Transportation & Infrastructure  

 

 

WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

The Big Dig: $23 Billion and Counting


THE TOLL ON THE MBTA
By Sarah Birnbaum
At a State House hearing, transportation officials said the total cost of the Big Dig is continuing to grow, starving the state of funds for other road and bridge projects.
Boston

From the Archives: The Sumner Tunnel


Greater Boston's weekly feature goes inside the photo archives from the Globe for a glimpse into the city's past. This week, we trace the evolution of a key transportation artery.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Mass. Senate Passes MBTA 'Bailout' Bill


By Sarah Birnbaum
The bill passed after officials rejected a bid by five senators to replace the MBTA's current governing board with a new one.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

House Passes MBTA Bailout Bill


MORE ON MBTA FUNDING
By Sarah Birnbaum
The state House of Representatives passed a bill giving the MBTA nearly $50 million from a fund that was intended to help reduce air pollution. The vote was 130-25.
Boston

Planned Makeover for Roxbury Receives Mixed Reactions


MORE: REVIVING DUDLEY
By Adam Reilly
After the approval of a $95 million project, Dudley Square will soon have a hotel, restaurants and residencies. But in Roxbury, this transformation has been met with an equal fill of both excitement and hesitation.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Big Dig Needs $1M Repair


By Sarah Birnbaum
More trouble with Big Dig infrastructure: State transportation officials said crews need to replace crumbling concrete that was supposed to last 30 years — and the fix could cost $1 million.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Highlights from Yelp Reviews of MBTA Stations


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Danielle Dreilinger
You're on the platform. You're waiting for the T. You have an opinion. We read it, and understand.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Get Inside the T — Virtually


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Danielle Dreilinger
The MBTA now offers a mobile map option on Android phones that lets people see inside some stations. But will it be useful?
Government

Lawmakers Support Universities and Infrastructure


By Sarah Birnbaum
Mass. House leaders unveiled plans on Monday to boost the budget for universities and local infrastructure programs as part of an omnibus economic development bill. 
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Highlights from Yelp Reviews of Lesser-Used Bus Lines


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Danielle Dreilinger
You can learn a lot about metro Boston by riding the bus. And you can learn even more by reading ... reviews of riding the bus.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

MBTA Chief Mulls Your Ideas


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Bob Seay
Could the state take back the Big Dig debt? Could the MBTA expand service? Richard Davey, secretary of MassDOT, responds to WGBH listeners' ideas.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

The MBTA Index


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Danielle Dreilinger
You care about the T: responses to our online survey hit the triple digits. With a tip of the hat to Harper's, here's a look at the results in digit form.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

International Models for the T: Your Thoughts


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By WGBH News
Should we look to other cities as a model for the MBTA? Our readers and listeners who have lived elsewhere or traveled around the world had some suggestions.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

MBTA Cuts: The Impact on Communities of Color


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By WGBH News
Service cuts will reduce families' access to work, health care and education, warned Marvin Venay of the Mass. Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Who Wins in Boston: Bikes Vs. Cars


By Michelle Figueroa & WGBH News
With success comes conflict: In the last five years, bicycling in Boston has increased by 50 percent. But some drivers are madder than ever as everyone tries to find room on the road. 
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Former Transportation Chief: The T's Troubles


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
Fred Salvucci headed the state transportation department under two administrations. He talked to WGBH's Bob Seay about his take on the MBTA.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Your Top 5 Ideas to Fix the T


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By WGBH News
In all the responses to our online survey, five solutions floated to the top. Which is your favorite? Vote here or on Facebook.
Poetry Month

Riding Routes of Poetry


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
In a collection of poetry by Liam Day, inspired by riding the MBTA bus routes, we learn something from the routine views of the city about what it means to be human.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

'Tourist Train' Status: Delayed


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Sean Corcoran
With cost concerns at the fore, expanding MBTA service is a tough proposition. So the Cape Cod transit authority decided to delay a tourist train to the Cape ... even though the service would pay for itself.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Racial Disparities and the MBTA


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Phillip Martin
The old elevated train from Dudley to downtown was ugly — but fast. Now, with service cuts going into effect, riders are asking why minority neighborhoods get the short end of the transit stick.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Should Massport Help the T?


