Transportation Reform
In March 2009, Governor Patrick announced a bill to bring much needed reform and revenue to our state transportation agencies, to better fund the maintenance and expansion of our infrastructure and make better use of our existing transportation dollars.
Why support the gas tax, part of the Governor’s Transportation plan?
- The proposal balances reform with raising revenues to bring our transportation system into the 21st century.
- The unacceptable alternative is continuous increase in fares and decrease in service for MBTA riders-- the hardest hit will be the working class. If this legislation does not pass, expect an MBTA fare increase to about $2.70 per ride, and about a 50% reduction in service on evenings and weekends starting this summer.
- Increased funding for infrastructure improvements in non-Boston areas is included.
LivableStreets Alliance along with many other organizations support the increase in the gas tax as the best option to raise the needed revenues.
Press Release: Transportation, environmental advocates warn fare hikes imminent (March 23, 2009) [pdf]
Letter to Chairman Baddour and Chairman Wagner of the State Transportation Committee (March 23, 2009) [pdf]
In the Boston Globe, Bierman reports: "Massachusetts business groups yesterday endorsed a 25-cent increase in the state gas tax, a more aggressive hike than Governor Deval Patrick's 19-cent request, saying that the state needs to move even faster to fix its ailing network of roads and bridges to encourage a strong business climate." [ click here for the entire article]
Read Bluestone and Pollack's op-ed in the Globe: "Gas tax: Paying cents to save big bucks."
Read State Sen. James Eldridge's article: “Investing in Transportation”
Additional information
Click here to read the entire bill in PDF form
Massachusetts State Website: http://www.youmovemassachusetts.org