State House News Service Weekly Roundup: Backing Into Half a Cat
Four years ago Gov. Deval Patrick went to the Legislature and asked for a 19-cent gas tax increase to fund transportation. They scoffed at his idea, then raised the sales tax and swore off further revenue increases, until now. With that history in mind, a sense of irony settled over Beacon Hill this week, where there’s a possibility that the governor’s proposal to hike the income tax, lower the sales tax and eliminate some tax deductions might be driving lawmakers back to that moment in 2009 with a chance to reconsider. It would be odd if House lawmakers turned later this month to the gas tax for new revenue. But not implausible. At least not anymore. The plot thickened as the negotiations between House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Patrick – private up until now – spilled more into the public sphere. And with little to nothing else on the legislative agenda at the moment, all ears were tuned. DeLeo on Thursday went before the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce to embrace Patrick’s priorities of investing in transportation and education, with one big caveat. He committed to raising new revenue for transportation, but said the House plan would be “far more narrow in scope and of a significantly smaller size” than Patrick’s $ 1.9 billion ask. And he said he wanted to do it apart from the budget, possibly by the end of the month. And so on a snowy Friday afternoon, Patrick went before the House and Senate Ways and Means committees to testify on his own plan, an unusual but not unprecedented step by the governor to lobby lawmakers face-to-face in public with the clock ticking a little faster. And he brought charts. Click here to subscribe to MASSterlist, a free morning newsletter by State House News Service that highlights political news from a wide array of newspapers and journals in Massachusetts and New England. Cognizant of DeLeo’s comments, Patrick warned against the temptation to focus just on transportation for now and to ignore education needs until a later date. He said he did not “pad” his $ 1.9 billion investment plan, and while there may be more than one way to skin a cat, he cautioned against “backing ourselves into half a cat.” Calling “brainpower” the hallmark of Massachusetts, Patrick likened a transportation-only strategy to the idea that Texas would stop investing in oil, or Iowa turning its back on corn. And then he addressed the gas tax, a topic that has dogged him for years – in short, he was against raising it before he was for that idea. Without being specific, Patrick said he has heard that some in the Legislature want to raise […]
MBTA Not Considering Late Night Service
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 said 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 critical track maintenance, according to Pesaturo. In the 2012 Massachusetts Department of Transportation film “Boston Under: After Hours,” one segment explains that from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., crews perform maintenance on tracks while service is shut down. That hasn’t stopped T riders from pushing for late service. Boston Stay Up, a Twitter account (@beantownstayup) and Facebook group started by two Suffolk University students “trying to get the T to stay open later,” sprung up recently. Though there are no plans now, the door remains open to future late-night service. Bostinno.com reported Jan. 22 that at least some MassDOT were considering a plan if new funding could be found. “The MBTA is investigating providing service beyond our current 1 a.m. schedule on a pilot basis where there is ridership demand,” according to a statement from MassDOT officials on Bostinno. “If additional operating funds are identified, major bus routes and the most heavily traveled portions of the subway and light rail systems will be considered for extra service.” SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
MBTA Will Have Limited Subway and Bus Service Sunday
Looking to take Silver Line service out of the South End on Sunday? Well, you may want to keep shoveling out that car (or call a cab). As crews continue to dig out from the blizzard, MBTA service will remain suspended Sunday. Starting at 2 p.m., limited subway and bus service will run on the Red, Orange and Blue lines between Orient Heights and Government Center, and the Green Line between Kenmore and Lechmere, according to MBTA.com/weather. Limited bus service will also operate on the 1, 23, 28, 39, and Silver Line Washington Street only. Customers are encouraged to stay home and “use service sparingly,” if possible, the website said. Commuter rail routes will remain suspended through Sunday. The MBTA weather update says regularly scheduled MBTA service will resume Monday morning. “Customers should expect significant delays and plan extra time for their Monday morning commute as MBTA service recovers from the impacts of the storm. Due to significant snow accumulations, customers are encouraged to use caution at station platforms and bus stops,” the site says. South End Patch
MBTA Service Shutdown Through Sunday
As crews continue to dig out from the blizzard, MBTA service will remain suspended Sunday. The goal is to have service restored by Monday. Feb. 11, according to MBTA.com/weather. “The safety of customers and employees continues to be the MBTA’s top priority,” according to the site. “This continued suspension of service allows MBTA and MBCR personnel to concentrate all of their efforts on getting the transit system, from subway to bus to commuter rail, up and running as soon as possible,” the site says. South End Patch
MBTA Service Suspended Saturday
The now two-day blizzard that has crushed Boston has caused the MBTA to stay shut down through Saturday. “Due to the impacts of a severe winter storm, MBTA service will remain suspended on all modes Saturday, February 9, 2013,” says a post on MBTA.com. MBTA personnel will be clearing tracks in an effort to get the subways, commuter rail trains and buses back up and running. The MBTA does not have an estimate on when service will resume. For updates and other information about the Feb. 8-9 winter storm, see South End Patch’s storm center. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
MBTA Service Suspended Friday Afternoon
The MBTA will close down at 3:30 p.m. Friday because of the winter storm, according to an alert posted Thursday evening on the transit authority’s winter advisory page. “Due to a severe winter storm forecasted to hit the MBTA’s service area, the MBTA will suspend all modes of service effective at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8,” the advisory states. Regular MBTA service will operate “with significant delays” from the start of service Friday until the 3:30 p.m. cutoff, MBTA officials wrote. “With severe winds and heavy snow forecasted for metropolitan Boston, this decision has been made with the safety of customers and employees being the MBTA’s top priority at all times,” according to the advisory. “The suspension of service will also allow MBTA and MBCR personnel to concentrate all of their efforts on making sure the transit system, from subway to bus to commuter rail, is up and running as soon as possible.” South End residents can visit MBTA.com to view all service impacts and other information and sign up here to receive T alerts by cell phone. More South End Patch Storm Coverage Blizzard Warning Issued for Boston How Boston Cleans Up After a Snowstorm — And What You Can Do NSTAR Offers Tips to Prepare for Snowstorm MBTA: How to Know What’s Running During a Storm City Taking Precautions to Deal with Serious Winter Storm Weekend Storm Alert Upgraded to Blizzard Watch SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch