The decision by MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey to eliminate effective July 1, 2012 alcohol advertising on MBTA property is gaining strong support from Executive Office of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby.
Secretary Bigby in a post on the Commonwealth Conversations Health and Human Service blog says, "We already know that young people are especially vulnerable to peer pressure when it comes to drinking alcohol. What may come as a surprise is just how influential alcohol advertisements are on youth."
Visit the HHS blog to read the entire post: http://hhs.blog.state.ma.us/
The MBTA next week continues a series of more than 20 public hearings regarding proposed fare and service changes with four hearings in Lowell, Lynn, Boston, and Hingham.
The public is encouraged to participate. Times and locations for next week's meetings are as follows:
Monday, February 6, Lowell- 5:00-7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers, 375 Merrimack Street
Tuesday, February 7, Lynn- 6:00-8:00 PM, City Hall Auditorium, Main Floor, 3 City Hall Square
Wednesday, February 8, Boston- 4:30-6:30 PM, Shriners Hospital Auditorium, 51 Blossom Street
Wednesday, February 8, Hingham- 6:00-8:00 PM, Town Hall Sanborn Auditorium, 210 Central Street
For a full list of future public meetings and information, please visit MBTA.com/join the discussion.
Have your voice heard by sending an email with your questions, comments, and ideas to fareproposal@mbta.com.
The MBTA’s public outreach process continues with the acceptance of public comment through March 1, 2012 electronically at mbta.com, by email at fareproposal@mbta.com, via mail to MBTA, Ten Park Plaza, Boston, Ma 02116, Attention: Fare Proposal Committee, and by phone at 617-222-3200/ TTY (617) 222-5146.
A final fare increase and service reduction recommendation will be made to the MBTA’s Board of Directors this spring and changes will be implemented on July 1, 2012.
Starting today, riders of certain MTBA bus routes can receive real-time bus schedules sent by text message to their mobile phones as part of a partnership with software company CooCoo.
A rider can use any mobile phone to make a schedule request and get an immediate text response. For example, bus riders can text “MBTA Bus [stop ID]” to 266266. The stop ID is available at www.coocoo.com/MBTA.
The real-time text message pilot will be expanded to additional MBTA bus routes and commuter rail trains in the coming weeks. CooCoo’s text-based service is available free of charge to commuters. The MBTA will receive a modest portion of revenues generated by advertising linked to the service.
CooCoo, a New York-based company, also has partnerships with the Long Island Railroad, Metro North Rail Road and New Jersey Transit, with further expansion planned.
The CooCoo partnership is the latest innovative step by the MBTA to provide customers with real-time information about bus and train location and arrival. The U.S. Department of Transportation last month pointed to the MBTA as a transit agency leading the way nationally in these initiatives.
Visit the MBTA App Showcase to check out the latest apps built by independent developers at no cost to the T that help customers know where the next bus or train is located and when it will arrive.
MBTA ridership saw a record-setting year in 2011. Average weekday ridership for the entire year was 1.279 million, the highest weekday ridership for a calendar year in MBTA history.
2011 ridership exceeded the previous record year of 2008. 2011 average weekday ridership was 4.5 percent greater than 2010.
The total number of 389.8 million unlinked passenger trips is also the highest for a calendar year in the MBTA era beginning in the 1960's.
December 2011 average weekday ridership was 11.3 percent greater than December 2010, the largest monthly increase in almost four years. The average weekday ridership has been higher compared to the previous year for 11 consecutive months.
MBTA Acting General Manager Jonathan Davis sayes the record ridership reflects a strengthening economy and a strong demand for public transportation.
Visit www.mbta.com to buy Charlie Cards & Tickets.
The MBTA next week continues a series of more than 20 public hearings regarding proposed fare and service changes with four hearings in Boston neighborhoods. The public is encouraged to participate.
Tuesday, January 31, Mattapan: 6:00-8:00 PM, Mildred Avenue Community Center, 5 Mildred Avenue
Wednesday, February 1, Jamaica Plain: 6:00-8:00 PM, Hennigan Community Center, 200 Heath Street
Thursday, February 2, Dorchester: 1:00-3:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM , Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, 1353 Dorchester Avenue
For a full list of future public meetings and information, please visit MBTA.com/join the discussion.
Have your voice heard by sending an email with your questions, comments, and ideas to fareproposal@mbta.com.
The MBTA’s public outreach process continues with the acceptance of public comment through March 1, 2012 electronically at mbta.com, by email at fareproposal@mbta.com, via mail to MBTA, Ten Park Plaza, Boston, Ma 02116, Attention: Fare Proposal Committee, and by phone at 617-222-3200/ TTY (617) 222-5146.
A final fare increase and service reduction recommendation will be made to the MBTA’s Board of Directors this spring and changes will be implemented on July 1, 2012.
The U.S. Department of Transportation this week singled out the MBTA as among those transit agencies leading the way nationally in facilitating smart phone transit apps that provide customers with real-time information about bus and train location and arrival.
A USDOT "FastLane" blog article entitled, "Transit Apps Empower Riders with Information," says more people use public transportation when they have access to more accurate information about the location and arrival time of the next bus or train. Yet its review of 276 transit agencies found just 15 that offer riders real-time information about the next arrival. It provides the MBTA as one example:
"Boston's MBTA had one solution. They discovered that opening the data from their system to the public actually reduced their own costs because app developers and everyday citizens took the data and designed ways to make it useful to riders. One coffee shop actually has installed a real-time countdown sign that tells customers when the next train is due at a nearby station."
Read the entire article on the USDOT FastLane blog. And visit the MBTA App Showcase to check out the latest apps built by independent developers at no cost to the T that help customers know where the next bus or train is located and when it will arrive.
