Local News

Morning Updates: Commuter Rail still struggling, Olympics poll still shows low support

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh addressed an audience during an event held to generate public interest in a 2024 Boston Olympics bid in October, 2014. AP

By Eric Levenson @ejleven

June 10, 2015

2 minutes to read

Good morning, Boston. Here are the stories you need to know today, including continued Commuter Rail struggles, low Olympics support, and Dunkin’s double-cup revolution.

It gets better? “When thousands of passengers were stranded or delayed at the height of this winter’s storms, Keolis, the French company that operates the MBTA commuter rail, blamed the weather.

But even now — without a flake of snow on the ground — the rail operator is struggling to provide trains that run on time and with the necessary number of seats. … The news does not get better: As summer approaches, Keolis is warning customers that one line may face even more delays — this time because of the heat.’’ (The Boston Globe)

Mayor Walsh and the Olympics bid book: On WGBH radio, Mayor Walsh was asked if he had read Boston 2024 bid book. “No, I had my attorney—it was many, many pages. Our legal counsel looked at it,’’ Walsh said. So what did the legal counsel see? “The City of Boston was never in receipt of the bid book that was officially submitted to the USOC in December 2014,’’ the city said in a statement … “To review: Walsh said he never read the bid book, that it contains ‘many pages,’ and that his legal counsel reviewed it, even though the city now tells Boston they never had the bid book in the first place.’’ (Boston Magazine)

Support for Olympics remains underwater: 49 percent of those surveyed oppose hosting the Olympics in Boston, according to a new statewide poll. Just 39 percent are in favor of hosting. “To see support 10 points behind opposition just isn’t a number that I would imagine they’re going to be excited about,’’ pollster Steve Koczela said of the private organizing group Boston 2024. (WBUR)

NFL embraces ‘cut and run’: “In the post-Ray Rice era, NFL teams are learning something that public relations crisis consultants have known for a while: act decisively and act quickly. … “[The Brandon Spikes situation] is like having a hand grenade with the pin pulled – do you want it standing next to you, or do you want it as far away as possible?’’ Justine Griffin, managing director for the PR consultancy Rasky Baerlin, said. “The best thing to do is to take swift action and distance the behavior.’’ (Boston.com)

Double (cup) or nothing: “Last fall, Dunkin’ Donuts began testing two alternate cups to replace its foam hot cups in select markets, including locations in towns with polystyrene bans, like Brookline and Somerville. … Now several months into their experiment, Dunkin’ Brands says it’s closing in on a favorite foam alternative, and will reveal its future plans for transition by the end of the year.’’ (Boston.com)