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
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA
The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
US Rents Squeezing Low-Income Tenants
Despite a recent — and slowing — apartment construction boom, renters at the lower end of the income scale are still struggling to find housing.
Tech Tools Help Tenants Push Back Against Problematic Landlords
Shelterforce found more than a dozen examples of tenant-serving technology that help renters identify landlords, respond to eviction, fight back against housing discrimination, and more.
More Apartments Are Being Built in Less-Dense Areas
Rising housing costs in urban cores and a demand for rental housing is driving more multifamily development to exurbs and small metros.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)