The Transportation for Massachusetts coalition has launched an online petition to ask the Governor and the Legislature to adequately fund transportation. We must build on the 2013 Transportation Finance Act that reversed years of underinvestment, but which does not meet our proven needs. Read more and sign up through this link.
The recent and ongoing weather-induced travel horror stories have focused attention on the antiquated MBTA. But all around the state, people are enduring transportation travails from weather that is predictable. So this crisis is an opportunity to engage people in solutions.
Revenue is essential. Smart reform is critical. Accountability is necessary. And good project decision making and priorities are the future.
One element of the 2013 law is the Project Selection Advisory Council, which our coalition advocated for and which is charged with making recommendations for how MA prioritizes and chooses transportation projects in the years to come, considering cost effectiveness, regional equity, climate, social equity and public health.
Even as we dig out from decades of underfunding (and feet of snow) we must plan wisely.
Please hop on board at this link.
Thank you.
Josh Ostroff, Outreach Director, Transportation for Massachusetts
@T4MASS, https://facebook.com/T4MASS
…but there is no way in the world that Boston will be awarded the Olympics with the MBTA in such a sorry state.
The IOC could care less how poor the T is at dealing with winter weather. They are not going to care if we invest in snow removal equipment, AC motors, or track heating equipment.
They also won’t care whether we extend the Green line or add new commuter rail lines.
Really they are only going to care about the downtown subway system and perhaps commuter rail lines if they happen to go to the site of an out-of-town venue.
…there would be a nagging wonder about what else might be wrong with it.
but the kind of people who would think that are unlikely to think that we can fix everything. The IOC’s past choices don’t give me a lot of confidence that they really will look that hard at stuff like this. It is pretty clear that USOC didn’t give a crap about the state of the T.
Quite frankly, as long as people who normally live and work here stay away, I don’t think the T needs any improvements at all to host the Olympics.
And that was after all manner of warnings with a hell blizzard that was like a platinum grade day off. Getting the work force to just go into suspended animation for Games for the duration is a pretty interesting stretch of imagination.
Thanks for doing this!
are the first areas of the nation to rebound after a recession or any other economic malaise. The reasons are simple enough for anyone to understand and accept. People without jobs, without savings to pay for a private vehicle can be hired across the region immediately when economic conditions improve. This it not just good for the commuter, it’s best for all.