Transportation in Massachusetts

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News

June 2015

• Boston Globe: Free MBTA from Pacheco Law, by Scot Lehigh (June 23, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Lawmakers’ MBTA plan retains limits on fare hikes, by David Scharfenberg (June 23, 2015)

May 2015

• Boston Globe: Critics fault key findings in Baker panel MBTA report, by David Scharfenberg and Nicole Dungca (May 19, 2015)
• Boston Herald: Carmen’s PAC fined over $40G for pol cash discrepancy, by Matt Stout (May 1, 2015)

Apr 2015

• Commonwealth Magazine: T report misses mark on absenteeism numbers, by Steve Koczela (Apr 30, 2015)
• ItemLive.com: T management issues concern McGee, by Thor Jourgensen (Apr 29, 2015)
• Boston Herald: Carmen's union fights to keep time off, by Matt Stout (Apr 29, 2015)
• Boston Herald: Carmen’s Union rips ‘foolish’ findings of Baker MBTA panel, by Matt Stout (Apr 28, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Lawmakers question Baker’s study on MBTA, by Nicole Dungca (Apr 27, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Baker wants new body to oversee transit agency, by Nicole Dungca (Apr 22, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Baker asks board that oversees MBTA to resign, by Nicole Dungca (Apr 15, 2015)
• Boston Herald: Fate of T’s fed funds concerns watchdogs, by Richard Weir (Apr 8, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Panel cites management, not debt, for MBTA’s fiscal woes, by David Scharfenberg and Nicole Dungca (Apr 7, 2015)
• Boston Globe: MBTA didn’t spend $2b budgeted for crucial upgrades, by Nicole Dungca (Apr 7, 2015)
• Boston Globe: MBTA system strained by worker absences, report finds, by Nicole Dungca (Apr 6, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Panel calls for T to rein in its costs, by David Scharfenberg (Apr 5, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Business leaders urge MBTA to invest in expansion, by Nicole Dungca (Apr 1, 2015)

Mar 2015

• Boston Globe: MBTA learns from other cities after rough winter, by Nicole Dungca (Mar 30, 2015)
• Boston Globe: MBTA sets upgrade costs at $6.7b, by Nicole Dungca (Mar 3, 2015)

Feb 2015

• Boston Globe: The MBTA’s long, winding, infuriating road to failure, by David Scharfenberg (Feb 14, 2015)
• Boston Herald: Hyundai sues over subway cars, by Chris Cassidy, Bob McGovern (Jan 21, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Budget squeeze may imperil late-night MBTA service, by Gintautas Dumcius (Jan 21, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Flaws sideline MBTA’s new commuter rail locomotives, by Walter V. Robinson (Jan 21, 2015)

Dec 2014

• Boston Globe: MBTA waits a year to tell of issues at hedge fund, by Beth Healy (Dec 22, 2014)
• Boston Globe: US pledges nearly $1b for Green Line extension, by Nicole Dungca and John R. Ellement (Dec 2, 2014)

Sept 2014

• Boston Globe: Take away lawmakers’ easy way out on gas tax, by Tom Keane (Sept 30, 2014)
• Boston Globe: MBTA union to make pension benefits public, by Beth Healy (Sept 19, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Time to get serious, by James Aloisi (Sept 18, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Cost of Green Line extension to increase, by Andy Metzger (Sept 13, 2014)

Aug 2014

• Boston Globe: July MBTA ridership grows despite fare hike, by Kiera Blessing (Aug 29, 2014)

July 2014

• Boston Globe: Scrutiny eases on MBTA pensions, by by Beth Healy (July 4, 2014)

June 2014

• Boston Globe: Group calls for changes in MBTA retirement fund, by Beth Healy (June 27, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Audit says MBTA station renovations poorly planned, by Martine Powers (June 17, 2014)

May 2014

• Boston Globe: Will the Green Line Extension make Somerville real estate go crazy?, by Shira Springer (May 8, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Inaction in D.C. imperils state highway projects, by Noah Bierman (May 4, 2014)

Apr 2014

• Boston Globe: Senate passes transportation bill, by Martine Powers (Apr 14, 2014)
• Boston Globe: MBTA’s late-night train service gets off to strong start, by Martine Powers (Apr 1, 2014)

