A report by The Boston Globe finds that the Boston area transit system costs less to operate than other major American transit systems -- but it has one of the worst on-time arrival performances in the nation.
"Over the past four years, since the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co. began operating the region's suburban rail service, the system has regularly trailed Chicago's Metra, New York's Metro-North, New Jersey Transit's commuter rail, and the Long Island Rail Road, in on-time performance, a Boston Globe review shows."
"And since January, the system has posted its worst on-time performance yet: 84.5 percent of the commuter trains have been on time, compared to 94 percent or higher for rail lines in other states. Boston's rail operator counts trains as tardy if they are at least five minutes late; other lines define late as six minutes or more."
"Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad, whose management has historical ties to the MBTA and its chairman, operates the rail line at a cost of 29 cents per passenger mile, less than Chicago (31 cents), New Jersey (33 cents), Metro-North (46 cents), and LIRR (49 cents)."
FULL STORY: Mass. rail cheaper, but less reliable

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

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The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.

Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan
Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.
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