The MBTA recently proposed fare and service changes to help close the MBTA’s $161 million budget deficit for FY2013. The MBTA is holding more than 20 public meetings to allow T riders to be heard about the proposed changes and thanks all those who participated in the first four meetings.
The public discussion continues next week with the following public meetings:
Monday January 23, Boston- 1:00-3:00 PM, Transportation Building, Floor 2 Conference Rooms 2-3, 10 Park Plaza
Monday, January 23, Boston- 4:30-6:30 PM, Transportation Building, Floor 2 Conference Rooms 2-3, 10 Park Plaza
Tuesday, January 24, Attleboro- 4:30-8:00 PM, Attleboro High School, 100 Rathbun Willard Drive
Wednesday, January 25, Salem - 6:00-8:00 PM, City Hall Annex 3rd Floor Conference Room, 120 Washington Street
For a full list of future public meetings and information, please visit MBTA.com/join the discussion.
Have your voice heard by sending an email with your questions, comments, and ideas to fareproposal@mbta.com.
The MBTA’s public outreach process continues with the acceptance of public comment through March 1, 2012 electronically at mbta.com, by email at fareproposal@mbta.com, via mail to MBTA, Ten Park Plaza, Boston, Ma 02116, Attention: Fare Proposal Committee, and by phone at 617-222-3200/ TTY (617) 222-5146.
A final fare increase and service reduction recommendation will be made to the MBTA’s Board of Directors this spring and changes will be implemented on July 1, 2012.
The MBTA recently proposed fare and service changes to help close the MBTA’s $161 budget deficit for FY2013. Over the coming weeks, the MBTA will be holding more than 20 public meetings so T riders can make their voices heard about these proposed changes.
The public discussion kicks off next week with the first four public meetings:
Tuesday, January 17, 5:30-7:30 pm, Newton City Hall, War Memorial Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Avenue
Tuesday, January 17, 6:00-8:00 pm, Worcester Public Library, Saxe Room, 3 Salem Square
Wednesday, January 18, 6:00-8:00 pm, Chelsea Public Library Auditorium, 569 Broadway
Thursday, January 19, 6:00-8:00 pm, Roxbury Community College Auditorium, 1234 Columbus Avenue
In the coming weeks, there will be more than 15 additional meetings throughout greater Boston and the MBTA service area. For a full list of meetings and information, please visit MBTA.com/join the discussion.
The purpose of these meetings is to solicit your ideas and suggestions to improve the recommendations. You know your communities best and we are counting on you for smart solutions.
Can’t make one of the meetings? Have your voice heard by sending an email with your questions, comments, and ideas to fareproposal@mbta.com.
The MBTA has proposed two possible scenarios to handle the budget deficit. Scenario 1 includes a larger fare increase but smaller service cut, protecting 98% of bus passengers. Scenario 2 is a smaller increase but a larger service cut, protecting 76% of bus route customers. Under both proposals, the MBTA will continue to have some of the lowest fares in the country.
In recent years, the MBTA has worked to keep the system moving forward despite facing numerous financial challenges. For example, the MBTA released real-time bus, subway, and commuter data that is now available through more than 40 smartphone apps. The T also put into service new Blue Line trains, upgraded stations, and made other improvements.
The MBTA’s public outreach process continues with the acceptance of public comment through March 1, 2012 electronically at mbta.com, by email at fareproposal@mbta.com, via mail to MBTA, Ten Park Plaza, Boston, Ma 02116, Attention: Fare Proposal Committee, and by phone at 617-222-3200/ TTY (617) 222-5146.
A final fare increase and service reduction recommendation will be made to the MBTA’s Board of Directors this spring and changes will be implemented on July 1, 2012.
The Patrick-Murray Administration in partnership with the City of Boston today announced the MBTA & Boston Bikes Developers Challenge. This challenge encourages development of apps that help Boston residents use the MBTA and New Balance Hubway to travel through the Boston area. These apps will highlight the transit connections between these two low cost and environmentally friendly transportation systems. Developers are also asked to develop apps to help residents and visitors learn about and locate Boston food trucks.
“This is a first of its kind collaboration to inspire innovation in delivering improved customer service for transit users at minimal cost to the taxpayer,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey. “We are pleased to partner with the City and Mayor Menino to connect our buses and trains with the successful bike sharing program.”
"We’re excited to partner with MassDOT and tap into the talent and interests of our local developer community," said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “The apps that this challenge will create will help locals and visitors, alike, see more of our city, its neighborhoods, and its great places to eat.”
The contest includes three challenge areas for software developers:
• Applications Challenge: build a website, mobile app, or other software application using real-time data from the MBTA & New Balance Hubway highlighting transit connections between systems.
• Visualization Challenge: create a visualization of “A Day in the Life of the MBTA + New Balance Hubway” using MBTA historical bus location data and station inventory data from New Balance Hubway.
• The BLT (Bikes, Lunch & T) Challenge: create a website, mobile app or other software applications to help residents and visitors learn about and get to Boston’s food trucks.
The Challenge begins today, and applications and visualizations may be submitted through 5pm on February 24th. The Challenge winners will be announced at a future Developer event before the New Balance Hubway re-opens for spring. Winning developers in each challenge area will receive a one year MBTA CharlieCard LinkPass, a one year New Balance Hubway Membership, and two free passes to area food truck Festivals.
MBTA real-time bus or trip planning applications and information are available at www.mbta.com/apps
Check the MassDOT Developers page for information and data links. Learn more about the New Balance Hubway bike sharing system and the Boston area food trucks.
