Jef NickersonMassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey today in Springfield announced a statewide mode shift goal of tripling the share of travel in Massachusetts by bicycling, transit and walking.
With the mode shift goal MassDOT will be able to foster improved quality of life by improving our environment and preserving capacity on our highway network; by letting other travel options absorb travel demand that contributes to highway congestion that is slowing our potential for economic growth. In addition, we will achieve positive public health outcomes by providing more healthy transportation options.
As noted by DC Streetsblog, Secretary Davey is the only state transportation head in the country who does not own a car. :swoon:
Greater City Providence
There is an opportunity to speak for the same goal of tripling transit/bike/ped travel in RI (I would suggest consideration of adding carpool passengers) when there is a public hearing on updating RI’s longterm (20 year) transportation plan, probably 6:30pm Thurs Nov 15 at the DOA building on Smith St.
Too bad that the MBTA is still in a massive deficit hole thanks in large part to the MassDOT shifting mitigation debt onto them in addition to shady loan deals undertaken by the MBTA.
Too bad MassDOT and MassDEP are tirelessly working towards eliminating their legal obligation to complete the necessary studies for the Red-Blue Connector, without which Park Street, State Street, Downtown Crossing and Government Center are all certainly going to exceed their capacity limits and fail within 20 years, if not 10.
Too bad all signs point to ‘just hike fares and cut services…again’ for patching over the MBTA’s budget hole next year, continuing the trend of kicking the can down the road.
Too bad public transit in the state of Massachusetts effectively ends at the 495 corridor, placing more than half of the state in a transit black hole.
Yeah, it’s really just too bad that all those inconvenient facts still hold true, since they mean I have to sit here and call Secretary Davey a liar, misguided, incompetent or some combination of all three. I wish I could’ve commented in full support of the man, but I can’t.