Leaders push for T funds
A group of business and civic leaders joined yesterday to press the case for new revenues to be paired with "radical" reforms at the MBTA. The leaders said revenues are needed not just to address the maintenance backlog and debt at the T, but to fund expansion of the system they said is "critical" to future economic growth in the state.
The group released a white paper linking public transit options to job creation, arguing that for Massachusetts to remain competitive it must better link public transportation with housing and companies looking to locate and grow. The Urban Land Institute predicts the MBTA will see an additional 367,000 riders a day by 2021.
Douglas McGarrah, a real estate attorney at Foley Hoag and vicechairman of A Better City, said that all options, including another gas tax increase, tolls, sales tax or vehicle-miles-travelled fees, should be up for debate.
Jesse Mermell of the Alliance for Business Leadership said no one has been able to make a credible case that reforms and efficiencies will be sufficient to eliminate the backlog of maintenance and capital projects at the MBTA.
"We need new revenue if we're going to be able to create economic growth and opportunity for everyone," Mermell said.
State universities warn of fee hikes, cuts
Public state universities face a nearly $9 million collective bargaining obligation that could drive fees up or force reductions in academic programs if the state Legislature does not cover it.
An organization that represents nine state university presidents sent a letter yesterday to legislative leaders asking them to boost funding for the university system in the next fiscal year so the schools can meet the contractual salary increases for faculty and staff.
Under Gov. Charlie Baker's budget recommendation for fiscal year 2016, the state universities would see a 2.4 percent increase, according to the council. But the governor's budget does not include any funding for the state universities' collective bargaining agreements, estimated at $8.8 million in fiscal 2016, according to the council.
Group claims agreement on gas pipeline
A group representing unionized construction workers says it has signed an agreement with the company that plans a $5 billion underground natural gas pipeline through southern New England.
The Massachusetts Building Trade Council announced yesterday that a Memorandum of Understanding with Kinder Morgan requires the firm to use union labor at all construction sites in Massachusetts.
The proposed pipeline would follow a route from New York into western Massachusetts for 63 miles, then turn north and continue for 70 miles in southern New Hampshire before re-entering Massachusetts and ending in Dracut.
TODAY
Labor Dept. releases weekly jobless claims.
Commerce Dept. releases international trade data for February.
Commerce Dept. releases factory orders for February.
THE SHUFFLE
Select Restaurants Inc., owner and operator of Boston's Top of the Hub Restaurant as well as the Skywalk Observatory, announced the promotion of longtime general manager Raphael Oliver to vice president, business development for the parent company.
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