“Fare increases should be modest, predictable, and necessary,” said Staci Rubin, Senior Attorney at CLF. “Riders deserve a reliable ride to get where they need to go at a reasonable price. Any potential fare increase must be tied to service improvements, like finishing the Green Line Extension and fixing the bus system for riders who depend on it most.”
“The health and economic well-being of people and our planet depend on bold action today to create a transportation system for the future,” said Amy Laura Cahn, director, Healthy Communities & Environmental Justice program at Conservation Law Foundation. “Environmental justice communities have the fewest resources to adapt to the impacts of climate change but have long borne the greatest burdens of pollution and transportation inequity. We welcome a regional problem-solving approach, but our most disadvantaged residents must have a seat at the table.”
“Today’s report provides a bold vision for the future of Massachusetts, reminding us that our transportation infrastructure needs a massive increase in investment and innovation while ensuring equal access for everyone,” said Bradley Campbell, President of CLF. “The report throws down a gauntlet to the Legislature and the Baker administration to act, without delay, to protect the health and prosperity of families and businesses in the Commonwealth.”
“I think we all have more common interests than not, in wanting a metro area that works, and a broader region that works,” said Amy Laura Cahn, a senior attorney at CLF.
Massachusetts’ transportation system needs bold actions now. These are CLF’s top five recommendations for how to build transportation for the future that can improve access, reduce emissions, and prepare for future climate impacts.
As we head into election season this November, it’s on us to hold New England’s elected representatives to a higher standard on their commitment to the environment.
A pilot program could turn the Fairmount commuter rail line into the “Indigo Line,” making it run more like the region’s other subway lines. It would improve public transit for communities along the route, including Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park, and Roxbury, which have traditionally been underserved by the MBTA.
“Self-driving vehicles have the potential to drastically change the way we travel,” said Alyssa Rayman-Read, Vice President and Director of CLF Massachusetts. “We have an opportunity to prevent traffic nightmares and negative environmental impacts by enacting smart policies ahead of time. As the study illustrates, we can’t afford to wait.”
The makers of self-driving cars promise a blissful future for car commuters. Soon, they claim, we’ll be able to zip along traffic-free roads, letting our cars do the driving while we read, watch Netflix, or text all we want. We’ll no longer rail at traffic jams, our air will be cleaner, and all those parking… Continue reading What are the Economic Impacts of Self-Driving Cars on Cities and Towns?
“Chronic underfunding of mass transportation leaves Massachusetts residents literally stranded,” said Alyssa Rayman-Read, Vice President and Director of CLF Massachusetts. “The Commonwealth can and should have a world-class transportation system that supports economic growth while reducing congestion and pollution. Without a clear revenue stream for transportation on the ballot, our elected officials must now come up with a comprehensive approach to funding.”
