Monday, May 20, 2013
The interruptions will impact Weston commuters.
Starting on June 1, work on the Fitchburg/South Acton commuter rail line that services Weston will cause service outages, according to the Boston Globe. From June 1 to July 28, service on Saturdays and Sundays will not be available between the South Acton and Fitchburg stations, according to the Globe, as the MBTA continues improvement projects. That means the following stations will be closed: Fitchburg, North Leominster, Shirley, Ayer and Littleton/Route 495. Service, however, will be available from July 4 to July 7. From Aug. 3 to Nov. 17, service between the Fitchburg and Brandeis/Roberts stations will not be available. That means the following stations will be closed: Kendall Green in Weston, Concord, Lincoln, South Acton and West …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Bring your electronics, appliances, clothes, metal and more to the event on May 11.
The MBTA will host a recycling event where residents can bring a wide variety of items, including electronics, metal, clothes and much more. The event will be at the Watertown Bus Yard, at Galen and Water streets in Watertown, on Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents of all towns are welcome, according to an information poster from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Items taken at the event will not end up in landfill, according to the MassDOT. Televisions cost 35 cents per pound and everything else will be accepted for free, according to the announcement. Here are items that will be accepted: Electronics: computers, monitors, VCRs, cell phones, keyboards, printers, copiers, faxes, modems, cabling, wire, cords, …
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Should the state forge ahead with Gov. Deval Patrick's bold plan to invest now? Or should it follow the Legislature leadership's proposal to address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives?
Massachusetts legislators this week answered Gov. Deval Patrick's ambitious plan to raise $1.9 billion for transportation and education with a $500 million plan of their own, which says the governor is asking for too much, too soon as the Bay State shakes off the effects of the Great Recession. Who's right? Should the state forge ahead in a bold plan to invest now? Or should it cautiously address the bottom line before embarking on bigger initiatives? While Patrick's plan includes funding for both the state transportation system and increased education funding from preschool through college, House and Senate lawmakers eschew new revenue for education, focusing solely on closing the transportation budget gap over the next five years. The …
Friday, March 22, 2013
Without additional funding, MBTA officials are forced to make difficult choices.
MBTA riders could see fares go up in the not-so-distant future if legislators don’t accept Gov. Deval Patrick’s ambitious funding plan. T General Manager Beverley Scott said Tuesday the T will likely hold off on spending $45 million for preventative maintenance and hike fairs to close a projected budget gap of $117 million, factoring in increased ridership and advertising this year, the Boston Globe reported Wednesday. Director of Strategic Initiatives for the MBTA Charles Planck said at a March 5 MBTA finance committee meeting that fare increases could go up 33 percent under the proposal, which means subway fares would move up from $2 to $2.60. Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard Davey testified before …
Sunday, February 10, 2013
The service should resume by Monday, according to MBTA.com.
Updated 10:48 a.m. Looking to take the commuter rail in Weston? Well, you may want to keep shoveling out that car (or call a cab). As crews continue to dig out from the blizzard, most of MBTA service throughout the area will remain suspended Sunday. Starting at 2 p.m., limited subway and bus service will run on the Red, Orange, Blue lines between Orient Heights and Government Center, and Green Line between Kenmore and Lechmere, according to MBTA.com/weather. Limited bus service will also operate on the 1, 23, 28, 39, and Silver Line Washington Street only. Customers are encouraged to stay home and "use service sparingly," if possible, the website said. Commuter rail routes will remain suspended through Sunday. The MBTA weather update says …
Monday, January 14, 2013
The board of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation released its 21st Century Transportation Plan, which outlines the state’s budgetary needs over the course of the next 10 years and beyond.
With infrastructure in need of repairs and the major city transit system steeped in billions of dollars of debt, the state may need to increase revenue from car registrations, licence renewals, taxes and tolls. The Board of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation released its 21st Century Transportation Plan Monday, which calls for a $13 billion overall investment in state transportations systems over the next decade. The breakdown is as follows, according to a statement associated with the plan released by Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey: To raise the necessary funds these recommendations will include an increase in the gas tax, payroll tax, sales tax or income tax; a new green fee on vehicle registrations; a …
Sunday, December 30, 2012
The subway lines will run a modified schedule on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
The MBTA has announced its New Year's Eve schedule. Some highlights include:
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Gov. Deval Patrick plans to ask lawmakers to raises taxes to make up for the shortfall in Massachusetts' transportation system. What options should they consider — and what is off the table?
Would you be willing to pay more at the pump, have a tracking system on your car that taxes you by the mile, or see tolls on state highways? Those are just some of the possibilities looming as Massachusetts looks to erase the state's transportation system's deficit. The Boston Globe reported that Gov. Deval Patrick will ask lawmakers to raise taxes in order to pay for a transportation system—from the MBTA to roads and bridges—that continues to operate in the red. The administration will present a specific proposal by Jan. 7. One option is raising the gas tax, a route Patrick sought in 2009 only to be rebuffed by the legislature. Patrick sought a 19-cent hike, while business groups endorsed a 25-cent increase. Ultimately, the state Senate …
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The two scenarios would increase fares by either 35 or 43 percent.
As the MBTA struggles with a growing budget gap, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation today released two MBTA service proposals that would not only raise rates, but also include some service reductions or eliminations. According to information released on a Mass.gov blog, one scenario proposes an overall fare increase of 43 percent, while the other scenario suggests a 35 percent fare increase. The proposals look to close a projected $161 million budget gap for fiscal year 2013, the statement said. Under the first scenario (a 43 percent increase) a bus trip would go from the current $1.25 Charlie Card fare to $1.75. A rapid transit Charlie Card fare would increase from $1.70 to $2.40. Parking will also increase 28 percent. The …
Thursday, December 8, 2011
A report in the Boston Globe today says the MBTA has several proposals on the table, but no final plan is in place.
Facing a mounting deficit and increased infrastructure needs, the MBTA is looking at several proposals that would increase fares between 20-50 percent, the Boston Globe reported today. In documents released to the Globe, one plan prepared for the MBTA looks to increase Charlie Card fares from $1.70 to $2.35 and Charlie Ticket fares from $2 to $3.25. Another proposal recommends charging $338 for a Commuter Rail pass from the farthest suburbs and $80 for a monthly bus and subway pass. According to the Globe, the numbers behind the proposals were put together by the Central Transportation Planning Staff and were recently shared with members of the MBTA's Rider Oversight Committee. No final plan is actually in place. However, according to …
Nashoba Liberty
1:34 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
The best way to guarantee yourself ridiculous increases in taxes and fees is to vote in a Democrat administration for a second term. Don't forget to layer on top the extra income tax that Coupe Deval wants to extort from us. more ›