The T's started soliciting bids from companies willing to bolster WiFi service on the Purple Line and ferries in exchange for advertising opportunities, starting with painting over the AT&T logos now on the sides of commuter-rail trains (unless, of course, AT&T bids and wins). According to a T press release:
No, not because Massport would want to buy some 40-story ferryboats if it agrees to take over ferry service from the MBTA but because the FAA is concerned the authority might use some of its airport revenue to subsidize commuter boats, Jon Chesto reports. T officials have floated the idea of handing the ferries over to Massport as a way to keep them running as the T runs out of money.
Also see: Riders of the Hull ferry talk about the proposed end of their commute:
The Aurora, which normally makes the run between Hingham and Rowes Wharf, had to make an emergency stop at Spectacle Island when its engine caught fire around 11 a.m., according to reports from the Coast Guard and the Boston Fire Department.
Wicked Winthrop reports the town's gotten a $950,000 federal stimulus grant to start ferry service to and from Rowe's Wharf.
Looks like the extra revenue from the increase in the sales tax won't cut it for T officials, who have scheduled hearings on possible fare hikes of nearly 20%. Basic CharlieCard fares would go from $1.70 to $2.00, while bus fares would rise from $1.25 to $1.50. Commuter-rail riders would also see increases.
The T announced today its ban on employee cellphone use - and possession - has been extended to commuter-rail, ferry and Ride vehicles, as well as operators of private buses under contract to the T.
The MBTA has begun experimenting with a system that lets commuter-rail and ferry riders pay for parking by cell phone instead by rolling up all those dollar bills to stuff into those tiny slots at parking lots.
The new system, at parking lots along the Kingston line and at the Quincy and Hingham commuter-boat terminals, lets riders set up accounts and then dial a toll-free number to have the day's parking fee charged to their credit cards:
Upon creating a free pay by phone account, customers call the toll free number from their mobile phone, key in the location and parking numbers, and the parking fee is charged to their credit/debit card.
Barnz reports MBTA police conducted a sweep through the Hingham ferry parking lot yesterday - and had a tow company tow every single car with expired inspection stickers and registrations:
CoastGuardNews takes a camera about the ferry Massachusetts after its crash with the Laura in Boston Harbor this morning:
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