Rachel Adele Dec Public Affairs Associate , MassINC

Rachel Adele is a Public Affairs Associate at MassINC. She has previously served as a Research Assistant for ADS Ventures and a Case Team Assistant for LEK Consulting. She is a cum laude graduate of Northeastern University with a degree in Political Science, a concentration in Public Policy, and a minor in English. While in college, she studied abroad in Tokyo, served as a Magazine Editor to the Northeastern Political Review, and competed nationally as a parliamentary debater. Rachel maintains a tremendous interest in campaign finance reform, and has authored pieces for various publications based on research she conducted in her final year in university. Born and raised in Southern California, Rachel is now happy to call Boston her home.

ARTICLES By Rachel Adele Dec

Examining the role of the MBTA commuter rail in Boston’s future

“Next Stop”

WGBH News’ new program “Next Stop” hosted a panel dialogue which examined the role of the MBTA commuter rail in Boston’s future. WGBH’s Bob Seay sat down Dr. Tracy Corley, Transportation-Oriented Development Fellow at MassINC, alongside Josh Fairchild, President of Transit Matters, and Kim Driscoll, Mayor of Salem to discuss reliability, access, and the broader

MassINC presents on Gateway City TOD at LOCUS Summit

Discussing smart growth issues across the region

On October 24th, LOCUS New England, a division of Smart Growth America, convened real estate developers, investors, and elected officials to share ideas and discuss smart growth issues across the region. MassINC’s Research Director, Ben Forman, joined other smart growth experts for a panel discussion on “Promoting Infill Development in Transit Corridors.” The conversation touched

Talk of Gateway City TOD in Worcester

Focusing on strategies to position Union Station for future success

The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce held its third-annual “Game Changers: Next Big Idea Expo and Conference” on Friday, October 19. MassINC research director Ben Forman shared findings on Gateway City TOD as part of a panel focused on strategies to position Union Station for future success. See the Worcester Business Journal’s coverage of the

Gateway Cities TOD Tour

Stop 3: Worcester

On Sept. 13, MassINC and The Worcester Regional Research Bureau discussed local findings from the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute’s report, “Exploring the Future of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Gateway Cities,” at Lock 50 in Worcester. A diverse group of leaders joined us for a wide-ranging conversation; topics included improving commuter rail service, reducing the cost

FY 2019 Budget Lends Support to the “Gateway City Fare” Concept

Shows support for more equitable access to public transit

In a show of support for more equitable access to public transit, an outside section of the FY 2019 budget calls on MassDOT to review MBTA commuter rail fares, including an examination of the “fairness of the current distance-based fare system,” which effectively prohibits low-income Gateway City residents from utilizing the service, and also makes

Addressing Potential for TOD in Springfield

NEPR Highlights Transit-Oriented Development Research

Kari Njiri speaks with MassINC’s Ben Forman about the potential of Gateway Cities’ urban development in “Study Examines Potential in Springfield for Mass Transit to Attract Investment,” published today on New England Public Radio. Highlighting the research in MassINC’s most recent report on transit-oriented development (TOD), Forman discusses the history of Gateway Cities and why we

Creative Minds Out Loud

Ben Forman on the economic and social benefits of communities abundant with arts and culture

  In Episode 60 of the podcast “Creative Minds Out Loud,” MassINC research director Ben Forman discusses the economic and social benefits of communities which are abundant with arts and culture. A project of the Mass Cultural Council, the podcast features conversations with cultural leaders and those interested in the promotion of the arts in

Gateway Cities TOD Tour

Stop 2: Lynn

At the historic Lynn Museum, MassINC gathered with local leaders on Monday, June 25th to discuss local findings from “Exploring the Future of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Gateway Cities.” The MassINC team was joined by the Lynn Mayor Tom McGee, Rep. Dan Cahill, Sen. Brendan Crighton, representatives from U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton’s office, and a

6th International Transportation and Economic Development Conference

Transformative Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Massachusetts Gateway Cities

Dan Hodge, of Hodge Economic Consulting, recently presented research authored with MassINC’s Ben Forman on transit-oriented development (TOD) in Massachusetts Gateway Cities at the 6th International Transportation and Economic Development Conference on June 7. Addressing the conference in Washington, DC, Hodge addressed the benefits that TOD can to bring to Massachusetts by calculating its real-world

Gateway Cities TOD Tour

Stop 1: Springfield

On Wednesday, June 20th, MassINC joined the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and Hodge Economic Consulting for an informal discussion of local findings from “Exploring the Future of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Gateway Cities.” Over a barbecue dinner at Theodore’s, local leaders discussed the potential of the refurbished Union Station, the promise of new commuter rail

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