03/09/2012

MBTA Fare, Service Hearing March 12

MBTA Fare and Services public hearings conclude next week. More than 5,400 people have attended public meetings across the T service area.  Public participation has been appreciated and encouraged. Time and location for next week's public hearing is as follows::

Monday, March 12, 5:30-7:30 PM- Brighton, Veronica B. Smith Senior Center, 20 Chestnut Hill Avenue

For a full list of future public meetings and information, please visit:
http://www.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 12, 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.

Tunnel Awareness Campaign

MassDOT along with public safety partners announced a public awareness campaign to inform motorists of the steps they should take in the event of an accident or breakdown inside the Metropolitan Highway System Tunnels.

“Drivers finding themselves involved in a crash, or stuck in a disabled vehicle, need to know the safest plan is to remain in their car until help arrives,” MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey said.

Along with encouraging drivers to remain in their vehicles, the campaign reminds drivers that video streams of the tunnel system are monitored 24/7 by MassDOT’s Highway Operations Center. State Police are ready to respond to tunnel incidents within minutes.

To increase tunnel emergency awareness, an informational brochure is being handed out for the first time today at toll plazas on the Tobin Bridge, the Airport Tunnels and the Allston/Brighton plaza. Fast Lane customers will receive this information via email as part of their monthly statements. Also, billboards with tunnel awareness tips are now in rotation on the digital boards along I-93 in Medford and Stoneham.

The awareness campaign was created in the wake of the death of a motorist inside the O’Neill Tunnel in November 2011.

Other tips for drivers include: pulling to the side of the road, activating hazard flashing lights and calling 911. If there is fire, drivers should turn off the engine and immediately exit the vehicle

Learn more about MassDOT tunnel safety reports and initiatives.

I-93 Message Board Alerts Commuters to Next Train

MassDOT and the MBTA announced a new “real-time” travel information collaborative initiative designed to provide I-93 Southbound commuters information about a nearby commuter rail option on the Lowell Line.

A VMS message board positioned just after the I-93 Concord Street Exit (Exit 39) will display the time of the next scheduled train departing from the Anderson-Woburn Regional Transportation Center on the Lowell Line during the morning commute.  The message will be displayed until several minutes before the next departure to allow customers enough time to exit I-93 and drive safely to the rail station.

The I-93 VMS message board will display departure times from Anderson/Woburn on the Lowell line Monday through Friday from the first train leaving the station at 5:55am through the 11:35 am train.  The message will be displayed until several minutes before each departure, then show the departure time of the following train.  Any departure with a delay of greater than 10 minutes will automatically not be displayed. 

The Anderson/Woburn station parking lot charges $4 daily.  The Anderson/Woburn stop is in Commuter Rail Zone 2, with a one-way trip cost to Boston North Station of $4.75.  The scheduled trip time is 27 minutes to North Station.  The 8:05 train with fewer stops is 21 minutes.  Visit http://www.mbta.com to learn more about fares and schedules.

MassDOT Board March Public Meeting

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Board of Directors will hold its next regular public business meeting on Wednesday, March 14 , 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.

Board Meeting Schedule