“Fare increases should be modest, predictable, and necessary,” said Staci Rubin, Senior Attorney at CLF. “Riders deserve a reliable ride to get where they need to go at a reasonable price. Any potential fare increase must be tied to service improvements, like finishing the Green Line Extension and fixing the bus system for riders who depend on it most.”
“Today’s report provides a bold vision for the future of Massachusetts, reminding us that our transportation infrastructure needs a massive increase in investment and innovation while ensuring equal access for everyone,” said Bradley Campbell, President of CLF. “The report throws down a gauntlet to the Legislature and the Baker administration to act, without delay, to protect the health and prosperity of families and businesses in the Commonwealth.”
A pilot program could turn the Fairmount commuter rail line into the “Indigo Line,” making it run more like the region’s other subway lines. It would improve public transit for communities along the route, including Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park, and Roxbury, which have traditionally been underserved by the MBTA.
The MBTA is crying wolf… again, predicting a deficit of $111 million in its next fiscal budget. The potential solution? Raise fares on riders, again. Governor Baker seems to agree, stating on Valentine’s Day that the MBTA should be discussing a fare increase. I’m not sure that was the best way to spread the love, especially to… Continue reading MBTA Raises the Specter of Fare Hikes (Again)
CLF has been steadfast in our push for the Green Line extension (GLX), but making it a reality has been a rollercoaster ride with twists and turns that threatened to derail this critical public transportation project before it could get off the ground. However, last week, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) took a significant… Continue reading Green Line Extension Back on Track
An open letter to new MBTA General Manager Luis Ramirez on his first day. Here is a short list of opportunities for improvements within Boston’s public transit system.
The Transportation for Massachusetts coalition – of which CLF is a member – today released the latest in a series of reports evaluating the implementation of the Commonwealth’s landmark Transportation Finance Act of 2013. The Keeping on Track reports are aimed at ensuring the new law’s success at addressing the most pressing needs of the… Continue reading Latest Report on Massachusetts Transportation Financing Finds Progress, But Much More to Do
Keeping on Track is the third in a series of reports planned at ensuring the success of Massachusetts’s Transportation Finance Act of 2013 at addressing the most pressing needs of the state’s transportation system. New this year, the report also includes progress on the implementation of the 2009 Transportation Reform Act, in order to provide… Continue reading Keeping on Track 2017
… Advocates for more public transportation cheered the governor’s approval of the Legislature’s language. “There’s been a lot of confusion over many years about how fares can go up, and this will give us clarity,” said Rafael Mares, a vice president of the Conservation Law Foundation. “This is such an important change that it would… Continue reading Cap on T Fare Hikes is Lowered
… The complaint filed Tuesday by the vice president at the Conservation Law Foundation claims the MBTA didn’t properly measure the impact on low-income and minority riders before ending its service in March. The T’s fiscal control board voted in February to end late-night service, saying it wasn’t “cost-effective.” Rafael Mares, an attorney at the Conservation Law Foundation,… Continue reading Federal Complaint Filed Over Eliminated MBTA Late-Night Service
