Public transit should everywhere be free on election day

North Adams Transcript: "ADAMS -- Adams voters needing transportation will be able to get a free ride to the polls for the special state primary election on Tuesday, April 30."

As car count approaches 2 billion, no sign of fossil-fuel subsidies abating.

Earth Day 2013: transport as a solution in the face of climate change | TheCityFix: "Macias added that the transportation sector is the fastest growing sector of greenhouse gas emitters on a worldwide scale, pointing out that we are nearing 2 billion cars on our planet. “There is a need to integrate fleet policy on a global scale, including fuel economy standards, second-hand car trade, increasing public transport, and responsible urban development,” he said.

One of the biggest impacts the transportation sector can have in combating climate change is in cutting fossil-fuel subsidies, which would put economic pressure on cities to switch to more fuel-efficient modes of transport and encourage non-motorized transport, as well as pressure individual citizens to invest in more fuel-efficient vehicles, public transport and non-motorized transport. According to the World Resource Institute, in 2010 fossil-fuel subsidies were $409 billion, and without any subsidy reform, they are set to increase to a staggering $660 billion in 2020. And although renewable energy subsidies are growing, they still have a long way to go. In 2010 they were at $66 billion, up from $39 million in 2007."

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Westport, CT, fares only 12% of funding and that includes cost of collection

Autosprawl trolls in government have applied the "run-it-like-a-business" and accounting-thinking to starve Westport public transit. Why not make it fare-free and you won't need a $20,000 promotion campaign.

Transit talk: Debating the public's support -- and need -- for Westport public transit - Westport News: "The number of rides has actually been higher, but these were in times where there was actually a little more financial support, more routes and more awareness. So we do see the relationship between funding and rides."

Want jobs? Get #transit

Patrick’s plan will fix the transportation messmbtaTRUTH | mbtaTRUTH: "— A 10-year plan to eliminate MBTA deficits and the annual need for big fare increases and service cuts, and invest in the current system, including the purchases of new Red and Orange Line cars.;

— Improved service at the 15 Regional Transit Authorities;

— Spending billions to fix existing roads, rails and bridges in every city and town in the Commonwealth;

— Creating tens of thousands private sector jobs;

— Transparent accounting of the more than $ 1 billion MassDOT deficit."

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More Boston workers are #carfree - many more

Standing up for car-free development in Boston - Opinion - The Boston Globe: "There are now 27,000 more car-free workers living in the city than there were a decade ago."

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Oil pipelines causing split in 1%

Anti-Keystone billionaire rattles Democrats - Andrew Restuccia and Kenneth P. Vogel - POLITICO.com: "The former hedge fund trader-turned-philanthropist is bankrolling a far-flung political operation pushing environmental causes and candidates, including his pricey effort to torpedo the Keystone XL oil pipeline. He's increasingly drawing scrutiny for trying to take down the Senate candidacy of Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch, a Democrat who has expressed support for Keystone."

Boston Review — Amy B. Dean: Fix It Fair

Boston Review — Amy B. Dean: Fix It Fair: "Equity demands that we avoid transportation mistakes of the past. In places such as Minneapolis and Oakland, plans for light rail have bypassed or priced out riders from poor neighborhoods. Similarly, light rail development in some communities has come at the expense of bus and paratransit riders—disabled and elderly riders who rely on specialized public transportation services. Such injustices occur when poor communities (both rural and urban), communities of color, and other groups that depend on public transportation are excluded from municipal planning and development."

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MBTA: Higher fares, cuts likely without funding

mbtaTRUTH: "Under one scenario that would rely solely on fare increases, average fares would rise 33 percent, on top of last year’s 23 percent increase that helped close a $160 million deficit. The “all fare” approach would see bus fares go from $1.50 to $2, and subway fares from $2 to $2.60. Commuter rail increases would vary by region."

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Need a job? Want to save money? Move near #publictransit

Roads and Rails - Boston.com: "According to the study's results, those living within a half mile of public transit had access to two times more jobs than those living outside the "public transit shed". Now, that's just including the areas where subway, light rail, and the bus service. If you just focus on where the buses serve in Greater Boston, residents had access to five times more jobs than those who don't live with direct access to public transit.
(This makes sense, as areas with greater access to public transportation are generally more urban, where many more jobs are available in general.)

The transportation costs were starkly different as well (even with all the public transit hikes we've been seeing here in the Boston area). The study shows that those living in the Boston area who utilize public transit or live in areas very to close to access save an average of $350 per month on their transportation costs. "