星期一, 7月 26, 2021

波士頓市議員吳弭發表白皮書 詳列巴士免費的方法與好處

City Councilor Michelle Wu Releases White Paper Outlining Pathway & Benefits of Fare-Free Bus

Mihcelle Wu answers questions outside Mattapan T station.
(Photo by Chutze Chou)
Boston, MA—  City Councilor At-Large Michelle Wu has released a white paper outlining the benefits of a fare-free bus system. Councilor Wu has championed the idea of fare-free transit in Boston for years, advocating for public transit as a public good, to be funded for universal access similar to public education and public libraries. Read the full paper.

Following her advocacy, then-Mayor of Lawrence Dan Rivera introduced fare-free buses in Lawrence, MA. The white paper evaluates the impacts of a fare-free bus system, which Wu has said can serve as a first step towards fare-free transit, specifically analyzing the benefits of a fare-free pilot of the 28, 66 and 116 bus routes. 

The paper found that benefits of three fare-free routes include:

·       Passenger savings on fares estimated at $1.01 million annually, concentrated among Boston’s lowest income households, with funds freed up to be invested back into the community;

·       Increased collection speeds and reduced “dwell time,” leading to time savings of about 1-2 seconds per passenger, that translates into increased productivity and lower costs for the MBTA;

·       The elimination of nearly 2,800 daily car rides and reduction of traffic congestion, preventing the emission of 1,730 annual metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; The reduction of local pollutants and smog from hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides, lowering the risk of asthma and other respiratory illnesses, which disproportionately impact Boston’s residents of color;

·       Increased social engagement, reduced loneliness and depression, and other social and mental health benefits from increased connection and activity, particularly for Boston’s seniors, people living with disabilities, and lower-income families.

“Public transit is a public good. Eliminating fare collection on bus routes would speed up service, close racial disparities in transit access, serve our climate goals, and advance economic justice. In this critical moment of economic, social and emotional recovery, we must take every step to strengthen racial equity, eliminate barriers to opportunity and invest in accessible, equitable, reliable service in every community,” said Michelle Wu.

“Making bus trips free is an important way to underscore that public transit is a public good and should be treated as such. This report is an important contribution to the larger effort to think and act more sustainably, equitably and strategically about how we deliver vital public services. I’m grateful to Councilor Wu for keeping this at the forefront of our pathway to building a stronger, more equitable society,” said former state Transportation Secretary James Aloisi.

“Fare-free public transit is an investment in Boston’s economy and environment that will benefit all Bostonians - especially the city’s most vulnerable residents. When you look at the benefits relative to the costs, it just makes sense. Councilor Wu’s proposal gives Boston the opportunity to be a national and international leader in the next generation of more accessible, healthy, and cost-effective public transportation,” said lead author Alaina Boyle. (From Michelle Wu's Campaign office)

Statement: Michelle Wu on Free 28 Bus Pilot 

Boston, MA— The following statement can be attributed to Boston City Councilor and Mayoral Candidate Michelle Wu:

“Today’s announcement shows that free bus service is possible in Boston when we organize to make it happen, but we don’t just need one free route through Election Day—we need a system that reaches across our city. 

That’s why I’ve been fighting for years to deliver fare-free transit and today released a roadmap to broaden this first step toward a fare-free bus system for Boston. I’m grateful for all the advocates, riders, and community members who have shown up time and again to organize for our shared future. We owe it to Boston residents to do more in this critical moment.”

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CONTEXT:

· Michelle Wu first called for fare-free transit on the Codcast in March 2018. 

· In a Boston Globe op ed in January 2019, Michelle Wu called to make the T free. 

· Wu was the first elected official to call for the MBTA’s 28 Bus route to be free, at the FMCB Feb 2019 meeting on fare increases. 

· Wu led a day of action against fare hikes on July 1, 2019, with hundreds of volunteers across the state. 

· Earlier today, her office released a roadmap in partnership with Northeastern University’s Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy on the pathway for a wider fare-free bus pilot and system-wide change.

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