North Station fare gates will begin operation on Saturday, October 1st 2022. At that point, passengers will need a ticket to enter and exit the gated area at North Station. The new gate system will allow the MBTA to better integrate the Commuter Rail’s network and ticketing system with those of the T’s other transit…
Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to unanimously pass a transportation and infrastructure bill authorizing $10.9 billion for projects, including $400 million for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to address ongoing safety concerns identified by the Federal Transit Administration’s Safety Management Inspection, $250 million for the East-West…
Starting next week, there will be service changes on the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line to accommodate ongoing work to significantly improve signals, track, and bridges. During this construction, bus shuttles will replace trains on specific dates. Important safety and reliability work taking place during these Newburyport/Rockport Line shuttle bus diversions includes the replacement of the…
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has announced that it will begin offering dedicated service hours for residents who are 75 years of age or older and are required to renew their Massachusetts driver’s license in person, including customers whose licenses/IDs were extended until September (March, April, and May expirations). The new designated service…
During the ongoing Massachusetts 191st General Court’s 2019-2020 session – which has been extended through action taken by the Legislature – the House of Representatives has passed emergency legislation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as major legislation relating to education, transportation, and climate change. Following a decisive vote in July to extend the…
This week, the House of Representatives advanced and finalized several pieces of important legislation, covering the topics of education, nutrition, public safety, and children’s health before breaking for the holidays. As formal sessions end for the remainder of the year, I’m pleased we advanced these critical pieces of legislation, sending several to the Governor’s desk…
On Tuesday, the Legislature’s Transportation Committee heard testimony on several bills aimed at expanding use of electric cars. One proposal, backed by Reps. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, D-Gloucester, and Lenny Mirra, R-West Newbury, would reauthorize the rebate program for low-emission and electric vehicle purchases up to $75,000 and create a new rebate offering a $400 discount on…
Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester) and her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives have passed legislation to ban drivers from using hand-held electronic devices in vehicles unless they are in hands-free mode. “Distracted driving is a factor in too many dangerous and fatal motor vehicle accidents, and the House is proud to take this step…
A bipartisan group of lawmakers want the MBTA to shelve planned fare hikes until the Tobin Bridge project is completed, arguing that the higher fares will add to traffic woes by deterring commuters from using public transit. In a letter to the T’s fiscal control board, the lawmakers said the 6 percent fare increases, which…
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced an additional $400,000 funding award for the Cape Ann Transit Authority (CATA) as part of a grant program to regional transit authorities to implement best practices and innovative services to benefit customers. Regional award winners have been selected based upon factors such as whether projects will increase ridership,…
