MBTA Hosting Huge Recycling Event at the Watertown Bus Yard

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, …

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Mass. Tax Plans: Too Much, Too Soon? Or Too Little, Too Slow?

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 …

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Transportation Plan Would Increase Gas, Cigarette Taxes

The new plan would create $500 million in new revenue over the next five years.

State House and Senate lawmakers have announced a joint transportation plan which would close an estimated five-year, $2.3 billion transportation budget gap through tax increases to cigarettes, gas and new taxes on business technologies. The plan, which would create $500 million in new revenue, focuses on long-term financing for the state’s regional transit authorities and the state department of transportation, asks the MBTA and MassDOT to continue to hit revenue and savings targets, moves employees off of the capital budget for three years and fully funds the state ice and snow budget. The plan was unveiled at a State House news conference on Tuesday, April 2 led by Massachusetts Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo and Senate President …

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Fatal Train Strike in Acton Delays Waltham Commuter Trains

Authorities expect to be clear from the scene soon.

Commuter rail trains to and from the Waltham station are experiencing 45-60 delays due to a "police investigation," according to the MBTA website posted at 5:04 p.m. According to the MBTA Police, a train on Fitchburg-South Acton line struck and killed a male tresspasser near mile marker 24 at around 3:55 p.m. Transit Police are investigating the incident.  Specifically, trains 468 inbound and 467 outbound are delayed. First responders should be clear form the scene soon, according to an MBTA spokesman. 

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MBTA Looking To Upgrade WIFI Service

The MBTA launched a wireless Internet program at some locations and on certain cars in 2008. The transit system is now looking for a sponsor to upgrade the product at no cost to the T.

The MBTA wants to upgrade its wireless Internet service, but without spending precious tax dollars. The Boston area transit system is seeking sponsorship proposals to provide upgraded wifi service on commuter rail cars, ferries and select commuter rail stations, according to an MBTA press statement. “The MBTA’s goal is to upgrade the current WIFI service to a system wide, state of the art standard, at no cost to the MBTA and its riders,” the statement reads. The sponsorship opportunity would provide the sponsor with marketing rights such as “signage and advertising in commuter rail stations, cars and ferry facilities; corporate presence on MBTA commuter rail system maps and schedules; control of a WIFI landing page; links on the MBTA …

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Future Deficit Forces T into Tough Choices

Fare hikes and service cuts are a few options T officials proposed in an effort to close the $130 million budget deficit in 2014.

MBTA officials have proposed service cuts and fare increases if there is no increase in funding, based on a $130 projected budget deficit in fiscal year 2014. Director of Strategic Initiatives for the MBTA Charles Planck said at a MBTA finance committee meeting that in order to close the budget gap, T fares would need to go up 33 percent, which means subway fares would move up from $2 to $2.60, the Boston Globe reported Wednesday. There was also talk at the meeting of a 15 percent fare increase coupled with the possible elimination of up to 30 bus routes, according to the Globe. Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled an ambitious transportation plan in February that would potentially raise $1.02 billion per year for the next 10 years, some of which, …

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Frosty the Snowman

11:20 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013

Jack up the prices and park the unused busses. I see plenty of empty buses driving around town. I'm sure that there are very busy routes, that are needed. People seem to think they are entitled to an amazing public transit system all over greater Boston. It's not a reality, not enough riders to justify the cost. Buy a car or live closer to work, you might even have to walk further to your stop, …   more ›

Forum for Public Transportation Funding To Be Held Soon

The forum will address how to fund public transportation in Massachusetts.

Higher Taxes, Fees For Better Public Transportation?

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 a debt-ridden public transporation system needing repairs, the state will likely need to increase revenue from car registrations, license renewals, taxes and tolls, according to a new report.  The Board of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation released its 21st Century Transportation Plan on Monday, Jan. 14 which calls for a $13 billion overall investment in state transportations systems over the next decade. Included in the report are several ideas to pay for public transportation needs including an increase in the vehicle registration fee by $53 to $103, an increase in the vehicle inspection fee by $19 to $48, boosting the state sales tax from 6.25 percent to 7.75 percent, increasing the gas tax by 30 cents per gallon to 51…

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MBTA Free After 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve

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:

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Do You Feel Safe Riding The T?

A national organization of state transportation officials awarded the Massachusetts DOT with a high safety honor for highways, but does MBTA need to make the T safer?

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is now nationally recognized for higway safety leadership after receiving an award Tuesday. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has given MassDOT its 2012 Safety Leadership Award for “taking significant action” in reducing highway fatalities an injuries, according to a MassDOT statement. While the organization was recognized for highway safety, its public transportation sector experienced two negative incidents recently. A Green Line trolley collided with another trolley at Boylston Street Station recently sending passengers flying, and police are still searching for a man who struck a trolley operator at Fenway Station. Do you feel MassDOT is doing enough to…

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