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.
Eng Starts MBTA Ride With Talk of Turnaround, Trust
MBTA chief Phillip Eng pledged on his first day on the job Monday to prove that the agency can “turn it around” after a dismal string of disruptions have eroded faith and pushed riders away.
Don’t Give Up on the T
A sobering report from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation shows the T won’t be fixed, much less back to normal, any time soon. But that’s no reason to give up on it.
T Offers $7.5K to New Workers After Critical Report
On April 15, the MBTA will begin offering $7,500 sign-on bonuses for positions throughout the organization, including bus operators, rail repairers, track laborers, streetcar operators, subway train operators, service technicians and fuelers, officials announced Monday.
T Faces ‘Existential’ Ridership Shortfall as New Leader Arrives
There’s been a springtime sense of optimism surging through major metropolitan area transit systems. Just not at the MBTA as incoming MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng prepares to take the reins. The difference? Riders’ belief in the system’s reliability.
Report Documents ‘Stunning’ MBTA Labor Shortage
The MBTA appears to be on track to start the next fiscal year with staffing levels 20 to 25 percent below what’s required to maintain the system and needs to hire 2,800 workers in the next 12 months to ensure safety and progress, according to a new report, which raises questions about how long staffing-related service reductions will remain in place.
For the T, Honest Talk as Important as Repair Work
If the MBTA is ever to win a modicum of respect and understanding from the public, it needs to shift its approach to communications from trying to gloss over or outright hide bad news, to speaking honestly about the challenges it faces.
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