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.
Proposal to Strip T of Commuter Rail Oversight Called ‘Deck Chair-Moving’
The eastern Massachusetts commuter rail network and its hundreds of thousands of riders would no longer be the responsibility of the MBTA under safety and management reforms targeted by the House’s transportation chief.
MBTA Watchdogs at DPU Hampered by Hiring Woes
More than six months after the Federal Transit Administration concluded the Department of Public Utilities was falling short in its safety oversight of the MBTA, the DPU is still trying to bulk up its safety staff.
Experienced Eng Bringing Energy, Optimism to MBTA
Incoming MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng’s bet is that a focus on the “basics” and empowering the agency’s stretched-thin workforce will begin to turn the tide. But some transit advocates caution against expectations that his appointment alone will be a game-changer.
Healey Names Ex-LIRR Exec as MBTA Leader
Phillip Eng, the former chief operations officer at New York City’s transit system and the former president of the Long Island Rail Road commuter rail system, will be the next MBTA general manager.
Leadership Lacking from T Board
The T is in crisis, and if the current board isn’t going to cooperatively push T leadership and serve as one of the public’s primary windows into the agency, new members must be found who will.
Quit Your Whining About the MBTA
I don’t know about you. But I am fed up – and I mean fed up! – with all the negativity in the local media about the world’s greatest transportation system.
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