Transitmatters

Above: Massachusetts gubernatorial candidates in the 2014 race at the MassEquality 2014 Gubernatorial Forum. (Flickr: Tim Pierce)

The panel is back for a post-election show crush-loaded with over an hour of the latest transportation news and analysis, this time joined by the Walking Bostonian (Matthew Danish) to explain how the theory of induced (travel) demand applies to roads and transit in Boston. We learn about everything from our most frustrating transit line (hint: it's green) to efforts to re imagine a boulevard of death (Commonwealth Ave in Allston & Brighton) to an entirely new neighborhood about to be created in Allston -- if we get it right.

November's show would not be complete without a recap of the election including the repeal of gas tax indexing, speculation on transit's future under Governor Charlie Baker and how we might build on the legacy of the late Mayor Menino.

We also discussed: making Commonwealth Ave (Allston/Brighton) safe for people; Mass Pike straightening and the future West Station; restoration of some weekend commuter rail service; the Fairmount Line; South Station expansion and the North-South rail link; thinking about Hubway as part of the public transportation network; a lazy bike safety report; the Lynn ferry experiment; and potential transit solutions for the Seaport District.

The Transit Matters Podcast is your source for transportation news, analysis, interviews and more. We focus on sustainable transportation planning, operations and policies in Boston and beyond. Transit Matters is a joint project of local transit enthusiasts Marc Ebuna, Jeremy Mendelson and Josh Fairchild.

Read more about the podcast and send us your questions, comments and ideas for topics or guests >> contact us.  Or share your thoughts on anything we discussed in the comments below.

Like this project? Share it around, tell your friends and colleagues, and subscribe to the RSS feed (iTunes) to be notified of new posts and episodes.

Discussing the state of transit in Boston are Marc Ebuna, Jeremy Mendelson and Josh Fairchild. In this wide ranging conversation, sure to be the first of many, we discuss some of what's (not) working in our fragmented transportation network and share some potential solutions.

The present MBTA system is not much different from the trolley systems of a century ago, and over time many deficiencies have gone unaddressed. Join us for a chat and share your reactions below.

The Transit Matters Podcast is your biweekly source for transportation news, analysis, interviews and more. We focus on sustainable transportation planning, operations and policies in Boston and beyond, and we do it in the average commute time. Read more about the podcast and send us your questions, comments and ideas for topics or guests >> contact us. 

Like this podcast? Share it around, tell your friends and colleagues, and subscribe to the RSS feed (iTunes) to be notified of new posts and episodes.

Share your thoughts on anything we discussed in the comments below.

Transportation researcher Alex Epstein shares his latest work improving safety around trucks and buses. We focus on education/training, visibility and equipment such as mirrors and side guards. Ask your city, transit agency or delivery company what they are doing to prevent fatalities.

Be sure to review what bicyclists can do to establish your presence and prevent collisions with trucks and buses (and cars). For more on safe bike driving listen to Critical Transit 39 with cycling instructor Keri Caffrey. Other links include the Livable Streets Alliance, MassBike, Boston Cyclists Union and Somerville Bicycle Committee (which Alex currently chairs).

Car parking has been in the news recently: specifically, too much free parking, though that's not how it's covered. We have so many cars that a new app lets drivers sell public parking spaces when they leave and Mayor Walsh isn't too happy about it. Meanwhile, free or cheap parking is the number one factor in choosing driving over other modes and the rest of us pay the very high costs of so many cars on our streets. If this sounds crazy to you -- how could there be too many parking spaces? -- see The High Cost of Free Parking.

We finish with an excellent listener feedback on Bridj and some of the Green Line issues discussed in the first episode.

Finally, a very happy birthday to the MBTA (pdf). It's 50 years old!

UPDATE: terrific perspective on the MBTA vision (or lack thereof) at this moment.

The Transit Matters Podcast is your biweekly source for transportation news, analysis, interviews and more. We focus on sustainable transportation planning, operations and policies in Boston and beyond, and we do it in the average commute time. Read more about the podcast and send us your questions, comments and ideas for topics or guests >> contact us. 

Like this podcast? Share it around, tell your friends and colleagues, and subscribe to the RSS feed to be notified of new posts and episodes.

Share your thoughts on anything we discussed in the comments below.

Transit Matters co-editor Marc Ebuna joins me for this special inaugural episode focusing on the Green Line. Following a recent public meeting with MBTA staff, Marc shares the latest Green Line initiatives including vehicle tracking (real-time train arrival info), signal priority, stop consolidation, three-car trains, accessibility and fare collection. Also, construction on the Green Line Extension to Somerville and Medford is moving full-steam ahead. 

We saved a few minutes to talk about Bridj, the new luxury shuttle bus service which fills gaps in our transportation network in a way that is (for most of us) not useful. We share our predictions on the future of this service, and we want to hear what you think. Will you use Bridj? 

The Transit Matters Podcast is your biweekly source for transportation news, analysis, interviews and more. We focus on sustainable transportation planning, operations and policies in Boston and beyond, and we do it in the average commute time. Read more about the podcast and send us your questions, comments and ideas for topics or guests >> contact us. 

Like this podcast? Share it around, tell your friends and colleagues, and subscribe to the RSS feed to be notified of new posts and episodes.

Share your thoughts on the Green Line and other transit topics we discussed in this episode in the comments below.