It’s no secret that our transit system needs help. Recent MBTA failings have put riders at risk and called attention to outdated infrastructure and safety measures.
And that’s just in the Boston area. Across our state, there’s a serious gap in access to reliable public transportation. This doesn’t just hurt our economy — it also makes it that much tougher to reduce air pollution and fight climate change and it worsens congestion.
To literally move Massachusetts forward, we’ve got to build a transit system that works for all of us. That’s exactly what I plan to do under my proposed Transportation Agenda. Our holistic approach would overhaul the MBTA’s safety standards, update infrastructure, expand regional transportation options, and maintain our roads and bridges.
I’ll get into some more of the nitty gritty details in a moment, and at the end of the email I’m going to ask you to add your name as a citizen co-sponsor of my plan.
Here’s why: Having a strong transit system isn’t just about helping people get from Point A to Point B. It’s about increasing access to all regions of our state to help their communities and economies grow. It’s about giving people a reliable, safe way to commute to work. And it’s about cutting down on automobile emissions to give our kids cleaner air to breathe.
It will take a lot of work to build a system that serves all of us, but I know we can do it if we all come together. Here are a few more highlights from my Transportation Agenda:
- Appointing a Transportation Safety Chief to conduct a full safety review of rail and bus operations, and roads and bridges.
- Implementing low-income fares and unlimited bus transfers, with a pathway to fare free buses.
- Work with vocational technical schools and community colleges to create a pipeline for the next generation of transportation workers.
- Ensure we lead on climate by electrifying public transportation so that all our buses, trains and subways can operate on 100% clean power by 2040.
Thanks so much,
Maura