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 …
Saturday, February 9, 2013
The transit shutdown that began on Friday afternoon will continue indefinitely.
The now two-day blizzard that has crushed Boston has caused the MBTA to stay shut down through Saturday. “Due to the impacts of a severe winter storm, MBTA service will remain suspended on all modes Saturday, February 9, 2013,” says a post on MBTA.com. MBTA personnel will be clearing tracks in an effort to get the subways, commuter rail trains and buses back up and running. The MBTA does not have an estimate on when service will resume, meaning Wilmington's commuter rail stops will be among those remaining closed until the clean up is completed. One impact that the MBTA closure will likely have is at TD Garden, where the Boston Bruins are scheduled to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. The game was originally scheduled for 1 p.m., but was …
Friday, January 25, 2013
From February 8-13, North Wilmington passengers will see an impact on train schedules due to construction on the Shawsheen River Bridges in Andover.
Editor's Note: The following information was provided by Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail. Beginning Friday, February 8, at 12:10 a.m. (early Saturday morning) rehabilitation work begins on the Shawsheen River Bridges in Andover. This necessary work will require bussing of Outbound passengers between Reading and Haverhill and of Inbound passengers between Haverhill and Reading on a number of non-peak hour trains through Wednesday, February 13. Weekday Track Outage Schedule, Monday, February 11 through Wednesday, February 13 Customers using service between Reading and Boston are not affected by this outage. Inbound - Passengers will be bussed on from Haverhill, Bradford, Lawrence, Andover, Ballardvale and North Wilmington directly to …
42.577311
-71.157231
North Intermediate School
320 Salem St, Wilmington, MA
/articles/andover-construction-to-impact-wilmington-trains
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Friday, November 23, 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's 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 increase while business groups endorsed a 25 cent increase. Ultimately, the state …
Monday, October 29, 2012
Gov. Deval Patrick said Monday night that the MBTA will resume service on Tuesday and state offices will open at 10 a.m.
State offices will open at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Gov. Deval Patrick said in a Monday evening update on Hurricane Sandy from the bunker at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Framingham. On his Twitter account, Patrick said that all RMV Class D drivers' tests on Tuesday had been cancelled. Patrick also said non-essential state employees should show up for work at 10 a.m. and he is leaving it up to individual school districts to determine whether they will be open on Tuesday. On Sunday night, Patrick urged all school districts to close on Monday. The worst of the storm is expected to last through 11 p.m. and there is a high tide at about midnight. The MBTA said in an alert issue at about 9 p.m. on Monday that it will …
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The MBTA is offering a 23 percent increase to help deal with a budget downfall.
In a most recent update on Wednesday, the MBTA has proposed a 23 percent fare increase to help offset an ongoing budget defecit, according to a Boston.com report Thursday. Under the new proposal, commuter rail single trip and monthly passes would increase an average of 29 percent, depending upon the zone of travel. Bus fares with a CharlieCard would increase from $1.25 to $1.50, while a bus-subway LinkPass would increase from $59 to $70. Those using CharlieCards on the subway would pay $2 instead of the current rate of $1.70. If approved, the new plan would be effective July 1, and would not include hefty service cuts proposed under the original plan. But what do you think about the new proposal? Is this better or worse than what was …
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Riders are calling out for other passengers to be penalized for taking up too much space.
A number of frustrated MBTA riders have recently urged Transit Police to take action against passengers who take up extra space on crowded trains and buses, according to a Boston Herald report Monday. The main issue, according to disgruntled riders, is with passengers who take up an extra seat with a back pack, umbrella or other parcel. Unlike New York City, where "seat hogs" are fined $50 for taking up extra space, no such fee is enforced in Boston, according to the Boston Herald. But what if Transit Police did start cracking down on such passengers? Do you think those passengers should be fined? Let us know in today's poll and submit your thoughts in the comments section below.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The MBTA is proposing three scenarios that would result in higher fare prices and/or reduced service.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's recently-proposed cuts to service and increase in fare prices have created a bit of stir in the last few weeks. Due to the its $161 million budget shortfall in fiscal year 2013, the MBTA has proposed two scenarios to help deal with the debt, both of which include elimination of several bus routes, all ferries, and commuter rail service after 10 p.m. and on weekends. The first scenario would comprise an increase in fares by 43 percent, while the second would include an increase in fares by 35 percent, but with drastic cuts to bus service. But the MBTA is now weighing a third option that would involve no service cuts, and fare increase would be less than with the MBTA's two current proposals…
Friday, January 13, 2012
A look at how the proposed MBTA fare increases compare to other cities.
Earlier this month, the MBTA released two proposals that would raise fares on the MBTA by either 35 percent or 43 percent, in addition to some service eliminations that would impact the Wilmington station. But how does that stack up to New York, Philadelphia or Atlanta? According to a document put together by the MBTA, Boston's proposed fare increases will push the cost of a single subway ride to be more in line with most major cities in the U.S. Some Boston fares, including a proposed $2.40 for a single subway ride on a Charlie Card, will be higher than the average. The average bus fare, though, will fall below most of what is charged around the country. To view the full chart comparing the Boston fares to other cities, click the .pdf to…
Thursday, November 3, 2011
With the holiday season upon us, Boston is a quick train ride away.
Photographs looking down on the Back Bay from high up on a rainy day. Looking to make a trip into Boston? It's easy with Wilmington's Communter Rail.
42.547192
-71.174023
MBTA-Commuter Train Station
407 Main St, Wilmington, MA
/articles/time-for-a-trip-in-town
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/locations/5730019
Andrew Sylvia
9:26 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
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