The $1 billion contract to operate the Boston’s commuter rail system is the largest contract in state history.
One company might soon stand alone in a bidding race for a $1 billion commuter rail transit service contract. Keolis America Inc. is reportedly ready to drop out of the bidding because the MBTA is withholding key information including labor costs, according to Boston.com Thursday. The only other group to submit a bid, Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail, already operates the system. A Keolis official has accused MBTA of withholding information on purpose to force them to back out, according to Boston.com. Keolis has set a deadline of Friday, according to the story. Over 70,000 riders use the commuter rail every day. A Mass Bay Commuter Rail spokesman told Boston.com they have supplied Keolis with 10 gigabytes of information on the system, …
Without additional funding, MBTA officials are forced to make difficult choices.
MBTA riders could see fares go up in the not-so-distant future if legislators don’t accept Gov. Deval Patrick’s ambitious funding plan. T General Manager Beverley Scott said Tuesday the T will likely hold off on spending $45 million for preventative maintenance and hike fairs to close a projected budget gap of $117 million, factoring in increased ridership and advertising this year, the Boston Globe reported Wednesday. Director of Strategic Initiatives for the MBTA Charles Planck said at a March 5 MBTA finance committee meeting that fare increases could go up 33 percent under the proposal, which means subway fares would move up from $2 to $2.60. Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard Davey testified before the…
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State Transportation Secretary Richard Davey said at a hearing last week that the 75 double-decker coaches are “severely late,” but they will be worth the wait.
In 2008, the MBTA bought 75 new commuter rail cars from Korean-based Hyundai Rotem but the T is still waiting for the cars to be delivered. Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard Davey said at a State House oversight committee hearing last week that the state is still waiting on 75 double-decker coaches for the commuter rail. The MBTA bought the coaches in 2008 from Korean company Hyundai Rotem. “They are late, severely late,” Davey said. He added, however, that MBTA engineers are satisfied with the quality of the cars. Philadelphia and Los Angeles are in front of Boston in terms of waiting for the cars, but transit engineers in both cities are satisfied with the cars as well, Davey said. “At this point while …
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In the aftermath of a Saturday night attack on a bus driver in Dorchester that involved up to 15 assailants, the Boston Carman's Union wants to make it possible for police to arrest suspects in such cases without a warrant.
The president of the MBTA operator’s union is calling for increased efforts on part of police, prosecutors and lawmakers in the wake of a 15-person attack on a bus driver in Dorchester Saturday. Boston Carmen’s Union Local 589 John Lee said in a statement published on the union’s website March 10 that such attacks deserve immediate attention by state lawmakers. “The Boston Carmen’s Union ATU Local 589 is relieved and thankful that the Bus Driver, attacked in the early morning hours, was not more seriously injured,” the statement said. "However this assault by a reported mob on an isolated Local 589 member simply doing his job illustrates the need for public safety officials and the legislature to act quickly before a transit worker is …
Fare hikes and service cuts are a few options T officials proposed in an effort to close the $130 million budget deficit in 2014.
MBTA officials have proposed service cuts and fare increases if there is no increase in funding, based on a $130 million projected budget deficit in fiscal year 2014. Director of Strategic Initiatives for the MBTA Charles Planck said at a MBTA finance committee meeting that in order to close the budget gap T fares will need to go up 33 percent, which means subway fares would move up from $2 to $2.60, The Boston Globe reported Wednesday. There was also talk at the meeting of a 15 percent fare increase coupled with the possible elimination of up to 30 bus routes, according to the Globe. Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled an ambitious transportation plan in February that would potentially raise $1.02 billion per year for the next 10 years, some of …
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Electronic devices - especially iPhones - are the most widely stolen items while using MBTA services.
MBTA Transit Police wrote in a blog post Tuesday that iPhones are the most widely thieved item on the T. Police also offered tips on how to keep your stuff safe while riding public transportation (from the blog post): Police also pointed to a public service announcement video on how to keep your stuff safe produced by New York's Metro Transit Authority.
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Of the 43 robberies that took place on the MBTA system between Jan. 1 and Feb. 26, 36 involved the targeted thefts of electronic devices, specifically iPhones.
Staring at one’s cell phone while riding public transportation has become commonplace, but transit police say this ordinary practice could be contributing to electronic device thefts. Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 26, there were 43 robberies on the MBTA system, according to a post on the MBTA Transit Police blog. Thirty-six of those 43 thefts – or 84 percent – involved electronic devices, most notably smart phones such as the widely used Apple iPhone. “Unfortunately, thefts of smart phones/electronic devices (most notably Apple products) is a nationwide trend,” the blog post says. “This trend often referred to as ‘Apple Picking’ is for the most part a crime of opportunity.” The blog post provides tips on how to mitigate the chances your phone …
Due to the strain on resources, the MBTA has no plans as of now to extend service hours despite massive local interest.
The days of the Night Owl bus service are long gone, and as of now, they may not return. MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said until the state implements Gov. Deval Patrick’s recent 21st Century Plan transportation budget roll out, late night service is out of the question. “Given the enormous strain on the MBTA’s limited resources, the Authority cannot even consider an extension of service hours before action is taken on the 21st Century Transportation Plan,” Pesaturo wrote in an email. The Night Owl bus service, which ran buses from the end of service at 1 a.m. to 2:30 a.m., existed between 2001 and 2005, but was too costly to maintain. Another major issue working against late night service is the short time it allows for crews to perform …
What is it your fellow passengers do that you wish they wouldn't?
Anyone who's spent any time on the MBTA has opinions about how their experience could be better – and a lot of those ideas involve other passengers. A couple of weeks ago the MBTA rolled out their fifth campaign in 12 years to remind riders to be human beings when on the T. We're talking stuff like not abusing drivers, letting disabled people sit down and not sneezing all over the person in the next seat. Last week, blogger Mike Tremblay wrote his own guide on proper public transportation behavior, “The MBTA Etiquette Handbook” on his blog The Third String Catcher. What would you add to these lists? If you could change one thing about rider behavior, what would it be? Tell us in the comments.
MBTA rider Mike Tremblay has penned a user's guide to riding Boston’s transit system.
Do you know how to prioritize which seat you should pick on a packed commuter rail train? Do you have any idea which door do you should take to exit an MBTA bus? How about casual conversation, how much is too much? One local transit rider has dissected life on the MBTA and written answers to every possible question in terms of riding Boston’s public transportation system. Blogger Mike Tremblay has written the definitive guide to navigating the MBTA titled, “The MBTA Etiquette Handbook” on his blog The Third String Catcher. The post is broken down by mode of transportation, and has sub-sections that discuss the issue of personal space – it’s limited, so: “Don’t exacerbate the situation…by putting your stuff on the seat, shifting around too …
