wgc123 t1_j2tonhp wrote on January 3, 2023 at 9:47 PM

Reply to comment by UncleCustard in Healey should give rural Massachusetts a seat at the table - The Boston Globe by GlobeOpinion

Uber is a private company so really doesn’t count. Taxis are a private use of government granted monopoly so might, depending on where the shortage is caused.

Bus or other public service is firmly in the hands of local government

I don’t know enough about rural MA but in other places an underlying issue is lack of a town center. If it’s entirely rural, there’s just no way to effectively provide transit. However even the smallest towns can have a center, a cluster of destinations or higher density living. Could that be a pre-requisite?

a_Malevolent_Bee t1_j2uoe1q wrote on January 4, 2023 at 1:48 AM

I moved to the North Berkshires and while I literally have to drive 20 minutes to get just a loaf of bread, at least I don't have to listen to traffic. It seems to me the local governments get what they pay for and like it this way.

UncleCustard t1_j2u4an9 wrote on January 3, 2023 at 11:28 PM

I know Uber is a private company. But it would help the situation. I could be content with a private option instead of nothing. As far as the pre requisite goes, I understand why there is a lack of funding. But maybe we could offer some financial or tax reduction for those with no options. Rural MA is a different life than Springfield, Worcester and Boston. That's what I think the article is getting at. We need a different type of Assisi stance. Representation is the wrong word. It's what we get out of our representation that needs to be different.

GreatAndPowerfulNixy t1_j2v64ze wrote on January 4, 2023 at 4:00 AM

It's true that there aren't many options in a lot of places, but PVTA and BRTA are both damn good for how small their budgets are. Massachusetts' regional transit authorities are really impressive.