General MBTA Topics (Multi Modal, Budget, MassDOT)

I think the only feasible ballot question would the one that creates an additional funding stream via levy, probably on the order of a ¼ to ½ cent increase to the sales tax. Even in this past election, there were many passed ballot measures for transit funding, including several in states that Trump won.

Think Measures R & J in LA that dedicate a funding stream for 30 years, which in addition to older Prop A & C funding so far has funded the capital expansion of the LA Metro system. In LA County, fully 2% of the sales tax is from transit oriented ballot measures. (The T budget gets 1%). If we use Measure R as a example, it dedicates 35% to transit capital expansion, 20% to bus, 20% to highways (I know, I know) and 15% to local communities - the remainder is set aside for operations and expenses and smaller capital programs.

In MA terms, if we were to say 60% to the T for operations and capital, 13% for Chapter 90, 13% for the other RTAs, 13% for massDOT capital? (so as to keep the small town and statewide vote happy, remaining 1% for DOR expenses) Using 2023 numbers, a 0.50% increase in the sales tax from 6.25% to 6.75% would raise an additional 750M, 450M for the T, 1m each for the chapter 90 program, RTAs and MassDOT. That'd be ~$100 from each resident, but if you include a sunset date on that, it might actually work.

www.apta.com

Newsroom - APTA

www.apta.com www.apta.com
 
Just going to add here that since the vape ban the state has lost $150 million in taxes to neighboring states. The data is out and it shows that the ban has had almost 0 effect on causing ppl to quit, has actually caused many ppl to go back to smoking cigarettes, has lost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue, and has now created a black market which takes up policing resources, creates new criminals, more burden on the courts, and more burden on the jails… all for nothing. No matter what way you look at it it has failed in every single way. For whatever reason charlie baker saw all of the incredible failings of the drug war and said I want that! for tobacco. We 100% should reverse the ban which is mostly just loading up new hampshires coffers and I believe this time use 100% of the tax revenue to go toward the mbta. Its as close to getting recurring free money as youre ever going to get.


“Early results from the flavored tobacco & vaping products prohibition enacted in Massachusetts show such bans deprive adults of less harmful alternatives to cigarettes, crush small businesses, depress tax collections as commerce shifts across state lines, and fail to curb smoking.”

“There is no indication that smoking has been mitigated, but there is evidence that Massachusetts has lost millions in tax revenue to neighboring states, as consumers have taken their business to stores in New Hampshire and Rhode Island, where the flavored tobacco products demanded by many law-abiding adults are still available for sale.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/patric...vape-ban-is-a-cautionary-tale-for-the-nation/


“STOUGHTON, Mass. — Bootleg cigarette smuggling has become an ongoing drain on law enforcement as illicit tobacco seizures have surged and state tax revenue from tobacco sales continues to plummet, according to a new report by the Massachusetts Illicit Tobacco Task Force (ITTF).

[Read more: Massachusetts Court Upholds Brookline's Age-Restricted Tobacco Rule]

"Despite enforcement efforts and the hard work done by the Illegal Tobacco Task Force, smuggling of untaxed tobacco products remains a significant challenge," said Peter Brennan, executive director of the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association. "Smugglers are developing more sophisticated operations to counter the Task Force's targeted investigations. It's clear that the Commonwealth is struggling with enforcement."”

“According to the report, the state's rush to ban flavored tobacco has failed to curb use of these products while inadvertently creating a market for illicit untaxed products and cross-border smuggling. The report estimated the ban has cost the state nearly $150 million in lost tax revenue from legal sales since it went into effect in 2020.”



https://csnews.com/massachusetts-faces-fallout-flavored-tobacco-ban

“Massachusetts highlight the ban's unintended consequences. The state's experiment in prohibition has led to thriving illicit markets, challenges for law enforcement, and prosecution of sellers.”

“The experience in Massachusetts has vindicated concerns that flavor bans will lead to illicit markets, arrests, and incarceration. Coupled with foregone tax revenue, evidence that the public health benefits may be less than promised, and the risk that banning flavored vaping products will deter smokers from switching to safer sources of nicotine, the unintended consequences of these policies are significant.”

https://reason.com/2023/03/09/massachusetts-tobacco-ban-went-as-badly-as-youd-expect/
 
Stlin said:
I think the only feasible ballot question would the one that creates an additional funding stream via levy, probably on the order of a ¼ to ½ cent increase to the sales tax. Even in this past election, there were many passed ballot measures for transit funding, including several in states that Trump won.

Think Measures R & J in LA that dedicate a funding stream for 30 years, which in addition to older Prop A & C funding so far has funded the capital expansion of the LA Metro system. In LA County, fully 2% of the sales tax is from transit oriented ballot measures. (The T budget gets 1%). If we use Measure R as a example, it dedicates 35% to transit capital expansion, 20% to bus, 20% to highways (I know, I know) and 15% to local communities - the remainder is set aside for operations and expenses and smaller capital programs.

