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Additional Resources Transportation secretary calls for regional equity
Speaking to the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association today, Transportation Secretary James Aloisi said he is committed to promoting equity in how transportation-related money is raised and spent throughout the state.
He said the Patrick administration wants at least 75 percent of the revenue raised by its proposed gas tax increase to flow back to the part of the state in which it was collected.
“It’s a way to begin building up trust,” he said.
Recognizing that legislators from Boston, Metro West and Berkshire County may have vastly different transportation priorities, Aloisi said, “I have to figure out how to be regionally fair, and how to make sure that people in the Pioneer Valley and the Merrimack Valley and the Blackstone Valley and the South Coast and Berkshire County find common ground.”
Aloisi expressed his opposition to possible MBTA service cuts, which would hurt people who depend on its buses, subways and commuter trains. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining the vitality of the regional transit authorities throughout the state.
He said the transportation-related money Massachusetts will receive through the federal stimulus package is welcome, but insufficient.
“If you’re poor and you walk down the street and you find a $20 bill, you pick it up and you have a nice dinner. But you’re [still] poor the next day,” Aloisi said. “So yes, you should spend it, yes, it’s a good thing, but it doesn’t do anything to resolve the structural issues we have to address.”
Additional Resources Transportation secretary calls for regional equity
Transportation secretary calls for regional equity
Speaking to the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association today, Transportation Secretary James Aloisi said he is committed to promoting equity in how transportation-related money is raised and spent throughout the state.
He said the Patrick administration wants at least 75 percent of the revenue raised by its proposed gas tax increase to flow back to the part of the state in which it was collected.
“It’s a way to begin building up trust,” he said.
Recognizing that legislators from Boston, Metro West and Berkshire County may have vastly different transportation priorities, Aloisi said, “I have to figure out how to be regionally fair, and how to make sure that people in the Pioneer Valley and the Merrimack Valley and the Blackstone Valley and the South Coast and Berkshire County find common ground.”
Aloisi expressed his opposition to possible MBTA service cuts, which would hurt people who depend on its buses, subways and commuter trains. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining the vitality of the regional transit authorities throughout the state.
He said the transportation-related money Massachusetts will receive through the federal stimulus package is welcome, but insufficient.
“If you’re poor and you walk down the street and you find a $20 bill, you pick it up and you have a nice dinner. But you’re [still] poor the next day,” Aloisi said. “So yes, you should spend it, yes, it’s a good thing, but it doesn’t do anything to resolve the structural issues we have to address.”
Written by MMA Associate Editor Mitch Evich
