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Blog: MBTA

Opportunity, Transportation
May 21, 2015

There Is Little Appeal to the Current Use of Binding Arbitration at the T

Eliminating final and binding arbitration at the MBTA is key part of Governor Baker’s reform proposal.  His bill does not call for ending collective bargaining and arbitration at the T, but instead for applying the same collective bargaining/arbitration law that applies to...
American Citizenship, Transportation
May 13, 2015

The High Cost of Records Requests at the MBTA Hits a New Low

As we’ve written about before, in Massachusetts your legal right to transparency at times comes with a fairly hefty premium. Agencies routinely use exorbitant fee estimates as a way to get out of having to fulfill “burdensome” (read: embarrassing) requests, and no...
Opportunity, Transportation
May 11, 2015

Testimony: Why Pioneer Supports MBTA Reform

Pioneer Research Director Greg Sullivan and Senior Fellow Charles Chieppo will present testimony before the Massachusetts state legislature this afternoon in support of House Bill 3347 to bring MBTA costs under control, increase efficiency, and improve performance. Read excerpts from their testimony...
Opportunity, Transportation
April 15, 2015

Is Keolis Up to the Task?

The snow has melted from our streets, our fields are filled with oblivious geese, and the lights at Fenway shine on the Sox once again; all signs that Spring has finally arrived. But there is one thing that hasn’t changed, and another...
Opportunity, Transportation
April 7, 2015

What if “The Ride” operated like the best big paratransit systems in the US?

OK, let’s cut straight to the answer.  If The Ride had operated as cost-efficiently as the ten most cost-efficient large-scale paratransit systems in FY2013, it would have saved between $48.2 million and $60.3 million in FY2013. If the MBTA can bring its...
Opportunity, Transportation
April 7, 2015

Guess Who Runs the Best Paratransit System in the MBTA’s District? Hint: It's Not the T

Pioneer Institute’s ongoing analysis of the MBTA’s operations, finances, and performance aims to inform the public debate about the true problems plaguing the T and the most effective ways to improve the commuter experience for Massachusetts’ 1.2 million public transit system riders....
Opportunity, Transportation
April 6, 2015

And What About the T's Retirement Costs?

Pension and other post-employment benefit (OPEB) costs significantly impact the MBTA’s financial position.  There’s been much talk about the T’s retirement costs but relatively little about how those costs and their funding rank among other large transit systems.  The MBTA has not...
Opportunity, Transportation
April 2, 2015

The MBTA Commuter Rail’s Cost Structure Is Off the Rails

Read coverage of this report in The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald. Pioneer Institute’s ongoing analysis of the MBTA’s operations, finances, and performance aims to inform the public debate about the true problems plaguing the T and the most effective ways to...
American Citizenship, Opportunity, Transportation
March 30, 2015

Sunshine Must Return to MBTA This Spring

What began as a benign winter, accumulating only 2.9 inches before the New Year, quickly escalated into a 99.1 inch, two-month-long blizzard throughout January and February. As the snow thaws and sunshine finally returns to Boston’s streets we must take care to...
Opportunity, Transportation
March 30, 2015

Time to Fine Keolis

My train was on time this morning, no T-alerts popped into my email and, at long last, I enjoyed an express trip to Boston.  For that, I am delighted. Still, we can’t let the last couple of woeful months on the commuter rail...