Leans on Surtax to Build $62B Budget, MBTA Investments
Gov. Maura Healey proposed increasing state spending to more than $62 billion next fiscal year, relying on burgeoning income tax collections from the state’s wealthiest and a slew of other budget-balancing strategies in a spending plan unveiled Wednesday.
Political Headwinds, Competitiveness Talk Kept New Taxes Out of Transpo Task Force Discussions
Healey promised that the report’s recommendations and her transit funding plan are no longer “kicking the can down the road” by underfunding transit and roads. But task force members say new revenue options will still be needed in the future.
Healey Announces ‘Historic’ $8B Transportation Plan
Gov. Maura Healey says she’ll lean heavily on higher-than-expected returns from the state Millionaires Tax to keep the MBTA from going broke in the coming fiscal year, while setting three-quarters of a billion dollars aside for capital investments like bridges and rail lines.
A Pivotal Moment for Upgrading the Commuter Rail System
Massachusetts stands at a critical juncture for the future of its commuter rail system. Ridership has essentially recovered and a key decision is looming that could dramatically help lower traffic and produce more homes.
Healey Plans to Stabilize T with Budget Plan
The MBTA drained its reserves to balance its fiscal year 2025 budget, and officials project the agency will face a roughly $700 million gap in the next fiscal year that begins July 1, thanks in part to underperforming sales tax revenue.
Transportation Funding Task Force Holding Final Meeting Today
After missing its Dec. 31 deadline to finish its work, the task force Gov. Maura Healey created to recommend transportation funding reforms will hold its final meeting Tuesday.
Letter to the Editor: Federal I-90 Grant Deserves Celebration
“It is a rare occasion to win a $335 million grant, but it is appropriate for this project and this special moment. Because of the hard work over the past few years, this region now stands to benefit with safer transportation infrastructure, better access to transit, and the new economic development that will improve Greater Boston for decades to come.”
— Tom Ryan, senior advisor, A Better City
MBTA Lays Out Vision for New Bus Rapid Transit in Everett
“We are beyond excited to be advancing plans to extend Silver Line service between Chelsea, Everett and Sullivan Square in Boston’s Charlestown neighborhood. This extension of service is exactly what we are talking about when we say the administration is prioritizing public transportation investments which fill gaps in our system, increase access for residents in underserved communities and make our transportation network more equitable.”
— Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt
Lawmakers Rule Out Tax Hikes to Pay for Guv's Proposals
The governor pledged to “increase funding for local roads and bridges to record levels, with special investments dedicated to rural communities,” and convene a task force to rethink long-term transportation financing questions “in the clean energy era,” a potential nod to expectations that gas tax revenue that in part pays for road maintenance will dry up as electric vehicle usage increases.
— Banker & Tradesman Managing Editor James Sanna
T Hiring Blitz Pays Off, 'Sets New Bar'
“The agency has suffered from hiring and retention struggles, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic spread labor challenges across sectors. And the consequences have been potent: staffing shortages have played a major role in safety lapses and unreliable service.”
— Chris Lisinski, State House News Service
The Transformational Opportunity in Allston
“By realigning the elevated highway lanes, the state and city of Boston can open up 40 acres of developable land for new housing – 20 percent of which will be affordable – and commerce. This area would then supported by a new transportation hub on the Worcester- Framingham commuter rail line called West Station that also allows for seamless bus and shuttle connections throughout Greater Boston. This is truly a once-in-a-generation chance to transform a structurally-deficient highway into a vibrant transit-orientated development that benefits travelers throughout Greater Boston.”
— Rick Dimino, CEO, A Better City