THE PIONEER BLOG

Matt Blackbourn

Key takeaways from new ride-for-hire legislation

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by Matt Blackbourn

There is, fortunately, no major cause for concern in the bill produced by the state lawmakers that labored through the closing hours of the legislative session this past Sunday. They succeeded in finalizing a balanced piece of legislation to regulate transportation network companies (TNCs). With approval and signing from Governor Baker, Bill H.4570 will become law. Offering arguably the most comprehensive regulatory framework for TNCs among all states nationwide, the bill lays out a number of provisions that would help to ensure innovative companies like Uber, Lyft and Fasten can continue to operate in the Commonwealth without overly burdensome restrictions. Importantly, the legislation would also establish a ride-for-hire task force to review current regulations governing taxis, livery service providers and TNCs, with […]

Scott Haller

What to expect with all-electronic tolling

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This blog is a summary of the changes an all-electronic tolling system will bring to the state. For a more in-depth look at this topic, please read the full length report, Driving Innovation: Tolling and Transponders in Massachusetts. This fall the Massachusetts Turnpike will transition to an all-electronic tolling system (AETS), meaning drivers will not have to stop or slow down to pay tolls. Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) officials say that an AETS will yield cost savings, reduce accidents and pollution, and save drivers time. Toll booths along the Turnpike will be removed, and new gantries (under construction for the last few months) equipped with sensors and cameras will take over from toll-takers. All drivers will remain at normal driving […]

Will Kauppila

Could Bus Rapid Transit Be the Future of Public Transportation in Boston?

/0 Comments/in , , , /by Will Kauppila

As the Greater Boston Area continues to grow, it is important to plan future public transportation infrastructure to keep up with increased demand. In determining its vision for transit in the future, the MBTA has given careful consideration to new forms of transit that meet the demands of today’s commuters. One mode of transit that’s been especially prominent in this conversation is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). In 2013 the MBTA began working with officials from the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP) to explore the possibility of bringing high standard BRT to Boston. BRT can be defined as a large-scale, fully integrated metro bus transit system. The MBTA helped form the BRT Study Group, which sought to determine where […]

Thejasa Jayachandran

Casino Revenue Projections: A Roll of the Dice?

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As the Wynn Resort Casino breaks ground in Everett tomorrow, many predict a booming casino industry in Massachusetts. However, if the Commonwealth’s history with casinos says anything, we should proceed with caution. Plainridge Park Casino, the initial Las Vegas-style slot parlor in Massachusetts, finished its first year of operations in June. As reported in the Boston Globe, its performance fell well short of its projections. When Penn National Gaming won the bid for this casino, the company projected revenue hitting $300 million in the first year.  When they closed the books in June, the casino barely nudged past the halfway mark with sales of only $160 million. What does this mean for Massachusetts? In 2011, Massachusetts legalized casino gambling with […]

Eric Sporel

No Ban for TNCs at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center

/0 Comments/in , , , /by Eric Sporel

While there has been much discussion about whether or not transportation network companies (TNCs) should have access to Logan International Airport, another location critical to transportation service providers, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC), has been an equal consideration for lawmakers. The parties involved in this debate are paying close attention to the conference committee that is currently revising the legislation. After both chambers of the legislature failed to reach a conclusion on House bill H.6064, with the House in favor of banning TNCs from the Boston Exhibition and Convention Center, and the Senate dissenting, it is not clear which direction the revised legislation will take. A comprehensive review of the legislative history for this bill shows the many […]

Prasanna Rajasekaran

Shrinking Margins at the Massachusetts State Lottery

/0 Comments/in /by Prasanna Rajasekaran

Last week, the Massachusetts Lottery triumphantly announced that, for the fifth straight year, it set a new record for annual revenue and profit. But the details of its financials paint a different picture. For fiscal year 2016, the Lottery generated sales of $5.231 billion, up from $5.014 billion last year. Yet that led only to a $1 million increase in profit – from $985.9 million to $986.9 million. If its profit increase corresponded with its revenue increase (about 4.3%), the Lottery would have netted over $1.028 billion, $41.1 million more than its actual profit. So why the lower profit margin? The bulk of the Lottery’s expenses are prizes, which are the total winnings for all players in a given year. […]

Will Kauppila

Newly Proposed Theater Tax Credit All-Too Familiar

/0 Comments/in , , /by Will Kauppila

As Pioneer reported earlier this summer, there have been questions surrounding the viability of incentives provided by the Massachusetts film tax credit since its inception in 2006. It was adopted to attract motion picture production companies by offering them generous tax breaks for filming on location around the state. In exchange, the companies are expected to create industry jobs for Massachusetts residents, and spur local investment and growth. While there has certainly been a recent uptick in big-budget film productions, much of the revenue produced is going out of state, and taxpayers are not seeing a reasonable return on their dollars. A recent Boston Globe editorial also echoed the pitfalls of the film credit, supporting the conclusion that it has […]

