Long story short: Gov. Patrick has proposed a 10 year Transportation Plan. It’s a very good plan – lots of long overdue infrastructure investment and the funding necessary to support a quality public transportation system:
The MBTA would run until 2 a.m. on weekends, replacements for 1960s and ’70s subway cars would be assembled in Massachusetts production plants, and passenger trains would run regularly to Springfield and the Berkshires, if the Patrick administration wins support for the transportation plan the governor unveiled this week…
Administration officials have taken pains to stress that most of the money would go to badly needed maintenance and to clear debt and annual deficits that have bogged down the transportation system for years.
Summary of the plan can be found here. Details are here. Unfortunately, it has opposition.
What’s the issue? Gov. Patrick’s plan would run $1.9B next year. There’s an alternative plan supported by Speaker Deleo. Funding for that plan is nominally $500M. (Although if you read below, $300M may be closer to the mark.) This is a case of “You get what you pay for.” Gov. Patrick has threatened to veto DeLeo’s plan but whether DeLeo can round up enough votes to override Patrick’s veto remains to be seen.
Why additional revenues are needed and what they’ll be used for:
What can you do to help get the Patrick plan passed?
Call Speaker DeLeo and Senate President Murray and tell them to support Gov. Patrick’s plan. Speaker DeLeo’s contact info:
- Phone: 617-722-2500
- Fax: 617-722-2008
- Email: Robert.DeLeo@mahouse.gov
Senator Murray’s contact info:
- Phone: 617-722-1500
- Fax: 617-248-3840
- Email: Therese.Murray@masenate.gov
Bedford residents are represented by Rep. Ken Gordon (617-722-2014) and Sen. Mike Barrett (617-722-1572). Safe to presume they support the Governor’s plan but can’t hurt to call them. If you live in Lexington your Rep. is Jay Kaufman (617-722-2320) and your State Senator is either Mike or Ken Donnelly (617-722-1432). I don’t know Kaufman or Donnelly’s position so definitely worth calling them if they represent you.
Calls or emails to Sen. Thomas McGee, Chairman of Joint Committee on Transportation, may also be beneficial:
- Phone: 617-722-1350
- Email: Thomas.McGee@masenate.gov
You can also contact the chairmen of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means:
More on what’s at stake from Bedford Planning Board Member Sandra Hackman:
People have probably been reading that the House speaker and Senate president have come out with a much less ambitious plan for funding transportation than the governor has proposed. The legislation is timid: it would raise the gas tax by only 3 cents. And although it is being billed as providing $500 million more in annual funding for transportation, the total is really closer to $300 million.
Everyone who has worked closely on transportation agrees that the urgent need is for $800 to $1200 million a year. If we don’t act now, our state will suffer from lack of viable infrastructure, and we can kiss goodbye any hope of expanding transportation options in our own area, which we need to retain our economic competitiveness. T fares will have to rise dramatically.
Towns may be enticed by a promise that the bill would expand Chapter 90 funds for roads and bridges. However, it would not actually provide the funds, and towns are unlikely to see an extra dime from this bill.
The Metropolitan Planning Organization, which divides up federal transp. funds and on which Bedford has a seat, is sending a letter to legislative leaders saying this bill is bad. The problem is that the speaker and the president intend to ram it through by as early as Monday.
Please call their offices to let them know this bill is way too timid. We can also call Ken [Gordon] and Mike [Barrett], of course, and also Sen. McGee and the House chair of the Transportation Committee, plus the chair of Ways and Means.
This issue is urgent. Governor Patrick has done a good job streamlining and consolidating transportation agencies to build their credibility, and has proposed a far-reaching plan. Let’s not miss this opportunity to move ahead with something closer to his vision.
Thanks for making these calls or sending messages to these legislators.
Please call your reps and House leaders and voice your support for Gov. Patrick’s Transportation Plan!
The basic text of emails I sent:
Dear [legislator]:
I’ve been following the debate re the competing Transportation Plans on Beacon Hill. I recognize that the cost is substantial but I am convinced that Gov. Patrick’s plan is the best choice for Massachusetts. It will enable badly needed maintenance and clear debt and annual deficits that have hampered the transportation system for years. It is time to address those issues. I urge you and your colleagues to support it.
Sincerely,
[name]
[address]
[phone number]