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Bob Seay & WGBH News
Former state transportation secretary Fred Salvucci says there's one dramatic and simple fix for the MBTA's debt: Have Massport pick it up. Here's the agency's response and your thoughts on the Big Dig debt.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

The MBTA Answers Your Questions


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By WGBH News
Talk to the top, we said — and you did. Hear what MBTA general manager Jonathan Davis had to say in response to your calls and survey responses.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Getting a Free Ride ... from the Bus Fare Box


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Ibby Caputo
If you take the bus, you've probably come across a fare box that didn't work. WGBH News' Ibby Caputo asked just how widespread a problem that is — and how much money it's costing the T.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

MBTA Riders Disrupt Budget Debate


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Jordan Weinstein
Mass. House officers closed down public access to the chambers after a group of seniors and people with disabilities interrupted proceedings to protest MBTA fare hikes.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Sci-Fi Solutions for the T


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Phillip Martin
Some local experts are working to increase MBTA ridership by developing tools that sound like something out of speculative fiction. 
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Your List: 10 Innovative Ideas to Fix the T


ADD YOUR IDEA
By WGBH News
How would you fix the T? Here are some of the more creative ideas we've seen so far in the responses to our survey.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

How to Create a World-Class Transit System


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Phillip Martin
Cities all over the world rely on robust public transportation systems. What are they doing right? PLUS: Your ideas gleaned from taking public transit in other countries.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Just Another Rush Hour on the MBTA


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Danielle Dreilinger
In the old days, you couldn't complain about your commute until you (finally) reached your destination. With Twitter, you can. We look at an ordinary morning's sights, sounds and situations on the T.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Riders React to the MBTA Fare Evasion Crackdown


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Danielle Dreilinger
This week, the MBTA launched a new initiative to address fare evasion on the Green Line: In off-peak hours, D Branch passengers will be allowed to board and depart using the front door only. And Twitter said ....
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Tell Us How You'd Fix the 'T'


SHARE YOUR IDEAS
By WGBH News
If you've taken even one trip on a MBTA bus, train or ferry, you have an opinion about what's wrong and how to fix it. As part of our April news focus on the MBTA, we want to hear your ideas to improve the system.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

From the WGBH Vault: MBTA Improvements


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By WGBH News
In 1989, WGBH-2 talked to MBTA riders about recent changes. Not all the riders saw the transit system through rose-colored glasses. Try aviators, instead.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Lawmakers Consider T Bailout Bill


By Sarah Birnbaum
The debate over how to close the MBTA’s huge deficit is in lawmakers' hands now. 
Transportation & Infrastructure

MBTA Board Passes Unpopular Fare Hike


By Sarah Birnbaum
The board that oversees the Mass. Bay Transportation Authority voted 4-1 in favor of fare increases and modest service cuts as the crowd of 200-plus riders shouted "shame on you."
Transportation & Infrastructure

T Riders Make Last Push to Influence Board


BOARD PASSES FARE HIKE
By WGBH News & Wires
In the final hours leading up to a key Mass. Bay Transportation Authority board meeting, protesters gathered to decry a fare hike plan.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Governor: State Needs a Long-Term Transit Solution


By Toni Waterman & Sarah Birnbaum
Gov. Deval Patrick said he supports the MBTA's plan to bridge a $185 million budget gap but warned that it is only a short-term fix.
Boston

Reviving a 'Downtown for Uptown' in Dudley Square


By Will Roseliep
City councilor Tito Jackson welcomes the renovation of the Ferdinand Building, saying, "Having such a significant and large parcel in the middle of our community offline for 35 or 40 years has had a great negative effect."
Boston

Councilor Ross: 'This Is Disturbing'


MORE BLACKOUT COVERAGE
By WGBH News & Wires
With the blackout a memory, now everyone can focus on the cause and questions.
WGBH Local News

Cause Not Yet Known for Back Bay Blackout


By WGBH News
NStar spokesman Michael Durand and city councilor Stephen Murphy share what they know about the blackout.
Boston

Blackout Cost Estimated at $2.5 Million


GREATER BOSTON COVERS THE BLACKOUT TONIGHT
MORE VIDEOS AND STORIES
By Toni Waterman & Wires
The day after a transformer fire cut off power in Boston's Back Bay, about 4,000 customers still remain without power.
Boston

The Back Bay Fire: Aftermath


By WGBH News & Wires
On Wednesday morning, NStar said it wouldn't have all power back until after the evening commute.
Transportation & Infrastructure

MBTA Plans to Raise Fares, Cut Service


By Danielle Dreilinger
State transportation secretary Richard Davey said that despite public outcry, major changes were needed to close a $159 million budget gap. 
Transportation & Infrastructure

Lawmakers: We Have to Fix the T ... Somehow


By Sarah Birnbaum
As the debate continues over proposed fare hikes and service cuts for Boston-area mass transit, advocates called Monday for a long-term solution to the state's transportation funding problems.
Government

