LWVMA 

Where We Stand 

Content:

Introduction

Program in Brief

Government

Natural Resources

Social Policy

LWVMA 

WHERE WE STAND

Social Policy: Transportation

Goal:
A statewide public transportation service, accessible to all, that provides access to jobs, housing and services while creating minimum disruption of the environment; public monies allocated flexibly to meet public transportation needs. (1975)

Decision making
The League supports:

• basing transportation decisions on full information and data provided to the public and decision makers, with special emphasis on need for service, alternate modes, and costs and benefits
• strengthening regional decision making by measures that provide maximum citizen and local government comment
• informed and effective involvement of citizens in decision making through provisions for ongoing participation from the earliest planning stages, and widespread notification of public meetings held at times and places convenient for interested citizens
• measures to promote convenient, reliable, safe, clean and well-publicized services

Funding
The League supports:

• placing all transportation monies in a general transportation fund that is available to all modes
• allocating funds on the basis of service needs
• allocating funds in a manner that will equalize municipal and/or regional resources
• funding policies that encourage increased availability and quality of public transportation and provide incentives for cost effectiveness

Fares
The League supports:

• a fare system partially funded by the user
• fare experiments that help meet needs of communities and users, and provide incentives to increase ridership

Authorities
The League supports:

• using, for public transportation purposes, authority revenues in excess of those needed for operating and maintenance costs
• making the authorities more accountable to both the state and the public

League action
Services
The League believes in increasing alternatives to the private automobile for both commuting and noncommuting purposes: rapid transit, rail, bus, vanpooling, carpooling, bicycling. The LWVM works with local Leagues to coordinate efforts toward transportation alternatives.

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority: The MBTA, a public transportation system that affects the entire state, provides rapid transit and bus service within a 79-community region and commuter rail service to communities outside that region. Half of its deficit is paid by the entire state, and the size of the deficit has an indirect impact on available funding for Regional Transportation Authorities throughout the state. In 1976 several members of LWVM's transportation committee conducted a research project for the community affairs and marketing department of the MBTA aimed at improving the procedure for dealing with complaints and suggestions. A proposal was drafted and some recommendations implemented.

In 1978 the League supported legislation to set guidelines for arbitration contracts for MBTA employees. The League's concern was for the impact on the operating budget of spiraling and inequitable wage increases, and thus on the availability and quality of service. Reasonable guidelines for arbitration would be a step toward cost effectiveness in public transportation, would emphasize delivery of services, and would provide for bargaining procedures comparable with those of other public service employees. With strong legislative, executive and public support, this bill was enacted into law. The League continues to oppose legislation to weaken this act.

In 1979-80 an energy crisis and increased demand for public transportation caused the LWVM to focus on the need to increase service and cost effectiveness of the MBTA. The League evaluated the structure, operation, service and funding of the MBTA, and concluded that structural and funding changes should not be made until fiscal controls and labor productivity were increased. The League monitored the legislature's Special Transportation Study Commission and supported bills to increase management's control over MBTA operations and to strengthen the advisory board's review and approval powers. More comprehensive legislation to strengthen MBTA management control over operations passed in 1981.

Regional Transit Authorities (RTA): Leagues throughout the state helped establish RTAs in urban areas outside the MBTA area. They evaluated RTA formation and operation and helped build local support for public transportation and the authorities. The League prepared an update on RTAs in 1978 and supported a bill extending RTA bonding authority.

Rail: The League has testified in support of commuter rail improvements and worked to increase ridership. At a 1976 hearing, the League encouraged the U.S. secretary of transportation to revitalize the inland rail route through Worcester and Springfield to New York. In 1977 the League testified in favor of the Northeast Corridor (rail) Improvement Program, while also speaking to specific sections of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. In 1986, a citizen's advisory task force was formed to evaluate rehabilitating the Old Colony Railroad Line. The League held a seat on that committee and, in 1990, submitted testimony in support of this project.

Carpool, vanpool: The League has worked unsuccessfully for bills to support lower tolls for carpools. LWVM praised the administrative establishment in 1979 of a differential rate for carpoolers on the Massachusetts Turnpike. A legislative attempt to prevent the change failed.

