Franklin Matters: In the News: EEE threat increases around Franklin; reports says commuter rail prices too high

Friday, September 6, 2019

In the News: EEE threat increases around Franklin; reports says commuter rail prices too high

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"A fifth human case of Eastern equine encephalitis virus in Massachusetts has been diagnosed in a man in his 70s from southwestern Middlesex County, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said.

As a result, the risk level in Ashland, Hopedale and Milford has been raised to critical and the risk level in Bellingham, Blackstone and Millville has been raised to high.

In total, there are 32 communities now at critical risk, 39 at high risk, and 121 at moderate risk for the EEE virus in Massachusetts."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190905/fifth-human-case-of-eee-raises-risk-levels-in-ashland-hopedale-and-milford-to-critical

Town of Franklin updates on EEE
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/urgent-alerts/town-franklin-eee-update

MA.gov page on EEE https://www.mass.gov/guides/eee-in-massachusetts

"As policymakers eye ways to get more people on public transit to ease traffic, a new study says many potential riders can’t afford to get on board the state’s 400-mile commuter rail network.

The Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth report urges policymakers to make a more equitable commuter rail fare framework “priority number one,” describing a shift away from strict distance-based fares as vital to ensuring that future development in gateway cities, mostly located far from Boston, produces equitable outcomes and does not displace low-income households.

In many Massachusetts cities, low-income riders are effectively priced out of using commuter rail, unable to afford, for instance, the $12.25 fare for a one-way ride to Boston from Worcester. The $4,600 per year expense associated with that fare is 10% of the median household income in Worcester.

Juana Matias, a former state representative who now works at MassINC, said her neighbors in Lawrence can’t afford to take the train daily to Boston “because we’ve set the fares well beyond their means.”