Funding Uncertain, T Launches Work to Spell Out Regional Rail Options
Planners and developers alike have dreamed of an MBTA commuter rail network where trains come almost as frequently as some subway lines since the late 2010s.
Commuter Rail Fare Gates Go Live at South Station
Last week, commuter rail passengers started to have to tap or scan their train tickets to enter the track area at South Station, as the MBTA began a major change in fare collection operations.
A Call for New Housing in New Bedford
Joshua Amaral is steeped in efforts to make New Bedford better. Now, he’s leading the city’s drive to recruit more housing, including market-rate development.
Warnings, Fines Coming Soon for MBTA Fare Evaders
Scofflaws take notice: The MBTA announced Thursday it will launch a renewed effort to collect subway fares with written warnings and fines of up to $150 early next month.
T Boss Says Fare Gates Coming This Year to Two Train Hubs
The MBTA expects fare gates to be operational at two more Boston commuter rail hubs later this year, the T’s general manager said after a state watchdog criticized the agency’s approach to fare collection.
The Biggest Call the T Will Make in the Next Five Years
A big challenge looms for the MBTA as it tries to move its commuter rail lines into the 21st century: Picking who will operate the sprawling system for the public transit agency, how will they do it, and for how long.
Cathartes Proposes 502K SF ‘Plymouth Station’ Development
A Boston real estate firm that specializes in major waterfront developments is seeking to begin the next phase of its Plymouth Station project overlooking Cape Cod Bay.
Newton Multifamily Developments Get Big Transit Upgrade
State and city officials gathered Monday to celebrate a new commitment by the MBTA to rebuild and modernize the Newtonville commuter rail station to make it larger and more accessible.
MBTA Estimates 25 Percent of South-Side Commuter Rail Fares Not Being Collected
MBTA officials say fare collection efforts are being stepped up on the commuter rail system, but the loss of revenue remains a problem, with a quarter of fares not being collected on trains operating out of South Station.
New Study Pegs Boston Commuter Rail Link Benefits at $30B
Connecting North Station and South Station by rail could unlock $30 billion in economic benefits, far more than the major infrastructure costs the project would require, according to a new study commissioned by a congressman who supports the idea.
T Board Seeks More Time to Reimagine Commuter Rail
The MBTA Board voted unanimously Thursday to extend the contract for the commuter rail network’s operator for one year to mid-2027 to give agency staff more time to work.
Pay Attention to Train Electrification
The dream of frequent, electrified suburban trains in Greater Boston has long seemed perennially on the horizon. Could this time be different? Indications are, yes. And housing developers should start keeping an eye on the project.
What Commuter Rail Ridership Gains Mean for Boston Office Space
Ridership on the MBTA’s commuter rail system continues to rebound strongly, providing an interesting data point in the debate over whether Boston in the post-COVID era will face an office space glut that will make the city feel like a ghost town of empty buildings.
Patriot Place Gets Permanent Train Service to Boston
The MBTA’s experiment in offering commuter rail service on a branch line to the Patriot Place mall and Gillette Stadium in Foxboro in recent years appears to have been a success.
South Coast Rail Now Expected to Be Ready Next Summer
Passenger service on a commuter rail expansion to southern Massachusetts is not expected to begin until next summer, about half a year later than prior forecasts, MBTA officials said Thursday.
Cape Lawmakers Make Pitch for Commuter Rail Service
Around 50 percent of the Cape and Islands’ workers travel over the bridges to come to work, Rep. Dylan Fernandes said: “Anything we can do to have fewer cars on the Cape gives residents more transportation options to choose from.”
West Station Gives Boston a Second Chance on Transit
Boston’s next major transit hub should offer frequent commuter rail service to prevent the Allston neighborhood from being overwhelmed with traffic congestion, Metropolitan Area Planning Council said in a report on the $2 billion Allston multimodal project.
Beacon Hill Lacks Leadership on Transit
The MBTA’s latest five-year investment plan, released last week, is a strikingly short-sighted document for a world facing a climate emergency. But with Beacon Hill behind the eight-ball on transit topics, can we really heap all the blame on T officials?
Everett Seeks to Redevelop Power Plant as ‘Destination District’
Everett officials envision a new commercial district and waterfront destination rising on the Mystic River following the decommissioning of Exelon Corp.’s LNG-fired power plant.
MBTA Cuts Will Ripple Through Real Estate
The MBTA’s proposed slimmed-down service menu for 2021 could cause indigestion for downtown Boston office landlords, discourage multifamily development near commuter rail stations and widen social inequities in accessing reliable transportation, real estate industry and economic development sources predict.