Bicycles: The League has provided local Leagues with information on bicycle planning and has supported legislation to create a bicycle advisory board.

Air travel: In 1979 bills to reorganize the Massport Authority were opposed by the League on the grounds that Massport was both financially sound and responsible to public and state needs. The bills were defeated in the legislature.

Accessibility
LWVM has worked to increase accessibility to transit options for all individuals, for example handicap access ramps and fares that encourage ridership. Locally, Leagues have been influential in creating or supporting efforts to improve public transportation, encouraging special services for students, handicapped people and elderly people, minibus services, flexible uses for school buses, limousine service to the airport and improved local bus schedules and routes. Surveys were conducted to determine local transportation needs; some Leagues found funding to meet those needs.

Quality
The League supports improved quality and attractiveness of public transportation, including shelters, station improvements, secure auto and bike parking facilities.

Promotion
The League supports promotion of alternatives through, for example, marketing fare experiments, pass systems or insurance discounts.

Funding
The League supports the development of a general transportation fund available to all modes and, as one step toward that goal, the flexible use of highway monies for alternative modes of transportation, parking areas, express bus lanes and access to station areas. The League supported the state's first combined capital improvement program for highways, airports, rail and mass transportation in 1977 and 1979.
In 1984, voters amended the Massachusetts constitution so that monies in the state's Highway Fund could be used for mass transportation. The General Fund, however, continues to finance most of public transportation, aviation and rail project expenses, and debt service on bonds.

The League has supported continued highway funding with user fees, such as a gas tax, under its Fiscal Policy position. In 1979, the League supported the establishment of a user tax on aviation fuel which is now a local option tax.

New construction vs. maintenance
The League generally supports increased highway and bridge maintenance over new construction, particularly in urban areas. The League has given testimony underlining the importance of maintenance money and on transportation operating and capital outlay budgets. Testimony was also given in support of depressing and widening Boston's central artery, a major reconstruction project, and construction of a third harbor crossing.

Planning
The League believes in the retention of existing facilities whenever possible, practical and cost effective. The League has supported bills to allow the state to acquire railroad corridors for transportation uses. Local Leagues have been encouraged to work for town zoning bylaws protecting rail corridors.

Coordination
The League supports coordination of existing services to increase ridership and accessibility. League members serve on regional transportation planning advisory groups, the MBTA and RTA advisory boards, rail commission and special task forces and working committees, to advise in the planning of highways, transit, rail service and airports. Local Leagues continue to be involved in regional transportation issues and in improving transportation options within their communities through service on local transportation and bikeway planning committees. LWVM has also been represented on the Joint Regional Transportation Committee for the Boston area.

Impacts, options
The League believes that transportation planning on all levels must consider social and environmental factors as well as modes of transportation. The League participated in the development of the transportation section of the State Implementation Plan for Clean Air, submitted to the federal Environmental Protection Agency in 1978. League participation in transportation planning to improve air quality is a continuing effort in several urban areas in Massachusetts. The League also testified in favor of an annual automobile safety and emissions inspection program.

Citizen participation
The League has promoted active involvement in the established Regional Transit Authority Advisory Boards and Transportation Policy Advisory groups within the Regional Planning Agencies.

The League supports holding annual local public hearings on all transportation plans for the community and region so that citizens can be aware and involved in planning prior to decision making. In urban areas where local Leagues feared certain proposed highway construction projects would have a negative impact, LWVM and local Leagues worked to increase citizen participation in the planning process. The state League has met with federal Department of Transportation officials to support improving federal regulations for citizen participation in transportation planning.

The League supports establishment of local transportation advisory committees on a continuing basis.

Background

• 1972: LWVUS transportation positions became the framework for LWVM study. LWVUS positions grew out of LWVUS consensus in Human Resources and Environmental Quality with the purpose of promoting equal opportunity in housing and employment and of reducing vehicular air pollution.
• 1973-75: LWVM study concentrated on: promoting members' understanding and affirmation of national positions; seeking guidance for their application to the specific needs of the state's cities and towns; and reaching additional positions applicable specifically to Massachusetts.