Editorial Staff

The Future of Transportation in the Commonwealth

/in , , , , , /by Editorial Staff
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on
LinkedIn
+

Taking advantage of the public comment period, Pioneer Institute is today releasing its recommendations to the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Transportation.  The suggestions cover governance, budgeting and operations, the role of public transit during a period of transformative change and maintaining a focus on increasing MBTA ridership.

In terms of governance, Pioneer recommends combining “tight” oversight structures such as the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board for each MassDOT agency, and a “loose” board composed of the chairs of each agency board to coordinate operations.

When it comes to budgeting and operations, transportation agencies should be empowered to seek efficiencies and pursue innovation.  To eliminate massive backlogs and improve service, maintenance should be the top priority within agency budgets.

Massachusetts and the nation are in the early stages of a mobility revolution fueled by rapid private-sector technological advances. The Commonwealth should adopt regulatory frameworks that facilitate rather than block these innovations, and performance benchmarking should be used to guide policy during this period of intense disruption.

Finally, Pioneer urges the MBTA to stay focused on growing ridership.  After a $2 billion improvement program is completed in 2024-25, capacity will increase by 50 percent on the Red Line and 40 percent on the Orange Line, enough to reduce traffic congestion, increase revenue and produce environmental benefits.

Get Updates on Our Transportation Research

Related Posts:

Help Us Sift through the MBTA’s Contract with Keolis

0 Comments
/
Last March, French transportation company Keolis won a $2.6 billion…

Pioneer in the News (February 2015): Fixing the MBTA

0 Comments
/
Boston Business Journal op-ed: ViewPoint: What will save the…

MBTA Commuter Rail Only System in Country in Decline Over the Last Decade

0 Comments
/
Earlier this month, Pioneer Institute reported on the MBTA commuter…

Why wasn’t the T funding snow storm preparation?

1 Comment
/
Canceled commuter trains are becoming the norm leading to continued…

Working from facts on the crisis at the MBTA

0 Comments
/
With all eyes on the MBTA, it is probably to be expected that…

The Pioneer Institute’s Statement on the MBTA

5 Comments
/
The MBTA is broke and broken.  It is structurally insolvent. …

How is Keolis Fined for Late Commuter Rail Trains?

2 Comments
/
Your toes are numb, the faces around you sullen and the service…

MBTA Commuter Rail: New Boss, Same Problems

1 Comment
/
We all know that the MBTA’s commuter rail trains can be late,…

Public Statement on the New MBTA Union Contract

PIONEER INSTITUTE PUBLIC STATEMENT ON THE NEW MBTA UNION CONTRACT Yesterday,…

Study: MBTA Retirement Fund Failings a Cautionary Tale

Study Finds Poor Governance Structure, Lack of Accountability…

Study Calls for MBTA Employees to Be Transferred to State Pension System

Despite claims to the contrary, overly generous benefits, early…

MassDOT’s Cost Savings Dead End

0 Comments
/
In a joint press release praising the Transportation Reform…

South Coast Rail not the way to go

0 Comments
/
RESIDENTS OF MASSACHUSETTS’ South Coast believe their region…

Let’s Guard Public Safety: Letter to MassDOT Secretary Davey

0 Comments
/
Pioneer Institute is committed to improving the quality of life…

New Report: Massachusetts’ Tech Tax an Unnecessary Detour

Report Finds Revenue Not Only Option for Plugging Transportation…

Have the T’s Retirement Plans Gone Off the Rails?

Study Finds Financial Condition of MBTA Retirement Plan Deteriorated…

The MBTA’s Out-of-Control Bus Maintenance Costs

Pioneer Institute Study Highlights Overspending on MBTA Bus Maintenance A new…

New Report: Runaway Transportation Costs

0 Comments
/
Pioneer's new research director (former state Inspector General)…