Mar 2014

• Boston Globe: Fare hikes on MBTA subway, bus and commuter rail services proposed, by Martine Powers (Mar 25, 2014)

Feb 2014

• Boston Globe: MassDOT OK’s $75m for buses by ’18, by Martine Powers (Feb 13, 2014)
• Boston Globe: RMV fees may rise 10 percent, by Martine Powers (Jan 30, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Patrick whiffs on anti-privatization law, by Scot Lehigh (Jan 14, 2014)

Dec 2013

• Boston Globe: Ex-T pension chief recommended $25m investment that went bust, by Beth Healy (Dec 30, 2013)

July 2013

• Boston Globe: Transportation law explained, by Eric Moskowitz (July 28, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Patrick vetoes transit, local funding from state's budget, by Michael Levenson and Stephanie Ebbert (July 13, 2013)

May 2013

• Boston Globe: A better tax plan, by Edward L. Glaeser (May 2, 2013)

Apr 2013

• Boston Globe: MBTA budget is OK'd with $118m shortfall, by Martine Powers (Apr 11, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Legislature's tax plan lets rare opportunity pass, editorial (Apr 4, 2013)
• Boston Globe: State gets scaled-back transit plan, by Martine Powers (Apr 3, 2013)

Mar 2013

• Boston Globe: DeLeo's thriftier transit plan gets some applause, by Martine Powers (Mar 8, 2013)
• Boston Globe: DeLeo won't back Patrick's transit plan, by Martine Powers (Mar 7, 2013)
• Boston Globe: T paints bleak picture on funding, by Martine Powers (Mar 6, 2013)

Feb 2013

• Boston Globe: MBTA plans budget despite uncertainty, by Martine Powers (Feb 27, 2013)
• Boston Globe: More hikes in Patrick's blueprint, by Michael Levenson and Noah Bierman (Jan 18, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Patrick's plan is far-reaching, and it deserves a hearing, editorial (Jan 17, 2013)
• Mass Live: Massachusetts faces $1 billion annual transportation funding gap, state report shows, by Shira Schoenberg (Jan 14, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Enormous costs tied to transit inaction, by Eric Moskowitz and Noah Bierman (Jan 13, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Patrick vows new funds for roads, rail, by Eric Moskowitz (Jan 5, 2013)

Nov 2012

• Boston Globe: Highway system, T face huge deficits, by Eric Moskowitz (Nov 20, 2012)

June 2012

• Boston Globe: Mass. Senate passes MBTA bailout, by Eric Moskowitz (June 20, 2012)
• Boston Globe: House OK's bailout for T over Republican objections, unattributed (June 14, 2012)
• Boston Globe: House set to approve $49m in aid for MBTA, by Eric Moskowitz (June 12, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Big Dig pavement crumbles early; repairs to cost $1 million, by Eric Moskowitz (Jun 7, 2012)

May 2012

• Boston Globe: Lawmakers yet to agree on bridging T funds gap, by Eric Moskowitz (May 28, 2012)
• Boston Globe: A Boston-Cape Cod train would ease traffic woes, editorial (May 19, 2012)

Apr 2013

• Boston Globe: Looking for a financial lift, by Martine Powers (Apr 22, 2013)

Apr 2012

• Boston Globe: MBTA rescue plan in jeopardy, by Eric Moskowitz (Apr 10, 2012)
• Boston Globe: MBTA board OK's fare hikes, service cuts in stormy session, by Eric Moskowitz (Apr 5, 2012)
• Boston Globe: 40% in survey support a state bailout for MBTA, by Eric Moskowitz (Apr 2, 2012)

Mar 2012

• Boston Globe: Is driving a better deal?, by Martine Powers (Mar 20, 2012)
• Boston Globe: T trapped by debt, by Steven Syre (Mar 27, 2012)
• Boston Globe: MBTA crisis can't be ignored; time to tackle `Big Dig culture', by the Editorial Board (Mar 16, 2012)
• Boston Globe: MBTA must put Ride service on firmer financial footing, editorial (Mar 11, 2012)

Feb 2012

• Boston Globe: Hundreds rip MBTA budget plan, by Travis Andersen (Feb 14, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Hobbled by Big Dig debts, the T needs new revenues, editorial (Jan 8, 2012)

