Massachusetts

[hotdogPi]

The legislature is considering a bill that aims to reduce VMT and giving it the Orwellian title of "The Freedom to Move Act"     

It's requiring an email to read. What does the bill contain?

Even looking at other websites, I'm not seeing any article that says anything in the bill is affecting cars.

After 65 years, South Coast Commuter Rail (from New Bedford and Fall River to Boston's South Station) returns today.

For all 12 of the people who live in New Bedford and work in Boston.

What are you talking about here? New Bedford is about as far as some of the other commuter rail lines like Newburyport and Worcester, and they get a lot of use.

[kernals12]

The legislature is considering a bill that aims to reduce VMT and giving it the Orwellian title of "The Freedom to Move Act"     

It's requiring an email to read. What does the bill contain?

Even looking at other websites, I'm not seeing any article that says anything in the bill is affecting cars.

https://www.governing.com/transportation/massachusetts-considers-bill-to-limit-vehicle-miles-driven-statewide

Confusingly, the bill shares its name with another federal bill introduced by 2 Massachusetts Congresspeople. Here's another article

[hotdogPi]

That article says nothing about what's actually in the bill.

[SectorZ]

That article says nothing about what's actually in the bill.

Here is the bill in question, https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2246/

[The Ghostbuster]

Will passing a bill about reducing vehicle miles traveled actually reduce VMTs? From my experience, the answer is no. I believe it would take dictatorial means to reduce VMTs (or a very severe economic recession, like the Great Depression). They have been trying to redesign the urban landscape to higher densities for decades, which hasn't worked very well in my opinion.

[SectorZ]

Will passing a bill about reducing vehicle miles traveled actually reduce VMTs? From my experience, the answer is no. I believe it would take dictatorial means to reduce VMTs (or a very severe economic recession, like the Great Depression). They have been trying to redesign the urban landscape to higher densities for decades, which hasn't worked very well in my opinion.

Massachusetts is psychotic enough to try it. This state has started getting VERY extreme with its ideas.

We are now one of two states in the country (Vermont the other) that mandates all EV sales by 2035. That is everything, including commercial trucks, meaning the state has mandated vehicles that in some cases don't exist yet. Source, https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/07/22/massachusetts-climate-bill-baker-desk

We had big rig dealers ceasing sales this year because a percentage of sales needed to be EVs when no one makes an EV big rig (and the one guy claiming to was making it up, or not given he just got a ridiculous pardon). The state was literally asking dealers to sell non-existent vehicles that have non-existent infrastructure to charge them. Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/massachusetts-truck-dealers-electric-vehicle-requirement/

After the feds nuked the California CAFE regs, Massachusetts decided to delay the staggered implementation of EV only sales over the next few years. Source, https://www.mass.gov/news/massachusetts-announces-flexibilities-for-electric-vehicle-requirements

[shadyjay]

Interstate 190 sign replacement project from Worcester to Leominster is in its final stages.  It looks like most, if not all of the new overheads are up (they're all up SB).  This project also represents the last large block of old signage with the "integrated exit tabs" and button copy interstate numerals.  There are a few spot signs here in there statewide, but never again will they be so numerous as they were in the 90s.

There is one little problem with this new southbound assembly, however....

190SB-Exit04-2 by Jay Hogan, on Flickr

Wonder if someone will catch this before the contract is signed off.

The rest of my photos of the new I-190 Southbound signs are here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shadyjay/albums/72157715337008798/

[kramie13]

The extra-wide median on I-95/Route 128 in Dedham was featured on their show "Chronicle" last night.  Apparently there are now walking/hiking trails in the middle of the highway!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dAx7xxzLxQ

[pderocco]

The extra-wide median on I-95/Route 128 in Dedham was featured on their show "Chronicle" last night.  Apparently there are now walking/hiking trails in the middle of the highway!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dAx7xxzLxQ

That will be handy for the inmates at the Norfolk County Prison.

[Ted$8roadFan]

The VMT legislation has made the papers, so to speak:

https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2025/06/10/as-lawmakers-debate-reducing-vehicle-miles-traveled-a-wave-of-criticism-spreads-online/?p1=hp_secondary