From CommonWealth Magazine we share articles of interest for Franklin:
"T revising ridership projections downward"
"MBTA OFFICIALS are revising downward their ridership and revenue projections based on scenario planning that envisions telecommuting becoming “standard practice for the foreseeable future.”
State transportations officials on Monday unveiled three ridership scenarios, each with a gradual increase in ridership but different expectations about telecommuting – one with only a slight increase in telecommuting, a second with a higher level of telecommuting, and a third with some travel and business restrictions remaining in place and telecommuting becoming standard practice.
Under all three scenarios, ridership will be lower than forecasted earlier this year. The T had projected fare revenues to reach 60 percent of pre-COVID levels by mid-year 2021. Now that level will not be reached until the beginning of 2022 under the most optimistic scenario with relatively little telecommuting. Under the scenario envisioning telecommuting become standard practice, fare revenue won’t reach 60 percent of pre-COVID levels for the foreseeable future. The high point would be 55 percent in June 2022."
Continue reading the article online
"Coalition to press state ed leaders on vocational school admissions"
"A COALITION OF groups pushing for changes to the admissions policies at Massachusetts vocational technical high schools is sounding the alarm on an issue that got sidetracked by the pandemic, calling on state officials to take action on reforms that the organizations say are an urgent matter of social justice and education equity.Continue reading the article online
Admission procedures at the state’s 37 vocational high schools have become a contentious issue, with municipal leaders and other advocates calling for changes in state regulations that allow the schools to use selective entry standards to enroll students. They say vocational schools, which once provided an alternate pathway for high school students more oriented toward hands-on trades than four-year college, have become the preferred route for higher-achieving college-bound students in some communities. As a result, they say, the schools’ competitive admission systems have locked out lots of minority students, English language learners, and those from lower-income households — the very groups that might benefit the most from a voc-tech education that can put students on track for decent-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree. "
"Marijuana regulators agree to license home delivery"
DESPITE CONCERNS BY marijuana shops, municipal officials, and some lawmakers, Massachusetts marijuana regulators voted Tuesday to go ahead with licensing marijuana delivery companies. But the Cannabis Control Commission did make some changes to limit the size of any one delivery company and avoid market domination.
“I feel very comfortable we can roll this out fairly and safely and equitably,” said Cannabis Control Commission chairman Steven Hoffman.
While the commission must still take a final vote later this month, Cannabis Control Commission executive director Shawn Collins said applications could be available in the first quarter of 2021.
Continue reading the article online
No comments:
Post a Comment