Transit Leaders Look for New Money for MBTA, RTAs
Sustaining the MBTA’s progress, according to several current and former state transit leaders, is going to require new sources of revenue, particularly with future federal funding uncertain.
Bus Lane Camera Enforcement Bill Sent to Healey
Motor vehicles that stop or park in bus-only lanes could face fines ranging from $25 to $125, while those parked at bus stops could be fined $100 under the bill.
Lawmakers Say They Meant for MBTA Communities Law to Have Teeth
What legislators meant to include in the MBTA Communities Act – requiring 177 mostly Eastern Massachusetts cities and towns near public transit to zone for a district of reasonable size where multifamily housing is allowed by right – has dredged up an age-old fight over local versus state power.
High-Profile Housing Bill Draws Support, Cautious Responses
Will the Yes In My Back Yard bill, recently filed on Beacon Hill, might well become called the Maybe In My Back Yard bill, based on the cool reception to some of the legislation’s key provisions?
Advocates, Legislators Line Up to Back YIMBY Bill
The state legislature’s Joint Committee on Housing heard a parade of testimony from housing advocates, their colleagues and ordinary voters in support of a bill that aims to supercharge zoning reforms statewide.
Senators Try Congestion Pricing Study For Third Time
Maybe the third time will be the charm for a proposed state commission to examine congestion pricing.
Transit Legislators Issue Competing Recommendations for MBTA
.After studying the crisis at the MBTA for months, top lawmakers concluded the legislature should rethink the Department of Public Utilities’ role as the state agency responsible for overseeing MBTA safety and floated a few other ideas that do not yet appear to have much traction across both branches.
Advocacy Org Scores Win with ADU Legalization Measure
A measure legalizing accessory dwelling units in many single-family homes statewide has made it over a significant hurdle in the state Senate, potentially setting a new housing advocacy group up for one of its first major statewide wins.
Safety Fix Orders Will Cost More Than $300M, MBTA Chief Says
Top transportation officials estimated they will need hundreds of millions of dollars to fix glaring safety issues at the MBTA and defended the agency’s transparency as they faced probing questions at the outset of a legislative oversight hearing.
Senate Passes Housing Choice Bill With Modifications
The Senate unanimously passed its version of a major economic development bill Wednesday night after adding measures dealing with zoning reform
Healey, Dem Lawmakers Urge Baker to Extend Eviction Moratorium
The pressure from Democrats on Gov. Charlie Baker to extend a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures into November intensified on Friday, with Attorney General Maura Healey calling such a step “critical,” and a majority of the Committee on Housing urging the governor to keep the protections in place.
Signs of Life in Housing Choice Bill as Committee Polls Support
A key piece of zoning reform legislation that Gov. Charlie Baker has said could unlock the construction of over 100,000 housing units suddenly sprang back to live yesterday on Beacon Hill after months of hibernation.
Baker’s Housing Choice Bill Faces Mixed Reception on Beacon Hill
As the state’s housing crunch rages on, opinion at Tuesday’s hearing on key zoning reform legislation is still split over whether the bill goes far enough to help those most affected by the situation.
Spilka Backs Exploring More Highway Tolls
Expanding road tolls across Massachusetts and to the state’s borders could be a way to generate new revenue to address growing transportation woes, Senate President Karen Spilka said Thursday.
Secretary Warns ‘Time is Not Our Friend’ to Address Housing Shortage
Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and others in the Baker administration to continue to try to build public support for a proposal to make housing-friendly zoning easier to pass. The legislature’s timeline for considering the measure, however, remains unclear.
