Recent Streetsblog MASS posts about Legislation

A CharlieCard on top of stacked dollar bills

Rep. Pressley, Sen. Markey Introduce Legislation to Fund Fare-Free Transit

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 26, 2020 | 1 Comment

The proposed legislation would authorize $5 billion a year to fund "Freedom to Move Grants" – a new competitive grant program to support free transit services.

An Amtrak Lake Shore Limited train passes through Chester, Mass. Photo by Benjamin Turon, licensed under the Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 license.

Debate Begins Over the Next U.S. Transportation Funding Bill

By Christian MilNeil | Jun 4, 2020 | 1 Comment

Yesterday, House Democrats released a draft bill that establishes a $494 billion, 5-year plan for the nation’s transportation infrastructure – but in spite of language to address climate change, and significant funding increases for rail and transit programs, the lion’s share of the bill’s funding would still go to roads and highways. The proposed legislation, […]

A slide from a Monday, Dec. 10, 2019 MBTA board meeting illustrates a "demonstration project" proposal to increase bus service on two bus priority corridors in Somerville and Everett. Service improvements like this one face an uncertain future under a new budget proposal that would freeze hiring for bus and rail initiatives in 2021.

Budget Uncertainties Delay T’s ‘Better Bus’ and ‘Rail Vision’ Initiatives

By Christian MilNeil | May 6, 2020 | No Comments

With plummeting fare revenues and uncertain support from the state legislature, MBTA leaders are proposing a budget that would delay high-priority safety initiatives and bus service expansions. In the past year, the T’s Fiscal and Control Management Board (FMCB) has endorsed major projects like new bus route demonstration projects and the “Rail Vision” initiative, which […]

Congress Urged to Act as Pandemic Losses Threaten Transit Agencies

By Christian MilNeil | Mar 20, 2020 | No Comments

A $1 trillion draft economic stabilization plan from the U.S. Senate provides no financial assistance for the nation’s transit agencies, which have been bleeding red ink as the COVID-19 pandemic slashes fare collections and revenues from state sales and payroll taxes. Large transit agencies, whose budgets are generally more reliant on fare revenue, have taken […]

The Massachusetts State House in downtown Boston.

Major Transportation Funding Bill Passes the Massachusetts House

By Christian MilNeil | Mar 4, 2020 | No Comments

The House proposal would raise roughly half a billion dollars in additional revenue for transportation projects through a 5-cent gasoline tax increase, a 9-cent increase to diesel fuel taxes, hikes to the Commonwealth’s minimum corporate tax rates, and higher fees on app-based ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.

About 40 cars occupy five lanes of highway in crawling traffic that stretches off to the horizon..

A Big Tax Break for the Trucking Industry Hides in the House Transportation Bill

By Christian MilNeil | Mar 4, 2020 | No Comments

The bill's proposal to eliminate sales taxes on trucks is forecast to cost $9 to $11 million annually in lost revenue to the Commonwealth's Transportation Trust Fund.

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