On July 1st, the Department of Transportation announced a vanpool subsidy program that offsets the cost associated with a monthly vanpool lease. It is limited to $600/month (not to exceed 50% of the monthly lease cost) for those qualifying vanpools that lease their vans directly from a participating vanpool vendor.
|
|
Tobin Bridge Tolling Change
|
As of July 21st, the Tobin Bridge will no longer accept cash payments at its tolling stations. Tolls will be collected via E-ZPass transponders or if you don't have an E-ZPass, a picture of your license plate will be snapped as you pass through the toll.
|
|
Water Transport Options: Ferries to/from Salem and Lynn
|
If you live and work in Boston, Lynn or Salem, there is still time for you to try commute by ferry to work! The ferry to/from Lynn and Boston costs $7 per trip and runs until Friday, September 12th. Schedule and fare information...
|
|
 |
|
 | | Electronic Vehicle charging station at Cell Signaling Technology in Danvers, MA. |
On-site electronic vehicle charging stations, an employee-maintained community garden that supplies food to the company cafeteria and a community of colleagues who challenge each other to bike and walk to work. Sounds like an alternative commuting utopia, right? Well, not quite. All of this exists at NSTMA member Cell Signaling Technology in Danvers, MA. Our latest blog post includes an interview with their Sustainability Coordinator. Read our blog and sign-up to follow our blog by September 5th for a chance to win a $25 gift card!
|
|
|
|
Greetings from Andrea Leary, Executive Director
|
Greetings!
How is it late August already and what happened to the long, "dog days" of summer? It has been an eventful season at the North Shore TMA. We've been working with the City of Beverly and the MAPC to stay on top of the Beverly Bike plan that they are rolling out there. We also promoted the use of commuting via ferry to/from Lynn and Salem and we celebrated the opening of the Beverly Depot Garage.
We're gearing up for an exciting fall season. The Massachusetts Clean Air Challenge is coming up September 22nd-26th - look for NSTMA communications about this statewide challenge in the coming weeks. If you're on Twitter and/or Facebook, follow us (@NorthShoreTMA) and like us (www.facebook.com/NorthShoreTMA).
Enjoy what's left of those warm summer days!
Andrea
|
|
|
On August 12th, Boston Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) Transportation Planner David Loutzenheiser and representatives of the Beverly Bike Committee participated in a group bike ride in Beverly followed by a meeting at Centraal Cycle on Cabot Street. Those present at the meeting - including Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill, Beverly City Planning Director Aaron Clausen, members of the Beverly Bike Committee, North Shore TMA Director Andrea Leary and City Engineer Mike Collins discussed suggestions for a comprehensive bike plan that will serve as a roadmap and will guide investment for bike infrastructure throughout the city.
Discussion centered around looking at enhancements that will support recreational cyclists and those who cycle to work as well as looking at routes that will connect the Beverly Depot to the central business district, employment sites, and recreational locations.
Development of the plan is underway now. If you have suggestions that you'd like to see included in the plan, please email Andrea Leary.
|
|
|
|
Beverly Depot Garage Opening
|
The long-awaited parking garage at the Beverly Depot opened for business on August 1st. The garage has capacity for 500 vehicles with parking for electric vehicles, Zipcars, motorcycles and bicycles. There is accessible parking on each level, a parking control system, and a covered accessible walkway to the existing Beverly Depot Station platform. The garage has solar panels on the roof and is designed to use natural day-lighting with energy efficient lighting and an energy saving lighting control system. More information... |
|
|
Relevant Issues at Stake on the November Ballot:
Gas Tax Indexing Law with Respect to Road Infrastructure ("Question 1")
|
Last year, the state legislature passed the Transportation Finance Act of 2013, which generates ongoing funding for Massachusetts' roads and bridges by linking the funding to the gas tax. On Election Day this November (November 4th), Massachusetts' voters will get to decide whether or not they like the gas tax linked to the consumer price index. Proponents for the measure (those urging voters to vote "No on Question 1") say that this law should remain in effect because it will generate $600 million annually in ongoing funding for the state's roads and bridges, which are rapidly deteriorating. Opponents of the measure (those who want to repeal the Transportation Finance Act) think that transportation funding should be voted on by the legislature each year. They think that linking the gas tax to the CPI amounts to an automatic tax hike that isn't justified. More information...
|
|
|
|
|
