Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)

Urging the Massachusetts Legislature, Administration, and local and state leaders to take bold action on funding for transportation infrastructure, MAPC recently released 18 revenue-raising recommendations that span a range of small, medium, and large mechanisms. Access our?complete Transportation Finance Recommendations through the link below. We would like to thank everyone who joined us last week for our "Transportation Funding Solutions:?Raising Awareness, Raising Revenue" webinar, including State Senator Brendan Crighton, and Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation President Douglas Howgate for sharing their insight and expertise. Webinar recording on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/e8PFZGXc Press release: https://lnkd.in/eWa3XK5G A transportation system that works for everyone improves communities, makes our economy more competitive, and connects residents to everything that Massachusetts has to offer.

It's time for a new edition of – where in the world is MAPC? While our office is in downtown Boston, our staff members are frequently spread throughout the 101 cities and towns in our region, across the U.S. presenting at national conferences, or even learning from planners in other countries. Here are some photos of MAPC out and about over the past few months: Photo 1: MAPC Senior Regional Land Use and Historic Preservation Planner Sarah Scott presented at the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions conference – FORUM – in Florida to talk about regional approaches to historic preservation. Photo 2: Director of Arts and Culture Annis Sengupta (pictured center) gave the keynote for the Plan NH conference and learned from arts leaders in New Hampshire. Photo 3: At the MassDOT Moving Together conference, Community Engagement Specialist II Najee Nunnally?and Community Engagement & Subregional Programs Manager?Aleksandra (Sasha) Parodi?presented on the MAPC Language Access Guide and community engagement in the Boston to Blue Hills project. Photo 4: Senior Transportation Planner?Adi Nochur and Assistant Director of Transportation Julia Wallerce, LEED Green Associate (pictured center, left and right) presented a session at the Southern New England APA Conference (SNEAPA) in Springfield. Senior Transportation Planner Travis Pollack, AICP Pollack and Principal Planner and Emerging Technologies Specialist Alison Felix, AICP also presented at the conference. Photo 5: MAPC staff members post-SNEAPA conference. Photo 6: MAPC joined MASSCreative, the Boston Center for the Arts, the Community Music Center of Boston, and the Record Co. to co-host the South End Creative Conversation: Advocacy Voices for a Stronger Creative Sector. Pictured left to right: Emily Ruddock (Executive Director, MASSCreative), Annis Sengupta, Micheal Bobbitt (Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council), and Malik Williams, Reel Sync Music. Photo 7: Senior Arts and Culture Planner Abbey Judd, Community Engagement Specialist Samantha Berlus, and Director of Community Engagement Javier Gutierrez led a successful Open Space and Recreation Plan + Art (OSRP+Art) Community Meeting in Malden. Photo 8: Senior Government Affairs Specialist Norman Abbott, Deputy Executive Director Lizzi Weyant, Senior Communications Specialist Timothy Viall, and Government Affairs Director Leah Robins at the Commonwealth Seminar’s Civic Engagement Celebration & Expo NonProfit Center in Boston. More details to follow on that!?

MAPC is still accepting applications for 2025 Technical Assistance Program (TAP) grants! Municipalities are encouraged to apply to work with MAPC on a diverse range of projects to advance shared local, regional, and state goals. Find the application, the call for concepts, and more information at mapc.ma/TAP. Apply by Friday, December 13 for your project to be considered when the greatest amount of funding is available. Note: once on the DocuSign application, you will need to enter your name and email address to be able to access the full application.

MAPC applauds the legislature for passing the Siting Bill and Economic Development Bond Bill. We are thankful for the work of the Conference Committee Chairs, including Chair Barrett, Chair Roy, Chair Parisella, Chair Finegold, and the other members of these committees who helped to finalize two crucial bills. They will assist the Commonwealth as it attempts to meet its emissions goals, as well as support crucial industries and programs from Peru to Provincetown. Additionally, we would also like to thank Speaker Mariano, Senate President Spilka, Chair Michlewitz, and Chair Rodrigues for their stewardship and their leadership to ensure that these bills made it over the finish line. Read more about Bill S.2967, An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity and protecting ratepayers: https://lnkd.in/ek38Cz7y

In mid-October, more than 80 trail advocates, supporters, nonprofits, municipal staff, and elected officials gathered at the Ashland Community Center for the annual MetroWest Trail Summit. With a focus on Ashland, this year’s Summit highlighted advancing the Upper Charles Trail in the town, including connections to the East Coast Greenway in Framingham, as well as to Ashland and Hopkinton State Parks. Head to our Planning 101 blog - linked below - to find PowerPoint presentations from the Summit, more details on MAPC's Landline Vision Plan, as well as photos from the event and our Landline Greenway Ride Series! Concluding in September this year, each Greenway Ride ?? was designed to travel new greenways and/or learn about new or proposed projects.

Join MAPC next Thursday, Nov. 21 for a conversation about how Massachusetts can invest in the statewide transportation system we need. This event will discuss?why?the Commonwealth needs more transportation funding, and?how?we can get there. Register at: https://lnkd.in/gty8_f2w By attending this virtual event, you will be among the first to hear?about?MAPC's 2024 Updated Transportation Finance Recommendations.

Unsure of where to vote in Massachusetts? Visit https://lnkd.in/dfh36Ae to find your election information. BLUEbikes is offering free day passes today to help reduce barriers to accessing the polls. Enter code BCBSMAVOTE at checkout in the BLUEbikes app. Uber and Lyft are also offering discounted rides to voting locations. Check out their apps and websites for more information. #GoVote!

Thank you Democratic Whip Katherine Clark for sharing the important Congestion Relief Grant announcement in your newsletter, signing on to the letter of support, and voting for the legislation to make this possible! If you missed the news, read our full press release at: https://lnkd.in/en_rQJSt The new shuttle network will expand public transit in key Boston neighborhoods, including the Seaport, Charlestown, and Allston-Brighton. The Bluebikes expansion will add nearly 400 new bikes to the system, a quarter of them electric bikes (e-bikes), as well as new stations throughout the system.

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and the Attorney General’s Office are inviting all municipal officials and interested stakeholders to a webinar on Nov. 4 that will provide an overview of the new accessory dwelling unit law that is due to take effect on Feb. 2, 2025.