BOSTON – Gov. Charlie Baker's plans to accelerate maintenance on the struggling MBTA are too little, too late, according to critics who say more is needed to address what they call a transportation crisis.

Baker's plan comes after two MBTA trains derailed this month, making five derailments this year and 13 in the last two years.

Many, including Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, have asked to delay to the "T's" fare hike scheduled for next week, but MBTA officials say the additional money is needed to address the problems.

Chris Dempsey, director of the Transportation for Massachusetts Advocacy Coalition, says to millions of commuters, the state is sending the wrong message.

"When you look at our statewide policy, you see that fares are continuing to rise at the same time that the gas tax and tolls have been basically flat,” he points out. “So, the broader message we're sending to people is, they should take transit less and they should drive more. That is what's giving us gridlock and air pollution, and all these things that we don't want."

Research from 2018 found Boston has worse traffic congestion than any other U.S. metro area, with workers spending 164 hours a year commuting.

The governor's plans for the MBTA include a more aggressive evening and weekend closure schedule, and $50 million in funding to accelerate system repairs.

Dempsey's group maintains the MBTA crisis goes beyond economic issues. Transportation contributes 40% of all of the greenhouse gas emissions in the state – compared to the national average of 23%.

"It's a climate issue, it's a public health issue, it's an economic issue,” Dempsey states. “And we need to be adopting new policies that reduce those emissions, that reduce congestion, get more people to take transit and make our economy stronger, and also fairer and healthier at the same time."

Dempsey adds hourly workers are hit hardest by long commutes and problems with the transit system, especially those living in areas that are under-served by public transportation.


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One Arizona mayor is among the more than 2,800 elected city officials in Washington, D.C., this week for The National League of Cities' Congressional City Conference.

The conference is an opportunity for local leaders to meet with federal officials to discuss how federal policies make their way to local governments.

Roberta Cano, mayor of Winslow, said it is her second time attending the conference, which she called a "springboard" for projects in her community, one of which is a levee Winslow is trying to improve after being decertified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 2008.

She noted with the help of leaders at the Capitol, they have started the process to get the levee fixed.

"We were able to have a strong enough voice to get awarded $66 million to start the design and process to get our levee fixed," Cano reported. "Once that is repaired and is certified and all to protect our city, our economy is just going to boom."

Cano pointed out since the decertification of the levee, 90% of Winslow residents have had to get flood insurance on top of their regular home insurance, which she added has put a hefty financial burden on many.

Cano emphasized events such as the conference offer smaller cities like hers the ability to learn about federal funding and programs which otherwise would have gone unknown. Cano added it is a great chance to get to speak with other local leaders about the challenges they are facing and the solutions they are implementing.

"I pick everybody's brain as much as I can to deal with issues like recycling and housing, and even our fentanyl drug issues," Cano stated. "You want to talk about the most dynamic people in one setting, come to this conference, and you will just feel this energy. It'll blow you away."

Cano and other mayors will head to the Capitol today to meet with federal leaders and share infrastructure plans, following the recent two-year anniversary of the American Rescue Plan.


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A Minnesota bill could surface as early as this week, calling for a proposed tax increase to fund transportation needs.

Advocates and local government leaders hope lawmakers hear calls from the public to offer a range of options for residents to get around.

Transportation remains one of the issues still being debated in the current legislative session.

Sam Rockwell, executives director of the group Move Minnesota, said its recent polling indicates a majority of Minnesotans want to see more flexibility in how transit funds are spent.

"We saw 66% of Minnesotans," said Rockwell, "supporting shifting funding to support biking, walking and transit."

About 55% said they would support a regional sales tax to fund metro-area transit improvements. That's one of the recommendations from Rockwell's group to boost options.

While Democrats control the Legislature and the governor's office, it's unclear how transportation funding will come together. Republicans blocked a bonding bill, which included money for things such as walking trails, citing the need for tax relief first.

Bloomington City Council Member Patrick Martin said providing more efficient and accessible transportation options can help in a variety of ways, including helping business corridors.

"The development possibilities it opens up," said Martin, "knowing, you can say, reduced parking because there's reliable transportation nearby."

Nearly one third of Minnesotans said they would be more likely to use buses and trains if there were greater access in their neighborhoods.

Rockwell suggested that following up on that demand could help reduce emissions and personal budgets, because people wouldn't have to rely on cars as much.

"Being able to rely on your feet, on a bicycle, on the bus and the train," said Rockwell, "brings those transportation costs down."




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The transportation and warehousing industry continues to lead as Indiana's fastest-growing business sector, and has been for over a decade now, but the companies, like many others, don't have enough employees.

The Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University said despite hiring bonuses and "help wanted" signs posted at trucking companies, too many jobs remain unfilled.

Carla Rogers, director of the center, said at the onset of the pandemic, the demand for goods could not keep up with the low supply of workers.

"We suddenly started getting more and more stuff delivered," Rogers recounted. "Instead of going to a store, we were getting it delivered. That needed more trucks, more truck drivers, more people in the warehouses to do the stocking."

Rogers pointed out Indiana's Department of Workforce Development has received federal money to create "WorkOne," an online center arranged by county where people can get information on choosing or changing a career, job training and apprenticeships.

She is also optimistic Indiana will continue to offer a "high school to community college to commercial training" pipeline for the next generation of workers in these fields.

Rogers thinks the trucking industry still has some barriers to address, to help people understand truck driving can be not only a safe experience, but also a well-paid career.

"We really ought to be looking at women, young people and people of color," Rogers urged. "These are the folks that could really benefit by what trucking is doing - and also train people up to become digitally literate."

According to the Business Research Center, between 2011 and 2021, Indiana's transportation and warehousing sector grew by almost 37%, adding more than 46,000 jobs, bringing the total number of statewide transportation and warehousing jobs to more than 171,000.


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