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
Keating and Tedeschi talk Gateway Cities (on the inaugural episode of our new podcast!)
The Gateway Cities Journal
As a prelude to next week’s summit, we present our new podcast, Gateways. This first installment features the ninth congressional district candidates, Congressman Bill Keating and his Republican challenger, Peter Tedeschi.
T notes: Riders embracing early morning buses
New commuter rail platform in Worcester; big disruptions coming on D Line
MBTA OFFICIALS SAY the addition of early morning buses on 10 routes has increased ridership by more than 900 riders and reduced crowding. One example is the Route 455 bus from Lynn to Wonderland. Its first trip used to leave Lynn at 5 a.m. carrying an average of 51 passengers, with 12 of them standing.
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
An election is a terrible thing to waste
The Gateway Cities Journal
The image of Governor Baker standing shoulder to shoulder with Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera as the pair deftly responded to the Columbia Gas crisis appeared on screens across the country last week. This relationship was forged back in January 2015, at yet another trying moment. It was the Governor’s first month in office, and Lawrence
A new Quincy
Building boom looks to move city beyond its past without leaving it behind
QUINCY MAYOR THOMAS KOCH calls the MBTA’s Red Line the “spine” of his aging city. With four stops in North Quincy, Wollaston, Quincy Center, and Quincy Adams, the T’s Red Line allows residents to move around the city and connect with Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville to the north. These transit connections have long been the
Windows of Opportunity for Regional Rail: Part I
The Gateway Cities Journal
Earlier this week the Boston Globe featured three op-eds on the promise of regional rail. It’s wonderful that the concept of how we use transportation infrastructure to integrate regional economies and generate more geographically-balanced growth is getting serious attention. And it is timely because a number of near-term policy decisions will have major ramifications for the
Rollins rolls to big win in Suffolk DA race
Outsider Harrington topples Berkshire DA, Ryan reelected in MIddlesex
AGAINST THE BACKDROP of a national rethinking of criminal justice policies, Suffolk County residents voted for big change in the district attorney’s office as Rachael Rollins, a former federal prosecutor running on strong reform platform, topped a five-way Democratic primary field in the contest to replace incumbent Dan Conley, who did not seek reelection. Change
Surprise! Mass. Dems don’t want to abolish ICE
The Topline
Follow Twitter trends and cable news discussion, and you’d think the Democratic base was all-in on the idea of abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Indeed, even national polling seemed to show Democrats headed in that direction, with a POLITICO/Morning Consult poll finding Democrats support abolishing ICE (43 percent) over keeping it (34 percent). Trump
Will MA hydro contract increase, or decrease, emissions?
Hydro-Quebec dismisses claims by enviros, power generators
MASSACHUSETTS SIGNED a $16 billion, 20-year contract to import hydro-electricity from Quebec to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but energy advocates and other power generators are saying the deal is unlikely to move the needle on emissions and could actually increase them. The debate revolves around the meaning of emissions. The contract will definitely lower greenhouse