After a similar bill was vetoed by Governor Charlie Baker in 2020, the Massachusetts senate has reintroduced an amendment that would mandate discounted transit fares.

“After another push from advocates, legislation which would require the MBTA to establish free or discounted fares for low-income transit riders is still in the mix with two weeks to go in the 2022 legislative session,” writes Sam Mintz for Streetsblog Massachusetts, but the legislation faces a few obstacles.
“The legislation has passed the legislature previously, only to be line-item vetoed by Gov. Charlie Baker. The bill was passed too late in the 2020 session to override the veto, State House News reported at the time. ” Now, “it would have to be included in the final version of the bill, which will be hastily put together by the House and Senate before the July 31 end of the legislative session.”
Pete Wilson, a senior advisor at Transportation for Massachusetts, said the program could be a crucial lifeline for low-income residents immediately. “It would be great if the T could actually start implementing this program to help people who really do need relief from things like high gas prices and record inflation,” Wilson said.
According to the article, “The Senate also passed an amendment which would define and legalize pedal-assist e-bikes, a top priority of bike advocates in Massachusetts, who say it would match the state definition with other states and the federal government and open up the door for wider adoption.” The legislation did not include language supporting rebates for-ebike purchasers, which supporters say would also boost widespread adoption.
FULL STORY: Mass. Senate Revives Low-Income Fare Legislation

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

BLM To Rescind Public Lands Rule
The change will downgrade conservation, once again putting federal land at risk for mining and other extractive uses.

Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path
Community members, aided in part by funding from the city, repurposed a vehicle lane to create a protected bike and pedestrian path for the summer season.

Congestion Pricing Drops Holland Tunnel Delays by 65 Percent
New York City’s contentious tolling program has yielded improved traffic and roughly $100 million in revenue for the MTA.
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