transportation

Transportation Bill Faces Uncertain Fate In Mass. Senate

Paul Tuthill — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:08:59 +0000

The Massachusetts House of Representatives is poised to vote on raising taxes, including a 3 cent increase in the gasoline tax, to fund the state’s transportation system.

The $500 million dollar tax increase faces an uncertain fate in the Massachusetts Senate, according to Democratic State Senator James Welch of West Springfield.

Mass. Lawmakers Begin Debate on Legislative Leaders' Transportation Plan

Lucas Willard — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:49:13 +0000

The transportation funding plan unveiled by Democratic leaders in the Massachusetts state legislature has been met with a mixed response, with Democratic Governor Deval Patrick threatening to veto the plan if certain objectives aren’t met and House Republicans criticizing the plan for raising taxes without making other reforms to government.

And lawmakers in the Berkshires seem to be equally as divided on supporting the plan introduced by House Speaker Robert Deleo and Senate President Therese Murray, both Democrats, last week.

Mass. Governor Criticizes Legislative Leaders' Transportation Plan

Lucas Willard — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:20:47 +0000

Democratic leaders in the Massachusetts legislature and House Republicans both answered Governor Deval Patrick’s 2014 transportation budget with plans of their own, but the governor is warning that a plan too small would hurt low and middle income families .

Berkshire Group Launches Grassroots Public Transit Campaign

Lucas Willard — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:07:28 +0000

A recently launched grassroots campaign advocating for improved public transportation in the Berkshires is now online, and some are hoping that it will catch on in communities across Massachusetts.

The Wish I Had Transit campaign was recently launched by volunteers in the Northern Berkshires, in less than two weeks since the idea of using social media to demonstrate the need for improved public transportation was discussed at a community forum in North Adams.

Mass. Secretary of Transportation Discusses Bond Bill in Berkshires

Lucas Willard — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Massachusetts’ Secretary of Transportation visited the Berkshires on Thursday to pitch the governor’s transportation budget, and to discuss the newly filed transportation bond bill with local legislators and heads of town governments.

Prep Work to Begin for NYC DEP Bypass Tunnel

Allison Dunne — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 16:18:01 +0000

Construction work begins this month in two Hudson Valley counties to prepare for a new bypass tunnel. New York City Department of Environmental Protection officials say site-preparation work will soon begin for the Rondout-West Branch Bypass Tunnel, a roughly $1 billion project that will repair leaks in the Delaware Aqueduct. DEP contractors will begin working at sites in Newburgh, in Orange County; and in Wappinger, in Dutchess County, where shafts will be built to allow for the construction of the 2.5-mile bypass tunnel. Last year, DEP purchased several properties off Route 9W in the Town of Newburgh, just north of Pine Road, where it will build one of the shafts. The shaft construction site in the Town of Wappinger, off River Road North, will be built on property already owned by DEP. The site work and bypass construction will be done through a project labor agreement with the Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council. The agreement is expected to create roughly 160 jobs.

Berkshires Hear Gov. Patrick's Call for Investment in Transportation, Education

Lucas Willard — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Out of many of the proposals Governor Patrick made in this State of the State address, an increase in transportation & infrastructure spending in particular struck a chord in the Berkshires.

The Governor’s specific mention of connecting Pittsfield to New York with commuter rail service was of particular interest to Pittsfield state representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier….

MassDOT Says $13 Billion Needed For Transportation Over Next Decade

Paul Tuthill — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:45:00 +0000

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation issued a much anticipated plan Monday to improve public transportation, expand passenger rail and fix crumbling highways and bridges. But, exactly how to pay for it all is left for another day.

MassDOT Hears Comments on Pittsfield Bridge Project

Lucas Willard — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:00:00 +0000

As the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is developing its plan to replace a bridge over a vital freight rail corridor in Pittsfield, members of the public are being asked for their opinions. WAMC’s Berkshire bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports…

Long Term Funding Plan Being Prepared For Mass. Transportation

Paul Tuthill — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:03:14 +0000

Massachusetts is facing huge budget deficits in its highway and mass transit systems. The Patrick administration is likely to call early next year for higher taxes and tolls. The state, meanwhile, is putting millions of dollars more into a major transportation project in western Massachusetts. WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.