End of three-part series FOR US, the Allston interchange is more than a highway project. It’s a way to fix the mistakes of the past, reunite long-separated neighborhoods, and lay […]
Tracking Transportation
Posted inOpinion
A partnership of sorts is transforming, recovering Allston
Second of three parts. IN THE PAST two decades, a partnership of sorts has emerged between the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the city of Boston, a variety of non-profit business […]
Posted inOpinion
How not to build a highway
First of three parts THE CONSTRUCTION of the Mass Turnpike through Allston, Brighton, and Newton in the late 1950s and early 1960s was a textbook example of the community, environmental, […]
Posted inTransportation
Poftak says he is stepping down at T on Jan. 3
STEVE POFTAK, the embattled general manager of the MBTA who shouldered much of the blame for recent safety incidents at the transit authority, announced on Tuesday that he will resign […]
Posted inTransportation
Key lawmaker calls for restructuring MBTA
TO JUMP-START a discussion about the future of the MBTA, the House chair of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee is calling for a fairly radical restructuring of the transit authority to […]
Posted inTransportation
T notes: Low-income fares back on agenda
MBTA OFFICIALS presented new, lower cost estimates for introducing low-income fares on Thursday, but it was unclear when or if the T board will move ahead with the proposal. At […]
Posted inTransportation
MBTA unveils redesigned bus redesign
THE MBTA on Thursday unveiled a redesign of its initial redesign of its bus network, incorporating feedback from 20,000 commenters and changing 85 of the 133 routes in the original […]
Posted inTransportation
LaHood: T’s Poftak on right track with safety until COVID hit
A correction has been made to this story. STEVE POFTAK, the MBTA’s beleaguered general manager, received some praise on Tuesday from former US transportation secretary Ray LaHood and Sen. Brendan […]
Posted inTransportation
Boston, businesses to pay for employee bus, subway rides
EMPLOYEES WORKING for the city of Boston, Google, Sanofi, and retailers at Assembly Row in Somerville will be able to ride the MBTA subways and buses for free under a […]
Posted inTransportation
MBTA problems not affecting Baker popularity
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER’S popularity is not being affected by the ongoing problems at the MBTA, according to a new poll. The survey of 987 likely voters indicates 67 percent view […]
Posted inTransportation
Cracked welds delay new N. Washington St. Bridge a year
COMPLETION OF A NEW North Washington Bridge in Boston will take at least a year longer than expected because of mysterious cracks that developed in welds at steel connection points. […]
Posted inTransportation
MBTA: What went wrong and how to fix it
THE MBTA Advisory Board, the group representing cities and towns in the transit authority’s service area, held a series of fascinating panel discussions on Tuesday on the future of the […]
Posted inTransportation
New airport terminal coming in New Bedford
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE SOUTH COAST leaders say state transportation officials have made a “commitment” for design and project funding for a new airport terminal and control tower at New […]
Posted inTransportation
Poftak owes T riders timeline on speed restrictions, Baker says
GOV, CHARLIE BAKER said on Monday that MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak owes the public an answer on when speed restrictions on the Orange Line will be lifted. At a […]
Posted inOpinion
Stop repairing Tobin Bridge, replace it with a tunnel
THE TOBIN BRIDGE, which opened in February 1950, is approaching its projected 70-year lifespan. Perhaps it is time to consider an alternative to the never-ending series of increasingly costly and […]
Posted inTransportation
Warren calls for new leadership ‘top to bottom’ at T
SENS. ELIZABETH WARREN called for “new leadership from top to bottom” at the MBTA at a hearing in Boston on Friday where she and Sen. Ed Markey grilled MBTA General […]
Posted inOpinion
Our streets need to be welcoming to deaf, disabled
WHEN I HEAR people say, “Remove parking and add bike lanes!” or “We need more walkable streets!” I cringe. These folks, usually White and nondisabled, often don’t take into account […]
Posted inTransportation
Two key lawmakers say MBTA needs money, but also change
A correction has been added to this story. TWO KEY Beacon Hill transportation leaders say their focus in the coming year will be on finding additional resources for the MBTA, […]
Posted inTransportation
Lawmakers question whether DPU is right for MBTA safety oversight
TWO KEY Beacon Hill lawmakers on Thursday questioned whether the Department of Public Utilities is the right agency to hold the MBTA’s feet to the fire on safety issues. At […]
Posted inTransportation
Bluebikes ridership soared during Orange Line shutdown
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE DURING THE 30 DAYS that the Orange Line and Green Line extension were closed, a record number of people turned to Bluebikes to get around the […]
Posted inTransportation
Commuter rail making comeback with riders
THE MBTA’S commuter rail trains, which ran nearly empty during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, are starting to fill up. Ridership isn’t back to prepandemic levels, but it […]
Posted inOpinion
A roadmap for fixing the MBTA
THERE’S NOTHING complicated, surprising, or even new about what ails our metro Boston public transportation system. The task may seem daunting (it is), and the troubles may seem to be […]
Posted inTransportation
More delays for new Orange and Red line cars
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE OUTLOOK FOR the already-delayed transition to entirely new Orange and Red line fleets continues to grow worse. After previously delaying the project’s targeted end date […]
Posted inOpinion
Overextended MBTA is moving in right direction
ONLY A GOVERNOR not seeking re-election could close the Orange Line for a month. We need further bold steps like that — further bold steps to simplify the challenges that […]
