TRANSPORTATION

Why Alan Cares

Alan lives in an area where transit is critical. He uses the Green line frequently to commute to work or visit friends and family. It breaks down too regularly. We must invest to upgrade and modernize a system that was built more than 100 years ago. Public transit is an essential component of his life, as it is for many in this district and Commonwealth. But in this state, Alan sees that public transit is not working for everyone. Rising costs make it hard to afford for low-income communities, and regions of our South Coast are excluded from the commuter rail, making cars the only viable option to go to work or get to the city.

Alan wants to build a public transit system that is viable for his children and yours to use. Building safe, unpolluted, fast rail is an essential part of upcoming infrastructure, and he will make it a priority to relieve the extreme congestion he and so many others experience on our roads. Alan believes we need to start thinking and planning around the future of clean, green, fast transportation before it’s too late.

The Facts

  • A recent study found that the yearly cost of commuting from Fall River to Boston using the limited rail service is $4,656, or equal to roughly 15% of the median income of Fall River. That’s roughly the cost of essentials like groceries.
  • The Massachusetts government estimates there will be over 61 billion miles traveled in 2020 in the Commonwealth, which is 6 billion more than in 2000, significantly increasing emissions and congestion.
  • Massachusetts’ transportation sector accounts for 44% of the Commonwealth’s entire annual energy demand. Details can be found in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Energy Plan here.

  • A study by INRIX ranked Boston as having the worst congestion out of any city in America, two years in a row in both 2018 and 2019. Boston is on track to earn that distinction year over year for the considerable future, unless its transportation infrastructure is substantially upgraded.
  • Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford are the only cities within 50 miles of Boston that do not currently have commuter rail access to Boston.

ALAN'S ACTION PLAN

Alan will support infrastructure bills in Congress that ensure green investment in public transit, incentivize fare subsidies, integrate state and local initiatives, and reduce city and town congestion.

Alan will push for desperately needed infrastructure investment in our country, prioritizing green infrastructure and overdue investments in electrifying our commuter rail, expanding access in our South Coast, and replacing crumbling systems.

Alan will support legislation funding high speed rail. America’s railroads are an embarrassment- they have not been significantly updated since they were first built in the 1800s. We need a 21st century rail system that can compete with the speed and convenience of flying domestically.

Alan believes we need to invest more in our bus systems to reduce last and first mile traffic. That means creating more priority bus lanes, diversifying and expanding routes, and making bus cycles more frequent. With more people congesting the road for shorter distances, commutes run smoother and emissions decrease.

Alan will introduce legislation to increase federal funding for local transit authorities. After the Big Dig in Boston, Massachusetts saddled the MBTA with billions of dollars of debt it has struggled with since, leading to frequent delays due to derailed trains, faulty 100+ year old signal systems and aging power lines, among other mishaps. Transit authorities like the MBTA should not be expected to run as independent businesses- instead they should be funded by federal and state governments in recognition of their positive effect on local economies.

Alan will join the Future of Transportation Caucus to develop a comprehensive new approach to infrastructure and transportation investment based on equity, access, and sustainability. He will work with leaders like Rep. Garcia, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Takano to develop a fundamentally new 21st Century approach to public transportation and infrastructure investment. He will also work with leading organizations based here in Massachusetts such as Transportation for Massachusetts to build a coalition to get this new approach adopted.