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American Citizenship, Opportunity, Transportation
January 3, 2019

Announcing Pioneer Institute's 2019 Better Government Competition: "Moving People & Goods Forward"

America is a country on the move. Our economy and quality of life depend on the effectiveness of our transportation systems. State, local, and federal governments invest hundreds of billions of dollars each year in transportation infrastructure, yet we continue to waste...
American Citizenship, Opportunity, Transportation
November 29, 2018

Public Statement on MBTA Ridership & Pension Costs

Monday’s meeting of the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board brought bad news on two fronts:  T ridership is down and pension costs are up.  Neither is a new problem, but both will require bold action to fix. Specifically, ridership was down...
Opportunity, Transportation
November 19, 2018

Co-author of Landmark Longfellow Bridge Study Optimistic about State Infrastructure Maintenance Investments

BOSTON – Reconstruction of the Longfellow Bridge is now complete, and the co-author of a landmark study about the Longfellow’s restoration sees reasons to be optimistic that the Commonwealth is becoming more responsible about maintaining its infrastructure assets, according to a new...
Opportunity, Transportation
October 4, 2017

Don't Stop the Momentum on T Reform

Today, Pioneer Institute submits testimony in support of MBTA bus maintenance and management reform at a hearing of the Massachusetts State Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight. The MBTA is proposing to outsource bus maintenance at 3 of its 9 garages,...
American Citizenship, Opportunity, Transportation
September 26, 2017

Study: Ferry Service Could Provide Opportunity for MBTA Expansion without Huge Upfront Costs

Read press coverage of this report in the Boston Herald: Study suggests MBTA float ferry service expansion and Editorial: “Ferrying off to work“; The Boston Globe: “Look to the harbor to ease Boston’s transportation woes,” “Steady stream of studies fuel transportation debates,” and here; The Boston Business...
American Citizenship, Opportunity, Transportation
February 3, 2016

Column: For the T, riders should come first

Excerpt from Jim Stergios’ column in The Boston Globe.  REVIEWS OF GOVERNOR Baker’s first year in office, capped off by General Electric’s decision to move its corporate headquarters to Boston, have been largely positive. A more important marker to evaluate his long-term performance...
American Citizenship, Opportunity, Transportation
January 26, 2016

A $49 Million Sweetheart Deal: MBTA Employee Sick Time Perk Enhances Pensions

Listen to the WRKO radio clip of Mary Connaughton interviewed by Kim Carrigan; read a Boston magazine article. On Tuesday, Mary was on Boston Herald radio: A story in the Boston Herald today shows that MBTA workers are boosting their pensions with...
Opportunity, Transportation
September 15, 2015

MBTA Experiment Gone Wrong! The Green Line Extension Contract

Background The Green Line Extension (GLX) is a long-awaited MBTA project, the result of a lawsuit settlement involving Big Dig mitigation and the Federal Clean Air Act.  The project as planned will add two branch lines to the northern end of the...
Opportunity, Transportation
August 6, 2015

Cash-free, Conductor-free Trains

In 2012, the MBTA introduced the mTicket app that allows users to purchase train tickets through their mobile devices and display their ticket on their screen as conductors make their rounds. Pioneer recognized the app in its 2014 Better Government Awards for “putting to...
Opportunity, Transportation
July 8, 2015

Pioneer Institute Public Statement on MBTA Reforms in the Budget

Last night, the legislature put the public interest ahead of politics by giving the administration and the MBTA’s management a set of tools that can lead to real improvements in service for T riders. Both the House and Senate came under enormous...