Transportation

The cost set by the Green Line Extension contractor for the first three stations is more than double the amount state and federal transit officials recently estimated, calling into question the full price tag of the new trolley line and whether the state can afford to build it.

The MBTA plans to test the appetite among private bus companies to provide service on all of the express bus routes, the lesser-traveled routes in Boston and the suburbs and late night service.

The Worcester Regional Transit Authority is adding bus route that will run between three of the city's colleges throughout the academic year, in an agreement with the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts (HECCMA).

The MBTA's commuter rail provider has agreed to a number of items aimed at improving rail service for customers following last winter's failures.

Retail gasoline prices in Central Massachusetts fell another five cents per gallon, on average, over the last week while the nationwide mean surged 8.5 cents, largely due to a price spike in the Midwest after an unexpected emergency shutdown of a refinery, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

With the Uber-versus-taxicab battle due to heat up this fall, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday said he would like to set up one statewide regulatory structure for both industries and help taxi drivers compete in the modern technology age.

Environmentalists are calling on Massachusetts officials to accelerate their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, urging policymakers to set new long-term targets and focus on the transportation sector and "solar-ready" new homes.

Gasoline prices continue to creep downward, and they may continue that trend for the rest of the year, according to a company that tracks prices at the pumps.

The head of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority is retiring after 40 years of public service, and is being replaced on an interim basis by the transit system's assistant administrator, the WRTA announced.

After receiving about $7.5 million in fines from the commuter rail operator for late trains and other performance faults, the MBTA plans to spend all of that money on improvements to the rail service, including the hiring of fare agents on trains, MBTA Interim General Manager Frank DePaola told reporters on Tuesday.