Transportation Agenda In The News

As gas prices continue to rise, a report released yesterday calls for the massive expansion of public transportation across the state, especially to areas where commuters are forced to drive.

The report, released by the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group, questioned the federal government’s $168 billion economic stimulus plan, which returned $600 to most individuals and $1,200 to most couples, when most families on average have paid much more than that in gas prices since the plan was announced in February.

According to MASSPIRG analysis, the average family’s weekly gasoline bills increased from $67 to more than $90 since February.

“Instead of new consumer spending all going to jump-start growth, much of the stimulus has been deflated by high-priced gas,” the report read.

Meanwhile, the report found public transportation projects continue to lag behind due to funding gaps. While the tax rebate program will cost the Treasury $168 billion, the four-year total of federal spending on new public transportation projects through 2009 is only $6.6 billion, the report found.

“To give commuters a long-term solution to high gas prices, we must give people more alternatives to driving,” MASSPIRG advocate Eric Bourassa said in a statement.

There are several MBTA expansion projects in the works, including the Blue and Green Line extensions, the Urban Ring project and the SouthCoast commuter rail project.