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          Thank you for joining us for our second Government Affairs forum of the year that featured Ronald J. Mariano, Massachusetts Speaker of the House.

          03/30/2023

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          Colonnade Hotel

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          09/12/2023 -

          09/15/2023

          Greater Boston

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          Massachusetts Apprentice Network Anniversary Celebration

          Join the Massachusetts Apprentice Network for the one-year anniversary of its launch.

          03/27/2023

          9:30am - 11:00am

          Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          BIMA
          BIMA: Gaming’s Present & Future: Creativity, Attention, and Social Connection

          This event will explore why in-game advertising is becoming the next big advertising channel and how companies can tap into the gaming ad space.

          03/28/2023

          5:30pm - 7:30pm

          Mediahub

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Events
          2023 Government Affairs Forum: Ronald J. Mariano, Massachusetts Speaker of the House

          Thank you for joining us for our second Government Affairs forum of the year that featured Ronald J. Mariano, Massachusetts Speaker of the House.

          03/30/2023

          9:45am - 11:00am

          Colonnade Hotel

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Learning & Development
        • Learning & Development

          • Overview
          • Call for Nominations
          • Resources
        • EQ to Elevate Workplace Well-being

          Designed for mid-level managers and supervisors, this new certificate program addresses workplace well-being through unique, innovative, and actionable methods.

          Read More
          Transformational DEI Certificate

          Join our Transformational DEI Certificate! Our comprehensive learning & development offerings are designed to connect and grow strong leaders who lead both inside and out of the office.

          Read More
          Women’s Leadership Program

          Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.

          Read More
          How to Be an LGBTQIA+ Ally in the Workplace

          Expand your DEI professional development with a virtual workshop focused specifically on LGBTQIA+ identities and inclusion.

          Read More
  • Economic Inclusion
        • Economic Inclusion

          • Overview
          • Economic Inclusion Committee
          • Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
          • Pacesetters
          • Resources
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Economic Inclusion

          Our Economic Inclusion Committee provides strategic support around research, policies, and programs that are focused on building equal opportunity.

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
          2023 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

          The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival brings Boston’s diverse young professionals together with business leaders, organizations and their peers to build connection, advance careers and ignite positive change.

          09/12/2023 -

          09/15/2023

          Greater Boston

          arrow-go
          Read More
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          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          Read More
          BIMA

          BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.

          Read More
          Women’s Network

          For more than 25 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.

          Read More
          MITX

          Through MITX (the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange), we’re building valuable connections between the people and ideas behind technology and its impact on the future of customer experiences, all to create a community that’s finding tomorrow’s solutions together.

          Read More
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          Read More
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Members point to fare products, masks as key to getting commuters back on the T

September 20, 2021

September 20, 2021

Download the letter to Secretary Tesler and General Manager Poftak.

The Chamber submitted a letter to Secretary Tesler and General Manager Poftak to convey two concerns raised by our members as they prepare for the return to physical offices. At a recent meeting of the Chamber’s Transportation & Infrastructure Leadership Council, members cited the lack of fare products and mask enforcement as hurdles to their employees riding public transit when they return to the office.

Member companies point out the current fare pass options are limited and employees do not believe they will meet their needs in a hybrid world. In a recent survey, 84 percent of the Chamber’s Board of Directors indicated their organization will return to the office less than five days per week. However, the MBTA primarily offers weekly and monthly passes that are designed for daily commuters. The future of work – which has already arrived for some – is rooted in flexibility. Riders should have options to purchase different fare products, such as bundles of discounted trips to be used at the rider’s discretion or passes limited to mid-week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) rides.

Flexible passes are already successful on the commuter rail, including the $10 weekend pass and five-day flex pass. The MBTA was wise to extend the five-day flex pass pilot until March 2022 and we urge it to be renewed. The MBTA should go further and broaden the appeal of flexible products by making them available through the Perq program which enables employees to purchase taxes on a pre-tax basis and to apply any employer subsidies.

Importantly, commuters on bus, heavy rail, light rail, and ferry services deserve similar options to the commuter rail. AFC 2.0, which is designed to allow flexible MBTA fares, is three years behind schedule and $200 million over budget. As a result, the MBTA is unable to deliver riders the fare options they deserve. This is not an acceptable reason to limit customer’s option and the MBTA should explore alternatives to provide flexible passes on its core system until AFC 2.0 is delivered.

Absent flexible passes that allow savings for riders, many workers will choose to commute by car on the days they go into the office. This trend is already underway, with traffic at pre-pandemic levels despite some major employers operating in hybrid models or remotely. High parking costs at MBTA stations, which are based on pre-pandemic demand and have not been reassessed, risks exacerbating the shifts away from public transit.

In addition to fares, Chamber members conveyed that some employees fear returning to the MBTA because of inconsistent compliance with the federal mask mandate on public transportation. We urge the MBTA to do more to educate the public about masking requirements and consider stronger enforcement of the federal mask mandate.

Download the Letter

Download

Carolyn Ryan

Senior Vice President, Policy & Research

[email protected]
617-557-7310

265 Franklin Street
Suite 1701
Boston, MA 02110
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