Christian MilNeil
Recent Posts
New Bill Would Fund Highways, Transit Equally
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Since 1982, federal transportation funding has been governed by the "80-20 split," which restricts the federal Department of Transportation from spending more than 20 percent of its Highway Trust Fund money on transit projects, leaving the majority of federal funding for highway projects.
Will 'Temporary' Transit Cuts Become Permanent?
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Across the U.S., transit agencies often roll out deep service cuts under the guise of “temporary” service adjustments. Sadly, these cuts are rarely reversed. Whether it’s cutting late-night bus routes, lower-ridership subway lines or historic trolley networks, these services almost never return, especially in times of a budget crisis, because it’s far easier to stop […]
Advocates Cast Doubt on Need for Transit Cuts
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As the MBTA’s governing board gets ready to vote on a dramatic austerity package for the Boston region’s transit services, independent advocacy groups and business organizations are diving into the T’s budget numbers and raising doubts about the agency’s budget projections, and whether service cuts are really necessary. The MBTA is facing an estimated budget […]
Discuss ‘Right of Way’ with Angie Schmitt
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Schmitt’s book provides a detailed investigation into how pedestrian deaths have increased by 50 percent in the past decade, and how our nation's persistent patterns of racism and economic inequality play into this under-reported public health crisis.
Why Is R.I. Breaking Up Its Biggest Transit Hub?
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Even the state bureaucracies that are pushing the plan seem oblivious of how the plan would affect riders.
Data Suggests Massachusetts Bike/Walk Boom
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Increased working from home appears to have diminished bike traffic in cities like Boston and Cambridge, but considerably more people are walking and riding in the rest of the state.
Creating Space for Black Male Vulnerability on Bikes
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Black men and other men of color are being invited to reflect, mourn, and heal together in a “Celebration of Life” bike ride through Roxbury this Saturday. Organizer James Adius Pierre, a lifelong Cambridge resident, says that the ride is inspired by the summer’s unrest and the August 28 anniversary of the March on Washington. […]
Who’s Allowed to Live Near Transit?
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Wellesley is the kind of place lots of people would love to call home – it’s got great schools, beautiful parks, and three commuter rail stations that give the town’s residents an easy 45-minute ride into downtown Boston. Unfortunately, Wellesley’s town government has enacted policies that make it almost impossible for ordinary people to move […]
Going Green Will Save Mass. Transit Millions
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The switch to all-renewable electricity, which would take effect on January 1, 2021, will immediately slash the T's carbon footprint by 36 percent.
The First City in the US to Speed Bike Lane Construction By Law
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On Monday evening, seven of nine Cambridge city councilors voted to enact a suite of proposed amendments to the city’s year-old Cycling Safety Ordinance and set a 2026 deadline for a large suite of protected bike lane projects across the city. The 7-1 vote (Councilor Toomey voted against the ordinance, and Councilor Simmons merely voted […]
How to Complete a Suburban Street
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Among other improvements, the project will build new protected bike lanes that will create a continuous, 1.8 mile bike route from Needham to Newton Highlands.
Guest Column: Will the COVID Bicycle Surge Last?
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Like far too many traditions under COVID, the annual Bay State Bike Month was postponed and reimagined this year. Typically scheduled in May to coincide with the start of peak cycling season, Bike Month officially started on September 1 and people across Massachusetts are encouraged to join events that are largely virtual. But this year, […]