Thejasa Jayachandran

Pool Time and Part-Time

/0 Comments/in , /by Thejasa Jayachandran

It’s official; we’re in a heat wave. Earlier this month, Governor Baker and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) announced that until August 19, public pools and athletic complexes will have extended operating hours. Going into effect across 20 locations for the second year in a row, this initiative is meant to provide Massachusetts’ children with access to recreational resources during school vacation. As Governor Baker stated, “Extending the hours of operation for these urban facilities will provide a safe location for families to enjoy the season, while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.” For July, the selected public pools will be open until 8:00 PM on Tuesdays. In August, the pools will be open until 7:30 PM on […]

Cameron Rohall

Fewer Employees, More Space: DCAMM’s Leasing Strategy

/0 Comments/in , , /by Cameron Rohall

For most public and private entities, space is the second-largest administrative cost, after personnel. Discussion of personnel costs often overshadows other administrative cost debates in the public sector, but policymakers should strive to ensure that space is used as effectively as possible, to maximize the value for taxpayers. All states utilize a combination of owned and leased spaces to satisfy their facility needs. Owned properties include all kinds of land and buildings, while leased properties are mostly office space. As of 2015, Massachusetts leases just over 7.2 million square feet of space, primarily office space, which it occupies in addition to its own facilities.[1] This is above average among New England states when analyzed on a gross square footage (GSF) […]

Will Kauppila

Update on the State of the Green Line Extension

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The idea for the Green Line Extension (GLX) has been around for years, and its potential benefits have led many to call it a critical economic and environmental infrastructure project. So, when the first phase of construction began in 2012, it was met with great excitement. Fast forward to 2016, and much of that initial enthusiasm has been curbed with skepticism. Construction has been painfully slow, and project cost estimates escalated as high as $3 billion (now at $2.3 billion). Yet, despite concerns over the MBTA’s capacity to manage an operation of this scale and scope, the project is still very much alive. In May, a new, independent interim project management team commissioned by the MBTA Fiscal Management Control Board […]

Prasanna Rajasekaran

The Mysterious World of NCAA Apparel Contracts

/0 Comments/in , /by Prasanna Rajasekaran

The world of collegiate athletics is, besides great entertainment, a monumental cash cow. In April, the NCAA extended its March Madness TV contract with CBS by 8 years – adding $8.8 billion on what was already a $10.8 billion deal. This works out to another billion dollars per year – for about a month of basketball. The business of NCAA sports is as broad as it is profitable. On a micro level, schools with large sports programs earn huge sums of money through ticket sales, donations, and media rights. The larger sports-related industries – apparel, sports drinks, footwear – often contract with schools to provide their products at a discount, if not for free. The value of these contracts can […]

Eric Sporel

The Battle over Logan Airport—Will TNCs Prevail?

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Since 2011, transportation network companies (TNCs) have established themselves as a popular mode of transportation in the City of Boston. Given their convenience and low cost, TNCs such as Uber and Lyft have become local consumers’ first choice over taxis.

Thejasa Jayachandran

The New Game of Life: Tuition and Debt

/in , , , , /by Thejasa Jayachandran

Back in 2005, the Milton Bradley Company launched a new version of the classic The Game of Life.  While similar in most respects to the game most of us grew up with, the updated version reflects today’s financial realities. Namely, you can choose a career and start with a salary or you can choose college and start out $100,000 in debt. College costs have skyrocketed over the last couple decades. Average tuition for a private, four-year institution has increased by more than one quarter in just the last 10 years. What’s more, this is not a symptom that is unique to private colleges. The Pioneer Blog has documented the University of Massachusetts’ tuition increases over the years for both in-state […]

Amy Dain

Addressing Greater Boston’s Housing Crunch

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by Amy Dain

Greater Boston’s housing crisis has emerged as one of the most pressing policy challenges for the region.  Building enough homes for the growing workforce and retiring baby-boomers has proven challenging.  In 2004, I conducted a study for Pioneer Institute of residential land use regulations in all of the communities within 50 miles of Boston to understand what was holding the region back from building enough houses. As policymakers consider new solutions to the decades-old challenge, I have been receiving a number of calls and emails for information about my research on zoning. I have been referring policymakers, advocates, and reporters to two reports: Residential Land Use Regulation in Eastern Massachusetts: A Study of 187 Communities.  This report covers the technical […]

Cameron Rohall

Volatility and Expansion at the MassCEC

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by Cameron Rohall

This blog entry was edited from its original version on July 28, 2016. In 2008, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (MassCEC) was established by the state Legislature, and it opened its doors the following year. The center’s mission is to promote the development of clean energy in Massachusetts, improve quality of life, and gradually help the Commonwealth transition towards renewable sources of energy. Its legislative mandate enumerates 10 goals, including the development of jobs in clean energy, support for education and workforce training, and financing for clean energy companies and projects. In accordance with M.G.L. ch. 23J §2, 10, MassCEC is directed to focus on assisting low and moderate-income communities in all its programs, making clean energy investments a […]