Oped: Transportation

http://www.heraldnews.com/opinions/x465804200/GUEST-OPINION-With-process-lite-is-a-full-time-Legislature-even-necessary The Legislature’s new “process-lite” operating style reached new heights with  the recent health care cost containment bill. This legislation — which  restructures 18 percent of the state’s economy, impacts every citizen, promises  over $100 billion (yep, billion) in savings, and changes...

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2012/06/15/mbtas-smart-program/ 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...

http://www.wbur.org/2012/04/08/debt-big-dig BOSTON — For nearly a decade, traffic has been zipping through Boston’s Big Dig tunnels, the nation’s costliest highway project that has also left a gaping financial hole in the state’s transportation budget that isn’t likely to be filled anytime soon....

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/print-edition/2012/03/09/frank-talk-on-transportation-funding.html?page=all While the MBTA’s budget struggles have captured the region’s headlines, there is also an increasing awareness of a statewide transportation funding problem. Unfortunately, the public process around the issue seems headed in a familiar direction — float a whole bunch of...

http://www.wickedlocal.com/marshfield/news/opinions/x364057122/COMMENTARY-Recent-history-of-the-T?zc_p=2#axzz2NuhDIn7u On Tuesday, Jan. 3, the MBTA outlined two proposals to reduce the more  than-$161 million budget deficit projected for fiscal 2013 in a presentation to  legislators. Both proposals included fare hikes, the reduction of services and a  complete elimination of the...

http://hingham.patch.com/articles/fare-hikes-service-cuts-and-mbta-mismanagement-a-recent-history-of-the-t On Tuesday January 3 the MBTA outlined two proposals to reduce the over $161 million budget deficit projected for Fiscal Year 2013 in a presentation to legislators. Both proposals included fare hikes, the reduction of services and a complete elimination of the...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120107/us-commuter-rail/ MBTA management has ruled out the possibility of taking over direct operation of the state’s commuter rail network. Instead, it may seek a longer-term contract with a private operator to spur investment in an aging system that has become increasingly prone...