CSG Working Group reviewing MA criminal justice reform meets

The 25-person Working Group of the CSG Justice Center-Massachusetts Criminal Justice Review met for the first time on January 12, 2016 at the State House. The Working Group was formed by state leaders in October 2015 to partner with the Council of State Government’s (CSG) Justice Center to review and provide proposals on criminal justice reform and justice reinvestment in Massachusetts. Senator Brownsberger serves on the Steering Committee as a legislative co-chair.

Draft Commuter Rail Schedules and Opportunities for Public Input

The MBTA has rolled out a public engagement process to solicit feedback on proposed changes to the commuter rail schedules. The public comment period will run from January 7th through February 12th. This post contains links to proposed changes to the Fitchburg line and to other lines. The finalized schedules will be announced in April and will go into effect on Monday, May 23rd.

State Transportation Committee Considering Bike Safety Bills

WBZRadio 1030? reported on Senator Brownsberger’s efforts to pass bike safety legislation and highlighted his bill S1810? An Act to protect vulnerable road users by requiring certain vehicles to be equipped with side under-ride guards and blind spot mirrors. “If you ride along on your bicycle on the road, you’ll see some trucks where you could just about ride underneath those trucks,” said Brownsberger. “This [bill] would require those kinds of trucks to have a side guard so that if a cyclist did broadside the truck, they would be deflected instead of ending up getting run over by the wheels.”

DCR Storm Management Plan

Every winter our office receives questions about snow removal on DCR properties. DCR and MassDOT share responsible for snow removal on DCR roadways, sidewalks and paths. DCR has passed along its Storm Management Plan, which details its snow removal policies including the priority order in which its properties are cleared of snow.