Over 20,000 people came out on Father’s Day weekend to ride the long-awaited Springfield-to-New Haven commuter rail service. This outpouring of support demonstrates just how much western Massachusetts hungers for vital rail connections (a yearning that Boston-centric leaders on Beacon Hill have been somewhat hesitant to affirm). But now that Springfield’s rail infrastructure is in place, when it comes to getting the greatest economic development benefit from it, the Pioneer Valley can find common ground with eastern Massachusetts.

Dozens of MBTA trains pass through Boston-area Gateway Cities like Brockton and Lynn collecting few passengers. The eastern part of the state isn’t getting the ridership it could from MBTA commuter rail because, like Springfield, the downtown station areas in these cities have been paralyzed by decades of disinvestment.

The Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) is key to overcoming this barrier and getting the most out of transit assets in both the Boston and Springfield metro areas. Created by the Legislature in 2010, HDIP has demonstrated real promise, spurring residential development in Gateway City downtowns that hadn’t seen any private housing investment for decades. In Springfield, it was vital to SilverBrick Lofts, an apartment building just a short walk from Union Station that got a $6 million upgrade in 2016.

Unfortunately, HDIP has quickly become a victim of its own success. The small pilot program is limited to $10 million annually, which means it can enable just a few projects each year. Housing developers have learned about the program and how to make use of it, only to find out that now they must wait years for funding.

This is an enormous opportunity lost. Land within walking distance of existing Gateway City rail stations has capacity for over 100 million square feet of additional development through new construction on vacant land and rehabilitation of abandoned buildings. Taking full advantage of the land around Gateway City stations, Massachusetts could house upwards of a quarter million residents within a half-mile radius of Gateway City rail stations. This TOD would generate a dramatic increase in rail ridership, and new fare revenue to improve the financial performance of our transit agencies. These projects would also create significant new real estate value, reducing Gateway City reliance on state aid.

Even more importantly, HDIP can contribute to broad-based economic growth. The program creates housing that would otherwise not get built. As baby boomers retire and remain in their homes, economists have warned that Massachusetts will need more housing supply in order to add workers. Beacon Hill leaders are currently assembling an end-of-session economic development package. This legislation is an opportunity to increase HDIP, generating transformative private investment to leverage our underutilized public transportation infrastructure.

– Ben Forman

TOD TOUR

Stop 1: Springfield

Stop 2: Lynn

Transportation

Dan Hodge and Ben Forman write more about the promise of HDIP for MassLive.

In an interview with MassINC, NEPR reports on the potential for transformative transit-oriented development in Springfield.

The first CTrail departs Springfield for New Haven.

 Worcester receives a $1 million grant to repave the Worcester Regional Airport

Lynn Mayor Thomas McGee fights for investment of Lynn and Boston transit links

A new state study suggests a rail link connecting North and South stations would be the second coming of the Big Dig, costing at least $12 billion.

MassINC research director Ben Forman makes the case for regional rail and transit-oriented development in the state’s Gateway Cities as key elements to their revival.

The next wave of innovation in urban mobility: scooters.

Housing and Economic Development

The Fall River Office of Economic Development severs ties with the city and becomes the new Bristol County Economic Development Consultants.

A Chinese biotech company invests $60M in Worcester, bringing 150 new jobs to the city.

Rush Street Gaming asks the state to reconsider its proposal for a Brockton casino.

Lynn approves a 332-unit market-rate residential complex on the waterfront.

Governing reports on a new Brookings Institution study that finds a new phenomenon of “white flight” from suburban communities.

The 2018 State of the Nation’s Housing Report shows young adults are still out of the market.

Education

WBUR looks at how six Massachusetts communities, including Lowell and Revere, are experimenting with new ways to assess students beyond MCAS.

After years of resistance as well as watching some of their students — and the accompanying funds — leave for other districts, the New Bedford School Committee approved a school choice plan to allow outside students to enroll in city schools.

Worcester superintendent Maureen Binienda has a plan to revive middle school sports.

The Lynn School Committee picks Patrick Tutwiler as the next superintendent

Chris Gabrieli, the CEO of Empower Schools, briefs Worcester education officials on the Springfield Empowerment Zone.

The House and Senate both want to bolster civics instruction in schools, but they differ on specifics, with the Senate version of a bill mandating completion of two civics projects as a graduation requirement for students.

Governance

Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia restores $2.3 million in revenue from the pay-as-you-throw trash pickup after city councilors rejected his move to eliminate the controversial program.

Haverhill Police Chief Alan DeNaro aims to launch a gang unit and tackle gang violence.

The Worcester County sheriff brakes ground on a new $20 million intake facility.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission gives MGM Springfield the greenlight to serve alcohol on the gambling floor until 4 a.m.

The parishioners of Fall River’s churches come together to save their parishes.