| 
Rick Dimino
Last month, an expert commission created by Gov. Charlie Baker released recommendations on the future of transportation and how Massachusetts should best prepare for mobility in 2040. Their work talks about next-generation transportation goals, but also helps answer many of the policy debates from recent years. This highly anticipated report discussed the importance of mass transit service, gave support for new approaches to managing traffic congestion, and calls for a new finance plan to support these needs. This is an encouraging step forward and should build momentum for action on transportation legislation in 2019.
Due to recent disruptions in Massachusetts’ transportation system, policymakers wanted to carefully consider the future as part of our transportation infrastructure planning efforts. The breakdown at the MBTA during the winter of 2015, the proliferation of Uber and Lyft and the potential for autonomous vehicles are three factors where experts considered trends and projected the future. If future technology could render trains, buses and subways as irrelevant as the horses and buggies of the past, then we should change our investment priorities. On this fundamental question, the commission made a clear statement: Technology will not solve all of Massachusetts’ transportation challenges, especially when it comes to traffic congestion. Therefore, we need to utilize public transit to achieve our future transportation, mobility and climate goals.
New Finance Plan Encouraging
The governor’s commission made clear that expansion of the MBTA and commuter rail network is critical. Improving the performance and capacity of our existing public transit system is an obvious goal, but many have argued that the growth of the metropolitan Boston region and development of new growth zones requires the transportation network to also expand. It is a welcome sign that the commission firmly endorses this philosophy over the belief that expansion efforts should always be secondary to repairing the current transit infrastructure.
For roads, traffic congestion on highways is already a major concern throughout the state. The commission wants Massachusetts to do more through management of traffic through different pricing strategies, such as dynamic tolling or discounts for travelers who drive at off-peak times. This is something that can be started in the near future and is not simply a traffic issue. Reducing the number of cars on our roads would have a positive impact on travel times but also help with our overall climate change goals and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions we produce. Any revenue generated from the management of traffic could contribute to improving or subsidizing mass transit, especially to bring new transit options into low-density areas and provides a real alternative to driving.
The report specifically calls for development of new finance plan to properly fund our maintenance, operation, and upgrades to the state’s transportation network. This is essential if Massachusetts wants to complete our “state of good repair” maintenance goals at the MBTA and also improve our infrastructure to be more resilient in the face of climate change. While the commission did not provide cost estimates for their recommendations, a simple acknowledgment that we need additional transportation revenue is noteworthy and a true opportunity to build consensus between elected officials, stakeholders, the business community and the general public on the size of our financial challenge and the urgency for improving out transportation system.
The foundation of a new finance plan should include revenue items that can be dedicated to transportation projects and protected from other statewide budgetary needs. One key opportunity is through Gov. Baker’s intention to join a regional partnership on carbon emissions from gasoline. There should also be increased and expanded tolls, and a significant increase the current 20 cent surcharge that is currently in place on every Uber and Lyft ride. A combination of revenue from increases on gasoline, tolls, and other user fees is justified, and accelerate the transportation investments that we need both today and will continue to use in 2040.
Transit Expansion Can’t Wait
If there is one area of this report that gives an inconsistent message, it is the recommendation that needed transportation expansion projects should not be initiated until 2030. This runs counter to the message throughout the full report. It also downplays Boston’s regional growth, current roadway traffic congestion, and our need for additional resiliency infrastructure. Design plans for targeted expansion projects should begin today, and not a decade in the future, so that we can realize the benefits of new projects as soon as possible. If a reimagined Commuter Rail or new urban rail network are effective solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving our transportation mobility options, we cannot wait until 2030 to start this work.
The new transportation finance plan should aim to simultaneously enhance and expand our mass transit infrastructure. There is also a funding gap for maintenance of our statewide roads and bridges, particularly for the assets that represent the highway system in the Boston area, such as the Central Artery, the harbor tunnels and the Massachusetts Turnpike between Logan Airport and Interstate 95. Increased funding is needed to properly maintain this important infrastructure that has helped to support our successful economy and high quality of life.
This forward-looking commission report is a valuable blueprint that can help achieve the promise of the modern, equitable, and reliable transportation system of the future that our commonwealth deserves.
Rick Dimino is president and CEO of A Better City
