Will Brownsberger — State Senator, Democrat, 2d Suffolk and Middlesex District

Follow the link here to sign up for electronic notification of license renewals from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. They no longer send hard copies.

On Thursday, the Senate passed legislation to provide funding to continue current transportation-related projects through Fiscal Year 2013. The Chapter 90 funds appropriated by this bill for local projects, including roadway and bridge  repairs, will support the infrastructure of the Commonwealth’s cities and towns.  This appropriation of $200 million (equivalent to last year’s appropriation) represents [...]

MassDOT is looking for input on transportation investment priorities.

Senator Will Brownsberger’s Office is partnering with the Charles River Watershed Association and other local groups for a Cleanup of the Charles River on Saturday, April 21 in Brighton and Watertown. If you didn’t get a chance to pre-register, you can still participate by coming to one of three drop-in sites on Saturday, April 21 from 9:00am [...]

Friday Night, April 13, 6 – 9 pm The Benton is open one Friday a month.  Browse, borrow and use the computers. School Vacation Week, April 17, 18, 19 The Benton will be open on Tuesday, April 17 from 10 – 3 and on Wednesday, April 18 and Thursday, April 19 from 2 -7.  The [...]

I’m still answering a lot of emails about the MBTA. Here’s an example and my reply.

We’ve been in touch with the MBTA about frequency reductions that constituents have reported to us on these routes. This is the written response that we have received as to the 78 and we received verbally similar explanations regarding the 74 and the 75. Thank you for letting me know about your concerns with recent [...]

The MBTA’s “solution” is unacceptable.  There is no reason to raise any fares or cut any services.  There are five sources for enough money to cover this year’s shortfall, over $220 million, at http://www.ace-ej.org/node/3260/print  (see below). And that doesn’t count the $140 million savings we could have from shifting the debt off the T. Please [...]

Today, MBTA staff announced final recommendations that will be presented to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Board for approval. The details are presented here.

I have a disability that prevents me from being as involved in disability issues as much as I would like – but I do try to stay on top of local issues. Apparently, Governor Patrick will give the money normally spent for snow removal to help the MBTA’s finances, which will help all riders on [...]

I’ve transmitted my comment letter to the MBTA and will be following up with continuing communications to oppose service cuts.

My views about the MBTA’s proposed service cuts and fare increases have been evolving. I now oppose all service cuts whether or not they affect my district.

Join us at First Parish of Watertown for the film, ‘Earth Days’  Saturday, April 21, 2012 @ 7:30 pm The film will be preceded by a potluck supper at 6:30p.m.   Come see the story of the birth of the modern environmental movement on the big screen, and enjoy good food and fellowship! 35 Church Street, [...]

HI How about raising the Mass Pike Tolls a little. The Cambridge/Allston tolls have been 1.25 since as far as I can remember. Why not raise it to 1.50 and use that money to pay the Big Dig Loan? It’s not fair that public transportation is shouldering the burden of these loans for roads that [...]

The General Manager of the MBTA has been forthcoming in response to questions from the legislature about the budget crisis. Some of his replies are posted here.

Senator Will Brownsberger’s Office is pleased to announce that it will partner with the Charles River Watershed Association and other local groups to organize a Cleanup of the Charles River on Saturday, April 21st in Brighton and Watertown.

Senator Will Brownsberger announces that up to four part-time unpaid internships in his State House office will be available for the summer of 2012.

There has been recent publicity regarding the presence of coyotes, particularly in various of Belmont’s big woods, which pose a threat to pets and people of small stature. This is a regional problem and could be addressed by the Commonwealth without great expense, rather than by placing yet another burden on individual municipalities.

I’m planning to submit a letter to the MBTA summarizing concerns about their budget cut proposals. I thought I would post the draft here so that people could identify any concerns or solution ideas that I had failed to include.

Dear Sen. Brownsberger: Are you taking a leadership role in fighting these destructive and short-sighted T proposals? The MBTA was deliberately left with a huge Big Dig debt and an inadequate funding stream, to support itself by exploiting helpless fare-payers. We need to remove the debt from the T, and create a proper state funding [...]