Oct 2011

• Boston Globe: Report spotlights MBTA financial woes, by Eric Moskowitz (Oct 26, 2011)
• Boston Globe: MBTA board OK's millions for stations, by Eric Moskowitz (Oct 6, 2011)

Sept 2011

• Boston Globe: Start the conversation on gas tax, by Derrick Z. Jackson (Sept 21, 2011)

Aug 2011

• Boston Globe: For MBTA, `nuance' means `broke', by Paul McMorrow (Aug 5, 2011)

Apr 2011

• Boston Globe: T unions lose on coverage battle, by Eric Moskowitz (Apr 20, 2011)
• Boston Globe: Boston's success depends on T, by Paul McMorrow (Apr 8, 2011)
• Boston Globe: T riders get one more year without fare increase, by Eric Moskowitz (Apr 7, 2011)
• Boston Globe: Governor aims to rein in auxiliary transit costs, by Eric Moskowitz (Apr 6, 2011)

Mar 2011

• Boston Globe: Route 125 is called conduit for new development, by Katheleen Conti (Mar 27, 2011)

Feb 2011

• Boston Globe: Unions must adjust to the new economic realities, by Charles Chieppo (Feb 25, 2011)
• Boston Globe: MBTA forges plan to reduce deficit, by Eric Moskovitz (Feb 23, 2011)
• Boston Globe: T payments to contractor challenged, by Eric Moskowitz (Jan 19, 2011)
• Boston Globe: Pacheco law blocks contracting, drives up cost of government, by the Editorial Board (Jan 7, 2011)

Nov 2010

• Boston Globe: Grand plans, big debts for MBTA, by Charles Chieppo (Nov 13, 2010)

Oct 2010

• Boston Globe: T looks within to restore, repair Red Line cars, by Eric Moskowitz (Oct 24, 2010)

Sept 2010

• Boston Globe: Patrick's reform record scrutinized from all sides, by Noah Bierman (Sept 19, 2010)
• CBS Local: Lawmakers divert gas tax funds (Sept 18, 2010)
• Boston Globe: State rejects Green Line bid, by Eric Moskowitz (Sept 8, 2010)

Aug 2010

• Boston Globe: MBTA riding high with $1.2m surplus at close of fiscal year, best finish in 5 years, by Eric Moskowitz (Aug 15, 2010)

Apr 2010

• Boston Globe: MBTA launches first of hybrid buses, by Eric Moskowitz (Apr 21, 2010)

Mar 2010

• Boston Globe: From the Big Dig to the Turnpike Authority, what a long, strange trip it's been, by John Tlumacki (Mar 21, 2010)
• Boston Globe: Potholes driving many cars to garages, by Erica Noonan (Mar 15, 2010)
• Boston Globe: After complaints, MBTA alters design for South Acton rail station, by Jennifer Fenn Lefferts (Mar 14, 2010)
• Boston Globe: T cut means Orange Line drivers will go it alone, by Noah Bierman (Mar 4, 2010)

Feb 2010

• Boston Globe: Fiscal woes at T roll on for another year, by Noah Bierman (Feb 28, 2010)
• Boston Globe: Bridge work adds hefty detail bill, by Noah Bierman (Feb 28, 2010)

2009

• Boston Globe: A system under strain, by Noah Bierman (Dec 6, 2009)
• Boston Globe: MBTA rolls in budget plan with eye on $160m bailout, by Noah Bierman (Mar 12, 2009)

1994

• Boston Globe: Commitments to foes raise Artery price tag, by Thomas C. Palmer Jr (Sept 13, 1994)

Reports

• The way forward: a 21st century transportation plan, by MassDOT (Jan 2013)
• Background on the finances of the MBTA and Regional Transit Authorities, Blue Ribbon Summit on Financing the MBTA and RTAs (Nov 1, 2010)
• MBTA Review, by David F. D’Alessandro, Paul D. Romary, Lisa J. Scannell and Bryan Woliner (Nov 1, 2009)
• Transportation finance in Massachusetts: an unsustainable system, findings of the Massachusetts Transportation Finance Commission (Mar 28, 2007)
• Transportation finance in Massachusetts: building a sustainable transportation financing system, recommendations of the Massachusetts Transportation Finance Commission (Sept 17, 2007)

Resources

• Mass Dept of Transportation
• MBTA Scorecard, financials
• Mass Taxpayer Foundation
• Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional policy: Transportation