In MA terms, if we were to say 60% to the T for operations and capital, 13% for Chapter 90, 13% for the other RTAs, 13% for massDOT capital? (so as to keep the small town and statewide vote happy, remaining 1% for DOR expenses) Using 2023 numbers, a 0.50% increase in the sales tax from 6.25% to 6.75% would raise an additional 750M, 450M for the T, 1m each for the chapter 90 program, RTAs and MassDOT. That'd be ~$100 from each resident, but if you include a sunset date on that, it might actually work.

www.apta.com

Newsroom - APTA

www.apta.com www.apta.com
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This is intriguing - though - I wonder if the Old Colony Republicans/conserva-crats will be "we just raised taxes on millionaires"?
 

MBTA Announces Return of Subway Line Managers | News | MBTA

Official website of the MBTA -- schedules, maps, and fare information for Greater Boston's public transportation system, including subway, commuter rail, bus routes, and boat lines.
www.mbta.com www.mbta.com
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) today announced the return of Subway Line Managers as part of a comprehensive effort to maintain the visual appearance and upkeep of subway stations systemwide. With a renewed focus on providing the best in-station experience for the public, the MBTA’s Subway Line Managers provide hands-on management of station conditions, ensuring that facilities are clean, safe, and welcoming for all riders.
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Focused on the rider experience, Subway Line Managers will be responsible for the following on each of their respective subway lines:

  • Oversee station appearance: Ensure safety and visual appeal and conduct regular inspections.
  • Report and address issues: Identify and report station conditions, make necessary adjustments as needed in order to improve rider experience, and coordinate maintenance, repairs, and cleaning with relevant departments as needed
  • Escalate concerns: Facilitate repairs and promptly escalate any safety-related issues.
Click to expand...
 
The second federal grant sought by the T would fund the design and construct the JFK-UMass station — in the form of a $99.9 million US Department of Transportation matching grant that would advance final design and fund reconstruction. The MBTA would finance its amount for the $200 million project through revenue bonds.
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$200 million seems like a lot for reconstruction of a single above-ground subway station. Are they imagining anything bigger than what we currently have there, given that amount of money?
 
devnull said:
$200 million seems like a lot for reconstruction of a single above-ground subway station. Are they imagining anything bigger than what we currently have there, given that amount of money?
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It is a multi-platform subway and commuter rail station, with several levels, entrances, and exits, and lots of ADA compliant vertical access requirements. All those outdoor, all-weather elevators cost a lot of money. (Part of the reason the stations in GLX got so seriously downsized $$$)
 
The Red Line shutdown was extended to cover Sunday evening of November 17th, as well as a suspension of service between Broadway and JFK UMASS on November 24th, due to logistics.

MBTA Reminds Riders of Upcoming Red Line Service Suspension, Announces Update to November 17 and November 24 Red Line Service Changes | News | MBTA

Official website of the MBTA -- schedules, maps, and fare information for Greater Boston's public transportation system, including subway, commuter rail, bus routes, and boat lines.
www.mbta.com www.mbta.com

The decision to include an evening service suspension this Sunday and extended location limits on November 24 was made following a review of the logistical challenges associated with placing construction equipment on and off the tracks in this complicated area.
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If I'm not mistaken, this is the last piece of heavy rail slow zone improvements, yes? I think there's some green line work slated for December, but all heavy rail should be moving at historical max speeds across the entire system the Monday after Thanksgiving...tremendous work if this holds up. Bonus points if the next few Red Line trains come into service and headways improve.
 
Green Line B branch accessibility project overview, with some renderings of how the new stops will look:

mass.streetsblog.org

Here's the MBTA's Plan to Make the Green Line B Branch Accessible - Streetsblog Massachusetts

Earlier this week, the MBTA hosted an informational meeting with potential design-build contractors to outline its plans to upgrade 10 stops on the B branch of the Green Line with wider platforms and accessibility for wheelchair users.
mass.streetsblog.org mass.streetsblog.org

BBranchPlatformsDiptych_creditMBTAWikimediaCommons.png
 
Will there be shelters? That’s the only rendering I’ve seen for the new stations. Seems stupid not to install them.
 
www.boston.com

‘The intent is to not fall backwards now’: The T is almost free of slow zones. Can the success last?

When MBTA GM Phil Eng vowed to nix 191 slow zones by year's end, his goal was met with skepticism. Now, data shows victory is within reach.
www.boston.com
He cited signals, power systems, and rolling stock, or vehicles, as a few examples of top MBTA priorities to follow the Track Improvement Program.

“I just want everyone to know that the organization that we’re building is not only looking to rebuild for near-term, we’re looking to rebuild long-term, make this organization sustainable and develop that in-house knowledge and skills that can help us manage the system the public expects and deserves,” Eng said. “And we’re on our way to doing that.”
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So apparently the T is now not forecasted to reach pre-COVID bus service staffing levels until late 2025 now?

That's so depressing. 88% of pre-COVID service right now, and that's seemingly not going to recover for at least another year. Pre-COVID was 1750-1800 headcount.

The T cut service from Fall 2021 to Summer 2023/2024 by 12%, and is that going to recover for riders outside of BNRD Phase 1 routes this winter, or do they really need to wait a whole another year for service restorations?

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beck4537 said:
commonwealthbeacon.org

More MBTA shutdowns expected in 2025

MBTA riders who slogged through this year’s shutdowns should brace themselves for more next year, though they’ll be more limited in scope and duration, according to transit officials.
commonwealthbeacon.org commonwealthbeacon.org
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Looks like the work planned for next year will be on signaling, and designed to enable greater frequency to go along with the newly achieved greater speed.
 
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