Thursday, May 17, 2012
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization sees big funding needs for the project.
The planning firm responsible for mapping out transportation projects for the greater Boston area envisions over $720 million being spent on the Green Line Extension by 2016, according to a recent report. A draft version of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization's Transportation Improvement Program report released earlier this month outlines the projected spending on the project from 2013 to 2016. The project plans to extend the MBTA's Green Line from Lechemere station in Cambridge, through Somerville to College Avenue in Medford. The report estimates the project should have $79.3 million in funding in 2013, $94.9 million in 2014, $235.8 in 2015 and about $310 million in 2016. The report pegs about $100 million in federal …
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Researchers will release a non-dangerous bacterium into the stations to test a sensor network designed to alert authorities of biological attack.
This spring, the Department of Homeland Security will simulate a biological attack at Davis, Porter and Harvard stations, according to an environmental assessment of the project, media reports and the city of Somerville. As part of the simulation, researchers will conduct an aerosol release of a bacterium not considered dangerous to humans, according to the environmental assessment. The purpose of the simulation is to test a network of sensors in the train system designed to detect biological agents and alert authorities of possible biological attacks. Authorities are holding a public hearing about the test on May 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Square YMCA in Cambridge so the public can learn about the experiment. According to an …
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Davis Square MBTA Station
College Ave & Elm St, Somerville, MA
/articles/homeland-security-to-simulate-bio-attack-in-davis-porter-harvard-stations
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Thursday, April 26, 2012
Riders responded to a woman's call, "They stole my phone!" and held down a suspect until police could arrest the man.
MBTA passengers in Jamaica Plain rallied to a woman's call of "they stole my phone!" and wrestled a suspect to the floor at Stony Brook T station. The incident took place on Friday at 12:24 a.m. Just as an Orange Line train opened its doors, someone allegedly grabbed a cell phone from a passenger and fled with two other men. All three had been sitting near the victim: one to her left and two across from her. The woman's cry for help didn't go unheeded, according to a Transit Police report. A witness, who had reached the top of the escalator, heard the call and wrapped the main suspect in a bear hug to bring him down. One of the suspects' associates allegedly hit the witness twice, briefly freeing the main suspect. But that didn't last long…
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The woman noticed "a disgusting smell and something wet on her jacket," according to a report from MBTA Transit Police.
A man ejaculated on a 21-year-old Cambridge woman riding the Red Line into Davis Square, according to a report from MBTA Transit Police. According to the report, the woman got on the Red Line train at Alewife Station at about 10:45 a.m. Tuesday and began to read the Boston Metro newspaper. As the train pulled into Davis Square Station, "the victim noticed what she described as a disgusting smell and something wet on her jacket, and [she] also noticed a male party next to her with his hands down his pants," the report says. The woman initially accused the man of urinating on her, and he said, "no no" while zipping his pants up, the report says. At this point, "the victim reached down to her left side and felt a wet substance on her jacket. …
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Check out some interesting online images and animations, one of the planned Green Line extension, another showing how the MBTA has expanded and changed over the years.
The MBTA Board voted Wednesday on a plan to increase fares and make service cuts and administrative changes to balance its budget. Given the interest things MBTA, we want to point you to some cool online projects that illuminate both the history and future of the transportation system. The website vanshnookenraggen.com has a cool animation that allows you to watch how the MBTA has grown and changed over time. It starts in 1897 with three stops—at Park Street, Boylston Street and Pleasant Street in downtown Boston—and progresses forward in time. It includes the moment, in 1984, when the Red Line expanded to Porter and Davis squares, and ends in 2009, when the Silver Line to City Point ended and the Silver Line from Dudley Square to South …
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The MBTA faces a budget deficit heading into the next fiscal year which begins July 1.
It's official: Beginning July 1, Somerville riders will be paying more to ride the T. After all of the talk, public hearings, and protests over the past three months, the MBTA Board voted Wednesday afternoon to boost fares 23 percent and cut back service in an attempt to close a projected $161 million deficit in the next fiscal year. Board members approved a plan in a 4-1 vote that would raise most subway fares by 30 cents, bus fares by 25 cents, and commuter rail fares by at least $1.25. Meanwhile, some cuts in service—mainly involving bus routes, The Ride, and the commuter rail—were also approved. Many people showed up at today's hearing and were given a chance to talk during a one-hour "public speaking" session before the vote. They …
The Red Line was shut down between Harvard and JFK/UMass Wednesday morning, according to press reports.
Red Line riders faced a nasty commute into Boston Wednesday morning when a fire shut down the subway service for about an hour, according to press reports. According to Boston.com, the fire started in the tunnel near Downtown Crossing and the MBTA shut down service between Harvard and JFK/UMass stations, replacing trains with bus service. The shutdown lasted from about 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Boston.com reports. The Boston Herald reported "smoldering cables" on the ground and walls of Downtown Crossing station, and the MBTA had to shut down service to allow firefighters to put them out. Sounds like a nightmare commute. Anyone got stories?
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The proposed fare increases would be disproportionately detrimental to youth, seniors and the disabled, protesters say.
John Robinson, of Somerville, said that like many people with disabilities he depends on the T. Being blind in one eye, he cannot drive, and he says that the proposed increase from $20 to $28 for his Transportation Access Pass will further chip away at the $700 or so he receives every month in disability pay. If the Department of Transportation passes its proposed MBTA fare increases Wednesday afternoon, Robinson could face some difficult decisions. So could Curtis Shelnut, would would need to choose which dialysis session to skip or which medical appointment to miss. "This is my livelihood," Shelnut, who lives on St. Botolph Street in Boston, said of his access to medical services, which is provided by the MBTA's The Ride. "I'm speaking …
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Youth from Somerville's Teen Empowerment joined peers from other nearby cities.
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Sunday, April 1
Editor's note: The following was sent by Teen Empowerment, and it's been slightly edited to so that references to days and dates make sense at the time of posting. Youth demand action from State House to stop fare hikes 700 teens march in support of an affordable MBTA system [BOSTON – March 30] On Thursday, 700 youth from Boston, Somerville, Chelsea, Cambridge, Brookline and Quincy rallied in downtown Boston to voice opposition to the proposed MBTA fare hike and service cuts. Marching one day after the MBTA’s final proposal for a 23 percent fare hike, teens from the Youth Affordabili(T) Coalition (YAC) blasted MassDOT and State House leaders for not doing enough to protect youth riders. “We depend on the T for school, work, healthcare …
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Teen Empowerment
236a Pearl St, Somerville, MA
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Thursday, March 29, 2012
Are you happy with the MBTA's recommendations for fare hikes and service changes?
On Wednesday, the MBTA and Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced recommendations for closing a $161 million budget gap in fiscal year 2013, which begins on July 1. The recommendation uses fare increases, one-time payments from the state, administrative changes and some service cuts and reductions to balance the budget. In January, the MBTA had proposed two different scenarios for closing the budget gap, and those scenarios called for even more fare increases and service cuts. Before issuing its recommendations Wednesday, MassDOT solicited feedback from the public, and according to a MassDOT report, the transit authority held 25 meetings and 6 public hearings; 5,800 people attended the gatherings, 1800 people spoke, and 5800 …
Joe Beckmann
9:50 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012
In 1903, when New York City opened the Interborough Rapid Transit, it tripled the value of the Manhattan campus of Columbia University, whose President, Seth Low, was a former Mayor of the city. What will Tufts realize with the College Avenue station, and what will they contribute? A Mayor? a Dog Catcher? more ›