Our coalition is proud to welcome two new members: the Franklin Regional Council of Governments and the Arborway Committee for Public Transit. 

By Tanya Snyder at StreetsBlog USA

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has unanimously passed the highway portion of a six-year transportation bill. The Commerce Committee has done its work on the rail and safety portion. The Finance Committee has the hardest job, the one that’s flummoxed Capitol Hill for six years now, but it’s held a hearing on transportation funding and Committee Chair Orrin Hatch says he’s confident they’ll get it done. But it’s the Banking Committee, with jurisdiction over transit, that’s the least far along with its work to complete a transportation bill.

Transportation for Massachusetts commends Governor Baker for his swift action in appointing and swearing in the members of the MBTA Fiscal Management and Control Board, just moments after the FMCB was established through his signing of the FY2016 state budget. 

Today, the House and Senate voted to send the final FY2016 legislative budget to Governor Baker. Transportation for Massachusetts thanks the Conferees and the Legislature as a whole for their hard work throughout a complex budget process.

By Kristina Egan and Tony Dutzik

(Originally published at MASSterList)

The debate over Gov. Baker’s proposed MBTA overhaul has been loud and often heated. Supporters and opponents have taken to the airwaves – and even the streets – with vigorous arguments about privatization, union rights and governance of the agency.

One part of the governor’s plan, though, has attracted less attention: the proposed lifting of the two-year-old cap on MBTA fare hikes. 

The state legislature is now considering Governor Baker's MBTA reform legislation. The bill goes beyond the MBTA, and involves all transportation, in communities all across the commonwealth.  Whether you take the T, drive, ride a regional bus, walk or cycle, this legislation matters to you. Please take action today to ask your State Representative and House leaders to support key priorities. 

As we have learned over the years, transportation investment matters to everyone: workers and businesses. Boston and the Berkshires. Cyclists and walkers, truckers and drivers, students and professionals.  If you live or work in Massachusetts, you have a reason to take action on this legislation.

Transportation for Massachusetts thanks the Joint Committee on Transportation for continuing the important process of MBTA reform initiated by Governor Baker, while maintaining vital funding for the MBTA and statewide transportation, preserving responsible fare increases for MBTA riders, and providing new budgeting tools for Regional Transit Authorities.  

After an exhaustive search with many qualified candidates, Transportation for Massachusetts is pleased to announce the hiring of Charlie Ticotsky as our new Advocacy Director, effective Wednesday, July 8. 

Attracting talent, fostering creativity, and building brand among factors outined in new national survey

Hundreds of American companies, including dozens in Massachusetts, see unique competitive advantages to being located in a walkable downtown neighborhood. These locations are helping companies attract and retain talented workers, build their brand and corporate identity, support creative collaboration, be closer to partners, consolidate operations, and support triple-bottom line business outcomes.

A new report released today outlines that Boston’s Olympic bid offers a unique opportunity to create new neighborhoods, build more housing, improve transportation infrastructure, generate short- and long-term jobs, and increase tourism in the Boston region. But the report says this can happen only if Boston 2024, the Commonwealth, the City of Boston, and neighboring municipalities establish a coordinated planning process that focuses on the “legacy impacts” of the Games – the long-term, regional benefits that will last beyond 2024. 

The report was issued jointly by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance (MSGA), and Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA).