Bad or unhealthy habits are tough to break. And they are even harder to break when options to replace them seem beyond our reach, or just plain impractical. This is as true with fossil fuels as it is with sugar or cigarettes, or too much screen time. And, unfortunately, there are those who benefit from…
Jul 25
2016
2016
Jul 19
2016
2016
A Long Way To Go For MBTA Board
… “While a lot is happening, it’s a mixed bag in terms of accomplishment,” said Rafael Mares, a vice president at the Conservation Law Foundation. “There’s still a lot of work to be done.” Still, Mares and other transit watchers say the board deserves more time to prove it can bring change to the 6,500-worker…
Jul 13
2016
2016
Governor, Lawmakers In Dispute Over T Fare Increases
… But Rafael Mares, a senior vice president of the Conservation Law Foundation, said the governor’s change would take away the predictability that legislators want for riders. Under the Legislature’s language, riders would know to expect a hike no higher than 7 percent every two years. With the governor’s language, some commuters could see an…
Jul 6
2016
2016
Consultant Stays On For End-To-End Review Of MBTA’s ‘Money Room’
… Although Rafael Mares, a transit advocate from the Conservation Law Foundation, said the audit “clearly identified some problems,” he said he hopes officials provide a more complete analysis before the T’s Fiscal Management and Control Board votes on whether to seek a private contractor. “I’ve just seen an analysis of the problem, but not…
Jun 30
2016
2016
Dig Deeper into Your Wallet to Ride the T Tomorrow
Starting tomorrow, MBTA users will be reaching deeper into their pockets to shell out for their daily rides. The greater expense may mean that some users choose to drive, while others will miss important appointments, school, or even work, because they are unable to afford the trip. CLF has opposed the steep fare hikes since…
Jun 30
2016
2016
Get Ready To Pay More To Ride The T
… “If you increase the fares without improving the service, you’ll get fewer people using it,” said Rafael Mares, a senior vice president at the Conservation Law Foundation. Read more here…
Jun 29
2016
2016
Future MBTA Fare Hikes Would be Limited to 7 Percent Under Proposed State Budget
… Rafael Mares, a transit advocate and vice president for the Conservation Law Foundation who urged the T to limit the increases to 5 percent, celebrated the agreement as “a significant victory.” “We will not give up on the ultimate goal of 5 percent, which more closely tracks inflation, but this is a huge improvement,”…
Jun 22
2016
2016
Funding for Pioneer Valley Public Transit Improvements Restored
On Monday, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Board of Directors took a major step in ensuring that millions of riders in the Pioneer Valley have a transit system that can meet their needs. In its announcement of adding $500 million to the state’s five-year capital investment plan, MassDOT righted its previous omission and included…
Jun 9
2016
2016
Youth Getting On Board: MBTA Youth Pass Makes Public Transit More Affordable and Accessible
Riding the T just became a little easier for Boston-area youth, thanks to a successful pilot program that was voted into permanence this week. The MBTA Youth Pass program began last July as a trial to give young people between the ages of 12 and 21 easier access to public transportation. Lack of access to…
May 24
2016
2016
MassDOT Is Ignoring the Needs of 12 Million Pioneer Valley Transit Riders
The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) is the largest public transit service in Massachusetts outside of the MBTA. More than 12 million riders across 24 cities and towns rely on the service every year. For nearly 70 percent of those riders, the PVTA is their only source of transportation. Nearly half of its riders live…