Recent Streetsblog MASS posts about Environment

A PVTA electric bus on the Holyoke-Springfield P21E route recharges at Springfield Union Station in this August 2018 photo. Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Pi.1415926535, licensed under the Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0 license.

Environmentalists Press for All-Electric MBTA Bus Fleet By 2030

By Christian MilNeil | Sep 30, 2021 | No Comments

"We’ve been pushing the T to set an ambitious deadline for electrification is because the T needs to make a plan for a new fleet, to get its garages modernized, and to make sure there’s enough funding available in the state budget," explained Veena Dharmaraj, Director of Transportation at the Massachusetts Sierra Club.

Please Stay On The Grass: More Absorbent Streets Could Mean Less Catastrophically Flooded Subways

By Dave Colon | Sep 3, 2021 | No Comments

Ripping up some asphalt is a start.

Mass. Fiscal Alliance Launches Referendum to Overturn Key Climate Policy

By Christian MilNeil | Sep 2, 2021 | No Comments

Earlier this week, the Massachusetts Attorney General's office certified a ballot question that, if it's approved by voters in 2022, would "prohibit Massachusetts from imposing any tax, fee, revenue-generating measure, or market-based compliance measure if it would reduce or restrict the supply of gasoline."

A rendering of a future Blue Line station entrance from the lobby of the existing Charles/MGH station in Charles Circle. Escalators would lead underground to a new Blue Line platform under Cambridge Street. The Red and Blue Lines are currently the only two lines in the T's network that don't directly connect to each other at a downtown station. Courtesy of the MBTA.

Federal Infrastructure Bill Could Buy Big Projects, But Not Long-Term Fiscal Stability

By Christian MilNeil | Aug 25, 2021 | No Comments

A massive influx of federal funds (and the looming possibility of a major federal infrastructure bill) is shoring up budgets at the state’s major transit agencies in spite of the past year’s dip in ridership and fare collections, and opening up possibilities for funding major projects, like the electrification of the regional rail network and […]

New flood barriers being installed outside the Aquarium MBTA station on the Boston waterfront

MBTA Flood Resiliency Projects Face Major Test As Henri Approaches

By Christian MilNeil | Aug 20, 2021 | No Comments

Forecasters say that Henri could bring up to 8 inches of rainfall to parts of the state, plus sustained high winds and storm surges that could flood low-lying areas along the coast.

Mayor Janey Is Missing From Vision Zero Candidate Survey

By Claire Wallace | Aug 10, 2021 | No Comments

Mayor Walsh adopted ambitious goals to reduce tailpipe pollution, but made little progress on implementing policies that could reduce traffic and pollution. The next Mayor will likely feel more heat – literally and politically – to take bolder action.

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