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Opportunity, Transportation
February 18, 2015

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

Earlier this month, Pioneer Institute reported on the MBTA commuter rail’s problem with timeliness. After further research, however, it is clear that this finding barely taps the surface of the long-brewing problems that the unpopular agency now faces. Thousands rely on the...
Opportunity, Transportation
February 18, 2015

Why wasn't the T funding snow storm preparation?

Canceled commuter trains are becoming the norm leading to continued paralysis of our city.  It is truly a hard thing to imagine—people standing on platforms for hours, often without information.  And this in sometimes frigid temperatures. How did we get here? Between...
Opportunity, Transportation
February 13, 2015

Working from facts on the crisis at the MBTA

With all eyes on the MBTA, it is probably to be expected that dueling visions would emerge on a Thursday afternoon, just after the noon hour, as to what ails the T and how to fix the Authority.  That came in the...
Opportunity, Transportation
February 6, 2015

How is Keolis Fined for Late Commuter Rail Trains?

Your toes are numb, the faces around you sullen and the service alert on your phone says the next train will arrive at a different time than the LED screen overhead.  The train you planned on taking to work broke down and...
Opportunity, Transportation
February 4, 2015

MBTA Commuter Rail: New Boss, Same Problems

We all know that the MBTA’s commuter rail trains can be late, but how late are they? Pioneer Institute looked into how the MBTA’s performance stacks up against other major commuter rail systems in the country, and the results are not pretty....
American Citizenship, Opportunity, Transportation
September 18, 2014

Public Statement on the New MBTA Union Contract

PIONEER INSTITUTE PUBLIC STATEMENT ON THE NEW MBTA UNION CONTRACT Yesterday, the MassDOT board approved a new labor agreement with the Boston Carmen’s Union that sidesteps real reform at the MBTA Retirement Fund. The fund is in dire condition, with a $700...
Opportunity, Transportation
December 20, 2013

South Coast Rail not the way to go

RESIDENTS OF MASSACHUSETTS’ South Coast believe their region hasn’t received the state investment it deserves. They’re right. The Big Dig vacuumed money away from transportation projects across Massachusetts. More recently, the South Coast has not been a major focus of recent bridge repair...
American Citizenship, Opportunity, Transportation
August 20, 2013

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

Study Finds Financial Condition of MBTA Retirement Plan Deteriorated Sharply, But Lack of Transparency Makes It Impossible To Know Why Plan doesn’t post financial statements or investment performance online, isn’t subject to state pension regulations BOSTON – The MBTA Retirement Plan’s financial...
Transportation
June 15, 2012

MBTA Doing More With Less

Rather than big dollar expansion projects, the MBTA’s Key Bus Routes program stands as an example of modest incremental investments that can yield improved service (and potentially increased ridership). The program released its initial design for improvements to the 39 bus route...
Transportation
November 30, 2011

Taking Commuter Rail In-House?

Bad idea. At least that appeared to be the consensus at commuter rail forum held this morning by A Better City (to mark the release of their paper on commuter rail). The event was structured around the idea of a public-private partnership...