Transportation

accessibility, bike paths, masspike, mbta, ride sharing, rmv, roads and traffic, rules of the road, statewide transportation funding

Back Bay/ Fenway/ Longwood Medical Area Transportation Studies

Senator Brownsberger, along with legislative colleagues and neighborhood associations, submitted a letter to Chairman David Mohler of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (Boston MPO) requesting a transportation study be conducted by the Central Transportation Planning Staff. This study would have included an assessment of expected development throughout the Back Bay, Fenway, and Longwood Medical Area as it would …

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Pedestrian safety

http://www.bpdnews.com/2013/06/09/boston-police-investigate-motor-vehicle-accident-involving-pedestrian-in-downtown-boston/ At about 6:23AM, on Sunday, June 9, 2013, officers from District A-1 (Downtown) responded to a call for a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian in the area of Stuart & Charles Streets. On arrival, officers observed the Boston Fire Department and Boston EMS already treating an elderly female victim, approximately 80 years of …

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End the secrecy of the MBTA pension system

It’s time to open up the books of the MBTA pension system. The MBTA derives two-thirds of its $1.9 billion budget from state and local taxes.  It contributes $71 million per year to pay pensions for its workers.  Historically, MBTA pensions have been very generous, although the legislature reformed the system in 2009 as to new …

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Alewife Morning Commute Gridlock Nightmare

Hi- I drive in to Cambridge/Somerville on Rt 2 every morning, and head east toward Medford on the Alewife Brook Parkway Extension as part of my commute. Every morning I am struck by the sheer rudeness of drivers blocking the box trying to squeeze through the light (and failing) to get towards Alewife Station from …

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Senate Transportation Plan includes Transparency Enhancements

While the main agenda in yesterday’s transportation discussion was to fund transportation operations and maintenance, we passed a number of amendments to strengthen transparency. A particular issue that had troubled many observers for decades was the secrecy of the MBTA’s pension fund.  The MBTA’s pension plan has been perceived as excessively generous, allowing relatively early retirements. …

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The Senate Transportation Plan

The Senate passed its own version of the transportation package after a ten hour session on Saturday.  The vote was 30 to 5 in favor with 3 Republicans and only two anti-tax Democrats opposed. Many of us had hoped for a broader package, along the lines proposed by the Governor in January — addressing not …

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