The Big Dig, designed to accommodate 50,000 more vehicles a day, has opened new connections to Logan Airport and South Boston and has reduced highway travel time.  However, construction problems may lead to further repair costs. Several capital-intensive public transit projects are competing along with renovation projects for limited state and Federal funding. The MBTA's operating budget is strained, as revenue is flat, operating costs increasing, and the cost of repaying the agency's $4 billion debt now consumes almost one-third of the operating budget. The 2000 Census showed that travel time to work is increasing for many Massachusetts residents, partly due to congestion and partly due to longer commuting distances - the result of sprawling development patterns. The Silver Line bus rapid transit line is being built in three phases.  Phase One, which travels between Dudley Square and downtown, is completed; and Phase Two, offering transportation from South Station to the South Boston Waterfront, was completed and opened at the end of 2004.  The planned Phase Three tunnel to connect those segments is now waiting for funding through the federal New Starts program.

Did you know?

• The average household in the Boston area spends more than $7,000 yearly on transportation, almost all of which is used for owning and operating automobiles.
• Even though the Central Artery/Tunnel project spans only eight miles, it includes 160 "lane miles" of roadways.
• By the end of 2005, all MBTA buses, City of Boston school buses, and Longwood Medical Area buses will be low-emission "clean" buses.
• The average public transit commuter in Massachusetts spends 40 minutes on the bus or subway while the average driver spends only 25 minutes getting to work.
• The transportation sector in Massachusetts is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases and one of the fastest growing.

See Transportation Highlights for the sector Context, Key Trends and Findings, Major Accomplishments and Innovation, Remaining Challenges, and Competition.