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Commuter rail schedule11/27/2023 ![]() For a lot of advocates, this is what we’ve said the whole time: We’re amenable to conversations about service levels, but ending routes or not having services is a red line.” Mela Myles, director of the T Riders Union and a member of the RUN (Rail Users’ Network) board, told WGBH: “The immediate, emergent needs right now are not to cause crowding and not to pack people onto buses when they’re running at a less-frequent schedule.” She also criticized the agency for not using COVID-19 relief funds for their intended purpose.ĭennis Kirkpatrick, also a member of the RUN board, told Railway Age: “There was a substantial amount of public pressure from individual riders, as well as from elected officials from every city and town in the service area. The Globe quoted Jared Johnson, director of Transit Matters, as saying, “The devil’s going to be in the details. While MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said March 19 that the agency would accelerate service recovery, advocates remain skeptical. The Boston Globe reported on March 19 that the MBTA “is backtracking on planned budget cuts in the face of criticism from the state’s congressional delegation over the agency’s decision to reduce service despite recently receiving more than $1 billion in federal pandemic relief.” Transit managers have now changed that policy, in light of a strong backlash. The agency’s original plan was to hold some of its share of federal COVID-19 relief grants for future use, rather than restoring service now. ![]() On the bus side, several routes were eliminated, others were consolidated, and mid-day service was increased on a few others. The latest round of cuts slashed service on the Orange, Red and Green Lines 20%, while service on the Blue line was reduced 5%. With recent cuts, commuter rail is running at levels between pre-COVID weekday and Saturday service. State House News Service reported March 23 that the agency “would provide full funding for pre-COVID service levels on bus and subways,” but added, “However, the full slate of service will not return immediately when the new fiscal year begins July 1.” MBTA photo MBTA’s March 22 announcement came only eight days after service was slashed for spring schedules on local transit. Starting in April, some commuter rail riders will benefit from improved mid-day service, while others will have to keep waiting before they have weekend service. There are improvements planned for local rail transit and some bus lines. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is restoring some service in and around Boston in the wake of strong criticism by members of Congress and rider advocates. Amtrak OIG: New Acela Program Facing Additional Delays, Increased Costs.NYMTA’s ‘The Future Rides With Us’ Not ‘An Arbitrary Budget Target’.Julien Rejoins Keolis as VP of Commercial Development.Brightline, Wi-Tronix: $1.65MM CRISI Grant for AI.Now On Line: Railway Age October 2023 Digital Edition.Transit Briefs: Amtrak/LOSSAN, NYMTA/PANYNJ, WMATA, Brightline.
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