01/20/2012

MBTA Fare, Service Hearings Continue

The MBTA recently proposed fare and service changes to help close the MBTA's $161 budget deficit for FY2013.  The MBTA is holding more than 20 public meetings to allow T riders to be heard about the proposed changes and thanks all those who participated in the first four meetings. 

The public discussion continues next week with the following public meetings:

Monday January 23, Boston- 1:00-3:00 PM, Transportation Building, Floor 2 Conference Rooms 2-3, 10 Park Plaza

Monday, January 23, Boston- 4:30-6:30 PM, Transportation Building, Floor 2 Conference Rooms 2-3, 10 Park Plaza

Tuesday, January 24, Attleboro- 4:30-8:00 PM, Attleboro High School, 100 Rathbun Willard Drive

Wednesday, January 25, Salem - 6:00-8:00 PM, City Hall Annex 3rd Floor Conference Room, 120 Washington Street

For a full list of future public meetings and information, please visit MBTA.com/jointhediscussion.

Have your voice heard by sending an email with your questions, comments, and ideas to fareproposal@mbta.com.

The MBTA's public outreach process continues with the acceptance of public comment through March 1, 2012 electronically at mbta.com, by email at fareproposal@mbta.com, via mail to MBTA, Ten Park Plaza, Boston, Ma  02116, Attention: Fare Proposal Committee, and by phone at 617-222-3200/ TTY (617) 222-5146. 

A final fare increase and service reduction recommendation will be made to the MBTA's Board of Directors this spring and changes will be implemented on July 1, 2012.

MBTA & Boston Bikes Developers Challenge

The Patrick-Murray Administration in partnership with the City of Boston has announced the MBTA & Boston Bikes Developers Challenge.  This challenge encourages development of apps that help Boston residents use the MBTA and New Balance Hubway to travel through the Boston area.  These apps will highlight the transit connections between these two low cost and environmentally friendly transportation systems.  Developers are also asked to develop apps to help residents and visitors learn about and locate Boston food trucks.

The contest includes three challenge areas for software developers:

• Applications Challenge: build a website, mobile app, or other software application using real-time data from the MBTA & New Balance Hubway highlighting transit connections between systems.
• Visualization Challenge: create a visualization of "A Day in the Life of the MBTA + New Balance Hubway" using MBTA historical bus location data and station inventory data from New Balance Hubway.
• The BLT (Bikes, Lunch & T) Challenge: create a website, mobile app or other software applications to help residents and visitors learn about and get to Boston’s food trucks.

Applications and visualizations may be submitted through 5pm on February 24th.  The Challenge winners will be announced at a future Developer event before the New Balance Hubway re-opens for spring.  Winning developers in each challenge area will receive a one year MBTA CharlieCard LinkPass, a one year New Balance Hubway Membership, and two free passes to area food truck Festivals.

MBTA real-time bus or trip planning applications and information are available at www.mbta.com/apps

Check the MassDOT Developers page  for information and data links.  Learn more about the New Balance Hubway bike sharing system and the Boston area food trucks.

Storm Roadway Repairs Move Forward

MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey this week announced that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has provided funding awards to aid in the repair of roadways damaged by the tornadoes that hit the central and western parts of Massachusetts on June 1, 2011, and Tropical Storm Irene on August 26, 2011.

The first award of approximately $4 million provides reimbursement to local communities for tornado damage repair. A second grant of nearly $41 million covers Tropical Storm Irene repairs, with a large portion of the funds paying for Route 2 repairs. Communities receiving reimbursement for repairs include Adams, Ashfield, Charlemont, Goshen, Hawley, and Falmouth.

Communities will use the federal funds for the following projects:

Adams- $15,000 for East Hoosac Street road and slope repairs. MassDOT previously announced an award of $120,000 for culvert repair along East Road.

Ashfield- $15,000 for Williamsburg Road road and slope repairs, $8,000 for Pleasant Street culvert and road repairs, $6,000 for Route 116 road and slope repairs.

Charlemont- $441,000 for South River Road road and slope repairs, $24,000 for North River Road road and slope repairs.  MassDOT previously announced the reimbursement of $75,000 for South River Road.

Falmouth- $300,000 for shoulder and sidewalk repairs on Menauhant Road.

These funds are in addition to reimbursements announced last month in Franklin, Berkshire and Bristol counties.

MassDOT Board February Public Meeting

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Board of Directors will hold its next regular public business meeting on Wednesday, February 1, 1:00pm, MBTA Board Room, Suite 3910, State Transportation Building, Boston.    

The MBTA Board will meet first at 1pm, followed by the MassDOT Board.  All meetings are open to the public. 

The meeting schedule is available on the MassDOT website.

http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/BoardsCommittees/BoardofDirectors/BoardMeetings.aspx