This Week on Beacon Hill: Hearings and Complaints


By Sarah Birnbaum
This week in state politics, the debate over MBTA fare hikes and service cuts is about to enter a new phase, the state announces the top five consumer complaints and a rally is planned at the State House to push for a change in sex abuse laws.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Yet More Fears over MBTA Fares


By WGBH News
As crowds gather at MBTA hearings to protest proposed service cuts and fare hikes, a policy group is saying the state should lose the former but go ahead with the latter.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Boston Builds to 2020

By Jordan Weinstein
The Hub seems poised for a new burst of changes, including major developments along the Charles. We asked Tim Love of Northeastern University's School of Architecture to imagine what the Boston of 2020 might look like.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Emotions Run High at Malden MBTA Hearing


LAWMAKERS PUSH BACK
By Ibby Caputo
Media attention focused this week on the hearings at the Boston Public Library, where hundreds staged a protest — but transit users in the outskirts of the Orange Line are just as mad.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Lawmakers Push Back on Potential MBTA Solutions


By Sarah Birnbaum
Legislators may be approaching an impasse over how to handle potential cuts and hikes at the MBTA: At a Tuesday State House hearing, people from different regions of the state couldn't agree on a fix.
Government

This Week On Beacon Hill, It's Rx 'N' T


By Sarah Birnbaum & Wires
This week in Massachusetts politics, state lawmakers discuss prescription drug shortages, transit funding and offshore wind farms. 
Transportation & Infrastructure

The Debate Over Civil Liberties And Seat Belts


By Abbie Ruzicka
What's not to like about stronger seat belt laws? The risk of racial profiling, the NAACP says. A seat belt safety bill is currently stalled in the Legislature.
Boston

New Owner Means New Hope At Downtown Crossing


By Toni Waterman
Boston mayor Tom Menino is confident the new owner of the Filene's site will have the project off the ground within a year.
Innovation Hub

Cars That Fly, Fold Up And Drive Us Forward


By Kara Miller
How can we adapt cars to a world that's rapidly industrializing, urbanizing, and straining to meet its energy needs? 
Transportation & Infrastructure

Hands-Free Phone Law Might Not Increase Safety


By Jordan Weinstein
On Jan. 26, the Mass. transportation committee passed a bill that would prohibit handheld phones behind the wheel. But one expert says the "common sense" solution lacks sense. 
Transportation & Infrastructure

The Real Impact of MBTA Cuts: A Mattapan Story


WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THE MBTA PLAN?
By Toni Waterman
The MBTA says its cost-savings plans would only cut lesser-used lines. But the people who do use them say they'll be in the cold.
Transportation & Infrastructure

The Proposed MBTA Cuts And Hikes: Your Take


MATTAPAN: LOSING THE LINE?
By WGBH News
The public gets its first chance this week to weigh in on the MBTA's proposed fare hikes and service cuts — and we're hearing from you as well. See what people think....
Health

Lawmakers Debate Proposed Cellphone Ban


WGBH NEWS: SOME QUESTION NTSB PROPOSAL
By Sarah Birnbaum
Should Mass. ban handheld cellphone use behind the wheel? An advocate for the ban shared his family's tragedy at a Jan. 10 State House hearing.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Phone Calls In The Car OK — If They're Hands-Free


MORE EMILY ROONEY
NPR: EXPERTS QUESTION NEED FOR BAN
By WGBH News
The Massachusetts-based advocacy group Safe Roads Alliance thinks the National Transportation Safety Board might be going too far in its recommendation that states ban all use of cellphones behind the wheel,
Boston

National Grid Under Fire For Irene, Snowstorm Outages


EXEC. DEFENDS RESPONSE TO STORM
By Cristina Quinn
While the state Department of Public Utilities opens an investigation into National Grid's response to the late-October snowstorm that left hundreds of thousands without power, residents and area officials are still expressing their frustation at the utility's response to Hurricane Irene.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Will Fewer Trains Mean Better Service?


By Sarah Birnbaum
The MBTA hopes to avoid last winter's massive commuter rail snow delays with a counter-intuitive new policy.
LOCAL NEWS

Logan Officials Say Runway Is Safe


By Jordan Weinstein
Massport officials responded to a recent FAA data analysis calling Logan the ninth most dangerous airport in the U.S.
The Emily Rooney Show

Davey: MBTA Fare Increase ‘on the Table’


MORE FROM THE EMILY ROONEY SHOW
By Frannie Carr
A fare hike for the cash-strapped MBTA is “definitely on the table,” according to the state’s newly anointed transportation czar.
WGBH Local News

See Something, Say Something: Safe, Or Unfair?


