streetsblogmass

streetsblogmass, 7 days ago to random

In 1995, the state said it would build a new walkway across the Charles along the #MBTA's North Station drawbridge to connect the new North Bank and Nashua Street Parks – and provide a direct walking route between Cambridge and North Station.

Nearly 30 years later, the T is planning to replace the bridge – but without any bike and pedestrian paths:

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/06/05/will-a-new-rail-bridge-across-the-charles-include-a-long-promised-walkway-to-north-station

streetsblogmass, 8 days ago (edited 3 days ago) to random

Why does the City of Salem want to put up fences across one of its busiest downtown crosswalks?

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/06/05/downtown-salem-gets-lots-of-foot-traffic-its-cops-want-to-fence-it-in

streetsblogmass, 10 days ago to random

NYC is about to launch its long-awaited congestion pricing program.

Could something similar work in Boston?

Join us for lunch next Monday at the @gbhnews studio in the BPL for a conversation with the Boston Globe Media transportation reporter Taylor Dolven, NYC journalist John Surico, and Reggie Ramos, executive director of Transportation For Massachusetts.

Register (it's free!) here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/can-you-put-a-price-on-congestion-in-boston-tickets-906042807427?aff=oddtdtcreator

streetsblogmass, 14 days ago to random

New from Streetsblog reporter Meghan Volcy:

Cameras on school buses in Peabody caught thousands of drivers illegally passing stopped buses while kids were nearby.

But under current state law, it's still illegal for cities and towns to issue fines to the drivers who got caught putting kids' lives at risk:
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/30/thousands-of-drivers-caught-on-camera-passing-stopped-school-buses-in-peabody

#mapoli

streetsblogmass, 15 days ago to Massachusetts

Last year's state budget included a significant budget increase for #Massachusetts regional #transit authorities. Now, those agencies are putting that funding to work with new regional bus routes in cities like Greenfield, North Adams, Taunton, Newburyport, and Pittsfield:

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/29/increased-state-funding-yields-new-bus-routes-across-the-commonwealth

streetsblogmass, 16 days ago to random

Updated article with additional details from an #MBTA spokesperson:

• Project scope likely won't include shelters for waiting passengers

• Design work is still underway; construction timeline is still unknown

https://urbanists.social/@streetsblogmass/112519801524567902

streetsblogmass, 16 days ago to random

The Federal Transit Administration (#FTA) just announced a $68 million grant to help the #MBTA upgrade 14 Green Line streetcar stops and make them ADA-accessible:

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/28/washington-pledges-68-million-for-green-line-accessibility-upgrades

streetsblogmass, 16 days ago to climate

#MassDOT's new long-range plan looks to the year 2050 – the same year that Massachusetts will must end most fossil fuel consumption under state law.

But MassDOT's plan pointedly dodges any mention of the state's #climate law and its requirements:

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/27/critics-say-massdots-new-beyond-mobility-plan-is-missing-accountability
#mapoli

streetsblogmass, 21 days ago to random

#MBTA officials are proposing another adjustment to the nearly $1 billion "fare transformation" contract with Cubic, a private vendor. The company is also having trouble delivering similar systems in California and New York:
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/23/mbta-proposes-more-tweaks-to-long-delayed-fare-transformation-initiative
#mapoli

streetsblogmass, 22 days ago to random

I just published a very basic introduction to using Boston's #Bluebikes bikeshare system data in #RStats. IMHO this is a great, underutilized dataset and is especially well-suited for student projects!

https://observablehq.com/@vigorousnorth/using-bluebikes-data-in-r

streetsblogmass, 24 days ago to random

The state "conservation" agency that maintains two freeways along both banks of the Charles River is suddenly concerned about protecting the riverbank from a rowboat race, via @universalhub https://www.universalhub.com/2024/dcr-says-its-time-figure-out-how-improve-head

streetsblogmass, 27 days ago to random

We're hosting a conversation about congestion pricing with @gbhnews! Join us on June 10:

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/17/june-10-event-can-you-put-a-price-on-congestion-in-boston

#mapoli

streetsblogmass, 29 days ago to climate

The 2021 "bipartisan infrastructure law" has turned into a bonanza for #climate - heating highway projects. MA Sen. Elizabeth Warren's new Build Green Act would allocate at least $150 billion for fixed-route public transportation projects like subways, light rail and bus rapid transit systems:

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/15/sen-warrens-build-green-bill-seeks-a-clean-shift-in-transportation-spending

streetsblogmass, 29 days ago to somerville

#Somerville Bike Kitchen will host its annual #Bike Pageant this Sunday at Aeronaut:

https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/15/somerville-bike-kitchen-hosts-its-annual-bike-pageant-this-sunday

streetsblogmass, 29 days ago to Massachusetts

The #Massachusetts climate roadmap needs a detour – but MassDOT doesn't want to change course.

The Commonwealth is on track to miss its short-term EV fleet goals by a wide margin – but even though that strategy is falling short, state officials still refuse to invest more in public transit alternatives:
#mapoli
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/14/electric-backslide-massachusetts-on-track-to-miss-its-ev-goals-by-a-wide-margin

streetsblogmass, 1 month ago to random

We now have three budget bills in the Mass. legislature, with three different takes on how much the state should spend on free or reduced-fare public transit:
#mapoli
https://mass.streetsblog.org/2024/05/10/mass-senate-proposes-fare-free-buses-for-regional-transit-authorities-statewide-but-not-the-t

streetsblogmass, 1 month ago to boston

Here's a comparison of the existing bike network in Back Bay vs. how it would look next year:
#Boston

An animated GIF illustrating the addition of new separated bike lanes. The map spans from the Public Garden in the upper right to the Fenway at left, with the Charles River along the upper edge. The map shows the bike network as it will exist in 2025, with a grid of new separated lanes on Boylston St., Berkeley St., and Dartmouth St. in the center of the map, and filled-in gaps on the existing bikeways on Beacon St. and Mass. Ave.