Page 10 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020 Reason Foundation reports further decline for MA in new annual highway report T he Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance recently weighed in regarding the Reason Foundation’s ranking Massachusetts at #47 in their 25th annual highway report. This year, Massachusetts’ highway system ranks 47th in the nation in overall cost-effectiveness and condition, a decline of one spot from 2019. In 2019, Massachusetts ranked 46th, which itself was a decline from 44th in 2018. In New England, the overall scores were; Maine (25), New Hampshire (29), Vermont (30), Connecticut (35), Rhode Island (46) and Massachusetts (47). The only worse-off states than Massachusetts were New Jersey (50), Alaska (49), and Delaware (48). Massachusetts’ worst rankings are in its total “disbursements per mile (49)” and “administrative disbursements per mile (49).” These rankings indicate Massachusetts spends the 2nd highest amount per road mile on transportation costs, as well as the 2nd highest amount in the country on administrative costs per mile. Last year, those ranking for MA were at 48 in both categories, showing another decline. Below is a breakdown for how MA ranked compared to the other New England states in these two very important categories. The Reason Foundation report takes on special significance as 11 states are expected to soon debate the merits of joining the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI). In theory, TCI would decrease fuel consumption by drastically increasing fuel costs. Gas taxes are typically used for road repair and under the TCI scheme, gas tax collections A new home for Malden Auto Body of Everett would decrease, creating a significant void for states like MA, which has one of the highest spending rates of all states considering the TCI scheme. “You cannot spend your way out of a spending problem, but that is exactly what Massachusetts is trying to do. The Governor and every lawmaker at the State House should read today’s report and realize that our state’s ‘Cadillac-style’ transportation bureaucracy doesn’t need another penny. It needs swift and comprehensive reform,” said Paul Craney, spokesman SPORTS | FROM Page 9 A landmark on Route 99 in Everett was recently torn down to make way for the Encore resort casino project. Although we rgret dearly leaving our Everett facility which was our home for over 50 years. We are proud to announce our new home at 9 Whitman Street, Malden. It has a very similar look and we still have the same phone number and staff. We offer the same exceptional service and deliver you the same quality work as always. - We value your loyalty and hope you can consider allowing us to handle all your auto body needs. - We offer you insurance claims assistance and arrange Enterprise rentals. We work with most insurance companies and offer you a smooth experience in getting your vehicle back to pre-accident condition. - We offer 24/7 towing service to our shop. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are in need of our services, or just stop by to say hi. Please note there are other body shops with similar names so make sure you come to 9 Whitman Street, Malden and ask for Jim. We are the original Malden Auto Body of Everett Inc., James Massone president. We have been a family run business since 1947 and plan to continue serving the Greater Boston area for many years to come. pilot program stay in the NEC at the end of the 2018-2019 school year. Revere quickly left the NEC and joined the GBL midway through the summer of 2019 as the league grew to five members. The move of the two Lynn schools picked up steam when it became known they had officially petitioned the NEC to leave the league in which they had been charter members for over 30 years. On November 13, the GBL Board officially voted unanimously, 6-0, to officially welcome the two schools as members to join the GBL. “It was an easy decision and we are thrilled as a league that Lynn Classical and Lynn English wanted to become part of the Greater Boston League,” Malden High School Principal and GBL President Chris Mastrangelo said at the time of the vote. “We will become a stronger, eight-team league with these two great additions. Moving forward, we believe the GBL will be the premier urban-based league in Massachusetts.” Immediately, the GBL becomes stronger in basketball as the Lynn English boys basketball team is the two-time defending MIAA Division 1 State Champion. The Bulldogs are also highly competitive in boys and girls soccer and track. Classical has been solid in football, soccer, boys basketball and baseball in the past several years. Both of the Lynn schools’ athletic directors were pleased with the vote and the new move to 617-389-3030 PHONE 617-389-7578 FAX EMAIL: MALDENAB@YAHOO.COM the GBL. “We’re incredibly excited to join the GBL,” said Lynn Classical Athletic Director Bill Devin. “We feel that this really is the best fit for both sides, and we’re still going to look forward to scheduling and playing our NEC foes in for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. “Once again, compared with other New England states, Massachusetts spending on transportation costs cannot be explained away by big government politicians who always want more. While Massachusetts spends over $93,000 in administrative costs per state mile, Maine spends just below $3,000. It’s time State House leaders learn to live like the rest of the country, with a fiscally responsible budget grounded in reality,” said Craney. our non-conference games going forward.” “I’m glad to see the league [NEC] went with this and made it a smooth transition,” said Lynn English Athletic Director Dick Newton. “This is pretty much how I expected things would go, and I think it’s a great move for both sides. “We move into an eight-team league [GBL]; they [NEC] get their league to 10 teams and scheduling is easier for everyone. This is going to be a great thing for everyone involved,” Newton added. The GBL and the two Lynn teams had already been planning on being scheduling partners in the now planned “Fall 2” athletic season, February 22-April 25, for boys and girls soccer, volleyball, field hockey and cross-country. The Lynn schools missed out on this past fall season since the community was consistently listed in the high-risk “Red” designation for COVID-19 transmission and not allowed to compete in interscholastic sports. The rest of the NEC went ahead without them and played a fall season in everything but football, much to their dismay. But the GBL schools stepped up and offered the two Lynn schools scheduling dates. “It’s a great fit, for many reasons,” said Malden High Athletic Director Charlie Conefrey, who serves as GBL Commissioner. He is also a member of the MIAA Board of Directors and is MIAA District 5 regional director. “Both of the Lynn schools, as well as Chelsea, which joins the GBL as a full member next fall, are similar in demographics and diversity as our present league schools.” “We will be a much stronger league. Malden and all the othSPORTS | SEE Page 13
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