The Obama administration recently distributed $8 billion nationwide for high speed rail.
We've got to keep up the momentum for more and better public transportation and high speed rail across the United States.
Add your name in support of our 21st century transportation principles: http://studentpirgs.org/action/21st-century-transit
Having high-speed rail connecting all the major cities throughout the country would help our economy by providing thousands of sustainable jobs, reduce carbon emissions that cause global warming, clear up highway congestion, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and improve our quality of life.
It's going to take a long-term commitment from our local and national leaders to plan and fund a national rail system. As we rebuild our transportation system, let's make sure we do it right.
What's New
MASSPIRG releases Connecting the Commonwealth: Key Public Transportation Projects and Their Benefits for Massachusetts, a new report that analyzes the benefits of proposed and planned public transportation projects throughout Massachusetts. Download the report.
Overview
Our
current transportation system has many of us stuck endlessly waiting in
traffic, all the while spewing air pollution and consuming billions of
barrels of oil.
But our federal government has spent nine times
more on highway projects than on public transportation. As nationwide
transit ridership and gas prices reach record highs, the time is right
to change the imbalance in our transportation system.
Light
rail, clean bus systems, and other public transit should play a greater
part in America’s transportation future. Efficient public
transportation systems reduce the number of cars on the road and
increase our options for getting around.
We’re working for more and better transit by encouraging public support for new projects and improved service, and asking Congress to invest in solving these problems by better funding public transportation.
Click here to see a larger map of our transportation vision.
Western Massachusetts
MASSPIRG is working to make sure the next federal transportation bill has more funding for public transportation. Here’s what that could mean for Western Massachusetts:
- Commuter rail from Springfield to Boston;
- Better funding for regional bus service, like the Pioneer Valley RTA;
- Commuter rail connecting the I-91 corridor—from Connecticut through Springfield up to Greenfield and on to Vermont;
- Commuter rail to New Bedford and Fall River;
- Passenger rail connecting Providence, Worcester; and
- Manchester, N.H.
South Coast and Cape Cod
MASSPIRG is working to make sure the next federal transportation bill has more funding for public transportation. Here’s what that could mean for South Coast and Cape Cod:
- Better funding for the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authori;ty
- Commuter rail to New Bedford and Fall River;
- Passenger rail connecting Providence, Worcester and Manchester, N.H.