By Phillip Martin
In the days after the ten-year anniversary of Sept. 11, millions are traveling as usual and security issues remain as they have since 2001. That means individuals are still being singled out for special scrutiny, which continues to raise questions about fairness and safety.
WGBH Local News

See Something, Say Something: Safe, Or Unfair?


By Phillip Martin
In the days after the ten-year anniversary of Sept. 11, millions are traveling as usual and security issues remain as they have since 2001. That means individuals are still being singled out for special scrutiny, which continues to raise questions about fairness and safety.
Boston

At Logan, Silence And Normalcy On Sept. 11


By Phillip Martin
The scene at Logan Airport Sunday was anything but sedate. On the anniversary of September 11th, thousands of passengers passed through the nation’s eighth-busiest airport, but memories of ten years to the day bore heavily on the minds of many travelers.
89.7 WGBH

Plane Spotters Lend Extra Eyes To The Skies



SEPT. 11: A DAY OF REFLECTION, A DECADE OF STORIES
By Phillip Martin
Like so many who sit along railroad tracks to watch trains go by, plane spotters look to the air. With advances in digital photography, the ranks of aviation enthusiasts have grown, and many are unofficial watchdogs of the sky. But since Sept. 11, the plane spotters themselves are now being more carefully watched.
Boston

New App Lets You Complain About The T... Productively


BOSTON: THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT
By Jess Bidgood
A new iPhone app may help people complain more productively. The Talk To The T app, now available for free in the iTunes store, allows users to send the T a message detailing a problem they encountered on the system and attach an optional photo.
Transportation & Infrastructure

MBTA GM Davey To Be New Transportation Secretary


By The Associated Press
Gov. Deval Patrick has named MBTA General Manager Richard Davey to be the state's new Secretary of Transportation.
Boston

Top Big Dig Engineer Fired After Light Collapses

By Sarah Birnbaum
One of the top highway engineers at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation was fired on Tuesday following remarks he made about safety concerns.
Boston

Mass. Transit System 'On Life Support'


WGBH RADIO: PASSENGERS: TRANSIT IN MASSACHUSETTS
By Bob Seay
Massachusetts transportation system is majorly in debt, and may need to resort to fare hikes and service cuts to get things under control. WGBH's Bob Seay spoke with an area transportation expert to get at the roots and extent of the problem.
Boston

June 2011 Report: Youth Way on the MBTA

Youth Way on the MBTA's June 2011 report: Opportuni(T): Youth Riders, the Affordability Crisis, and the Youth Pass Solution
Boston

Amid Rising Gas Prices, T Ridership Increases

By Jess Bidgood
The MBTA is reporting its largest month-to-month ridership jump in two-and-a-half years. PASSENGERS: RISING GAS PRICES AND PUBLIC TRANSIT
POSTCARD FROM BOSTON

Boston Cyclists Have Big Hopes For Bike Share


THE EMILY ROONEY SHOW: BOSTON'S 'BIKE CZAR'
By Jess Bidgood and Ben Taylor
Boston cycling enthusiasts hope that the city's brand-new bike-share program, set to launch in July, will help the city become a two-wheeled one.
HUMANKIND

Can Public Transport Reduce Our Carbon Footprint?


LISTEN TO PASSENGERS APR. 17 AT 6 P.M. ON WGBH
PASSENGERS: MORE INFORMATION
By David Freudberg
The human activity with one of the highest carbon footprints is transportation, which specifically affects air quality and carbon emissions. But just how much of those things travel produces depends in part on how much you travel and by what mode.
Boston

MBTA: Without New Funding, Expect More Frozen Delays


By Sarah Birnbaum
On Tuesday, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the company that runs its commuter rail service were grilled on  the hundreds of other delays that plagued the system during the winter months. 
HUMANKIND

Rising Gas Prices Could Send More Americans Back To Public Transit


LISTEN TO PASSENGERS APR. 10 AT 6 P.M. ON WGBH
By David Freudberg
Rising gas prices could send more Americans back to public transit, but are the country’s transit systems, already worn down by slashed budgets and growing demand, well-equipped to handle increased demand?
HUMANKIND

Rising Cost Of Petroleum Could Send More Americans Back To Public Transit


LISTEN TO PASSENGERSAPR. 10 AT 6 P.M. ON WGBH
By David Freudberg
Rising gas prices could send more Americans back to public transit, but are the country’s transit systems, already worn down by slashed budgets and growing demand, well-equipped to handle increased demand?

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