Faced with a dysfunctional transportation system, the Governor announced a comprehensive plan to reorganize agencies, bring in more revenue (via a necessary hike in the gas tax), and cut waste. Learn more at the You Move Massachusetts site.
Somerville Journal: “Governor asks drivers for $8 a month, says transportation system ‘out of time'”
STEP signed onto the following statement with other organizations concerned about the environment and transportation improvements.
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Environmental and Public Transit Advocates Encouraged By Patrick
Transportation Plan
BOSTON-Advocates for public transit, bicycle, and walkable communities
applaud Governor Patrick’s transportation plan, which includes funding to
stabilize the MBTA, support for regional transit authorities, initiatives to
promote biking and walking, and incentives for consumers to purchase fuel
efficient vehicles.
The organizations released the following statement:
“We are very encouraged by the governor’s leadership in recognizing the
environmental, public health, and quality of life impacts that our
transportation system has on the people of Massachusetts.
This plan moves us in the right direction by sustaining a transportation
network we all rely on, and by encouraging changes to address the myriad
problems we face from an overdependence on single-occupant vehicles, such as
climate change, air pollution, traffic congestion, dependence on foreign
oil, auto accidents, sprawl, and obesity.
We support an increase to the gas tax to fund transportation. Investing in
public transportation benefits every Massachusetts resident. For example, in
2006 the automobile travel displaced by the MBTA saved 154 million gallons
of fuel, which translated into $403 million in savings for the economy. The
T also prevented 21 million hours of traffic delays that year, and reduced
carbon emissions by 1.2 million metric tons, which is the equivalent of
taking 225,000 cars off the road everyday.
The 1.3 million trips on the MBTA every workday also fuels the economy of
Greater Boston, which in turn generates 50 percent of the state’s jobs and
73 percent of the population. The income taxes on these jobs then fix
infrastructure from Pittsfield to Provincetown.”
Sincerely,
Alternatives for Community and Environment
Conservation Law Foundation
Environment Massachusetts
Environmental League of Massachusetts
Environmental Entrepreneurs
Institute for Human Centered Design
Livable Streets Alliance
Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition
Massachusetts Climate Action Network
Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters
Massachusetts Sierra Club
Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance
MASSPIRG
Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership
T Riders Union
Walk Boston