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I like this idea, but it sounds like fare-capping is what's in the cards (and seems to be an equitable, well-worn policy approach used in other transit systems like Portland, OR). I think fare-capping essentially gets at your idea but not quite. In general, the MBTA needs to be providing a lot...

McGee is a solid new chairman. If ever there was a time for Blue Line to Lynn to happen, it'd be now - former state senator and Lynn mayor with solid political clout who's made a career out of getting transit investments to Lynn and the North Shore.

Very fair point to add. I just find it funny that 4-5 years ago under Baker, so many transit-minded advocates and electeds were pushing for NSRL but it seems nowhere now on the agenda. Disappointed to see it fade at a moment when we should be asking "how do we do this project?" rather than...

I'm honestly surprised that there's been a lack of reference to North-South Rail Link as a potential solution to this very clear and present operational problem. I worry that this is just another instance of highway project costs taking precedent over transit ones. It can not only transform...

Maine DOT and the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority taking another go at extending Downeaster service between Brunswick and Rockland with another RFP: https://www.pressherald.com/2024/10/10/maine-seeks-new-operator-to-revive-rockland-branch-rail-line/

If Arlington wants the Red Line, they are going to need a political champion to persistently fight for it for at least 10+ years. The Green Line Extension and South Coast Rail are both good case studies for how transit expansion projects can get done in our political system (I'm not defending...

I definitely don't disagree with Providence deserving a light rail / streetcar system, but I don't think that means that Worcester isn't worth a comparable investment. Across state lines, it's not necessarily a zero sum game. If local and state leaders in Worcester were serious about advocating...

yeah, my thought exactly. they make it a point to say that the current one-trip-per-day service currently isn't great (without acknowledging one trip more ain't great either). based on the investment, we better be getting at least five trips per day out of this - that's what the Downeaster has...

MBTA plans them and recommends them to the right of way owner, so either the municipality or the state agency that owns the roadway, for final approval.

That's largely up to Swampscott and / or Lynn really! BlueBikes is a publicly-owned bike-share with each of the service area municipalities paying into it. The ten cities and towns BlueBikes serves have bought into the system. Sometimes MassDOT and the MPO provide capital funding for buying new...

I wouldn't read too much into this graphic as a complete representation of this specific project. The rendering matches their separated bus lane graphic from the MBTA's BRT toolkit (page 25/77), which MBTA released last year. They probably didn't have a rendering or good illustration for this...

The general answer is that it depends on the roadway jurisdiction, whether that is municipal (Boston or Cambridge or Brookline, etc.) or state agency (DCR parkway, MassDOT highway, etc.). Even among municipalities, the enforcement entity can vary depending on the situation (in Boston, if it's a...

Really nice to see the new Fairmount Line spring / summer schedule take effect today with service every 30-mins for most of the service day. I know the rest of the system has a long way to go until the Regional Rail vision is achieved, but still this is a good step worth celebrating (especially...

some updates on some JP projects in construction around the Washington St area: 1595-1599 Columbus Avenue: 3368 Washington Street - Pine Street Inn site looks like it's wrapping up: 3371 Washington Street - site has been demolished and getting ready for construction: Couple smaller...

Several bike lane-related updates in Back Bay from a public meeting earlier this week: Boylston St separated bike lane between Mass Ave and Arlington St starting construction soon Berkeley St separated bike lane between Columbus Ave and Comm Ave happening sometime this year Starting design on...

just flagging that this is technically in Brookline (close to the Newton line).

There is an excellent book that analyzes a lot of these phenomena in local planning (case studies are largely from a housing permitting standpoint, but highly relevant to transportation planning, too; analysis focuses on Cambridge and other municipalities in Eastern MA). The analysis finds that...

Wu was on Radio Boston yesterday and mentioned that this year is the first year that the Landmark Center would start paying taxes again after a 20-year abatement that was set up under the Menino administration - it's contributing $20 million in revenue.

The source is MBTA - there's a webpage about this pilot here on their website. They sent out an email about it, too, so recommend subscribing here if you want the latest.

Some new updates on the MBTA's website today - confirmation that they'll be launching the first phase of their redesigned bus network by December 2024. Mostly focused on changes in Chelsea, Everett, Revere, and Malden, including the new 109 service between Harvard and Linden Square and the new...