Podcast 11 - Transit Polling with Rich Parr of MassINC

MassINC Polling Research Director Rich Parr shares his recent work and perspectives on what people think about the transportation dilemma in Boston. After the MBTA collapsed, a follow-up poll showed a dramatic increase in perceived important of transit, and most people now recognize that the region suffers without good transit. Still nobody can agree on how to fix it, and myths such as wasteful spending and mismanagement continue to lower the discourse.

Selected fun facts:

• The population of Boston has increased nearly 10 percent since 2000, with similar growth in Cambridge, Somerville and Quincy.
• MBTA ridership is up nearly 30 percent on the Red and Orange Lines, and 10 percent on buses, since 2004 (the Green Line is at capacity). However, no trains or buses have been added during this time.

We think we know how to fix the T but we struggle with how to raise money. Listen in and share your thoughts and ideas >> contact us.

NOTE: Check your podcast feed. If you don't see this episode in there, please subscribe to the new feed. Simply paste that in iTunes (updated iTunes link coming) or another feed reader. Let us know if you still have trouble.

Did we miss something or get it wrong? Send us your questions, comments and ideas for topics or guests  Or share your thoughts in the comments below.

The Transit Matters Podcast is your source for transportation news, analysis, interviews and more. We focus on sustainable transportation planning, operations and policies in Boston and beyond. Transit Matters is a joint project of local transit advocates Marc Ebuña, Jeremy Mendelson and Josh Fairchild.

Like this project? Share it around, tell your friends and colleagues, and subscribe to the RSS feed to be notified of new posts and episodes.