TTOD TALK Blog
The TTOD TALK Blog aims to stimulate a conversation around Transformative Transit-Oriented Development (TTOD). We invite you to share your feedback in the comments or to our team at ttod@massinc.org. We’d also like to hear about ways in which your city or town has been transforming transit-oriented neighborhoods across Massachusetts.
Note that the opinions expressed here represent the views of the individual author, not MassINC. We reserve the right to remove any posts that do not contribute to meaningful dialogue about how we can transform Massachusetts cities through transit-oriented development.
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Are coworking spaces the key to transforming Gateway Cities?
Gateway City coworking facilities can provide space and resources for residents to join the digital workforce while positioning downtowns as regional hubs.
The Future of the Massachusetts Workplace
Decentralizing Massachusetts’ workforce could address the state’s transportation struggles and geographic inequities, magnified by the pandemic.
Take The #TTODTalkChallenge!
MassINC is on a mission to support livable communities – and that has to start with community residents. Help us show the need for community space, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic changes the way we use public spaces by taking the #TTODTalkChallenge!
Christopher Coes’ Four Crazy Ideas to Catalyze TOD
Gateways Episode 43
MassINC recently held the Seventh Annual Gateway Cities Innovation Institute Awards & Summit at the DCU Center in Worcester. Today’s episode brings you a highlight from the gathering—the morning keynote delivered by Christopher Coes, Vice President of Land Use and Development at Smart Growth America.
MassINC Insights
Gateways Episode 38
This week on Gateways, we bring you an episode of MassINC Insights, the first installment in a series of conversations with the journalists, researchers, and pollsters of MassINC, The MassINC Polling Group and CommonWealth. The nonprofit consistently leads the way in producing nonpartisan research and
Fall River entrepreneur brings healthy food and a heap of inspiration to Gateway City neighborhoods
Gateways Episode 35
This week on Gateways, we give you Tracy Corley’s live conversation with entrepreneur Luis Gonsalves during the October 2nd Entrepreneurship For All Leadership Summit in Lowell. Luis is an alum of New Bedford High, the US military, and EforAll, which gave him the tools to thrive in the competitive restaurant industry.
Gateway City leaders speak on opportunity zones
Gateways Episode 34.5
On this bonus episode of Gateways, we continue the conversation on federal Opportunity Zones legislation. Last episode, our guests broke down what Opportunity Funds can do and pointed out areas where they are failing the highest-need communities in our Commonwealth.
Are Opportunity Zones sites of misfortune for distressed neighborhoods?
Gateways Episode 34
When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was unveiled in 2017, much of the national attention was trained on the debate between Republicans and Democrats over whether the cuts disproportionately helped the rich. Woven in the tax code, however, a federal initiative known as Opportunity Zones promised to incentivize
Fares for Gateway Cities residents are off the rails
Gateways Episode 32
MassINC recently published a report on fare equity that confirmed what most of us already know: the lowest-wealth Commonwealth residents pay more of their incomes to get around the state than wealthier folks. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the MBTA’s commuter rail network, a public
Tackling Smog and Congestion with TCI
Gateways Episode 30
Traffic congestion in Massachusetts has reached crisis proportions. And while some leaders and officials assure it’s a “symptom of success,” that explanation offers little solace to Bay Staters stuck in mind-numbing traffic everyday. To top it off, gas and diesel-burning cars, trucks, and trains dominate greenhouse
Opinion Analysis | Exploring how Massachusetts can raise revenue and fund investments
Recapping the Get Smart Forum in Cambridge
On June 13, 2019, leaders from business, transportation, and policy gathered in Cambridge for the Get Smart Forum to discuss how Massachusetts can raise revenue and fund investments in transportation. According to the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Transportation, our Gateway Cities rely on “Robust public and other transportation modes that connect burgeoning and
Emerging small businesses round out TOD in Merrimack Valley
Gateways Episode 27
In this episode of Gateways, Tracy is once again in the Merrimack Valley, this time exploring how small business development programs are shaping transit-oriented development. She starts in Lowell, where the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub has served as an incubator for budding tech companies
Opinion Analysis | Inclusive Economies come from Including People
EOHED MetroWest Engagement Session
On the morning of June 25th, Framingham State University hosted the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development’s (EOHED) final Engagement Session. This nine-stop, 1,200-participant tour is an early step in developing the Office’s four-year state economic development plan which will be presented to the Baker Administration at the end of the year. Meetings
Opinion Analysis | Massachusetts Has Climate Change Policy in the (Green) Works
Bill aims to help cities meet carbon reduction goals and provide infrastructure for climate change mitigation and resilience
On 18 June, 2019, the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy held a hearing on Bill H.3846, “An Act Relative to GreenWorks.” Presented by Representative Thomas A. Golden, Jr. of Middlesex, the bill proposes a bond authorization of $1.3 billion to be directed towards climate mitigation and adaptation strategies across the state. The bill
Finding Food, Friends and Good Health at Haverhill’s Farmers Market
Gateways Episode 26
In this episode of Gateways, Tracy takes us to Haverhill where we hear how a farmers market has transformed personal and public health through food, fun, and community connections. Market founder Jeff Grassie and Nate Robertson of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission walk us through the market and
The art of MART’s health and human services operation
Gateways Episode 25
This week Tracy digs into the health and human services (HHS) transportation operation at the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART). MART’s HHS brokerage delivers more than 6 million rides to medical and healthcare appointments for residents in 70% of Massachusetts. How is the
Mass Housing Partnership: Transforming TOD through Affordable Housing
Gateways Episode 23
On this episode of Gateways, Tracy sits down with Susan Connelly, Director of Community Assistance and Strategic Partnerships at the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), a nonprofit organization that supports and finances affordable housing.
TOD Big and Small in Fall River
Gateways Episode 21
In this episode of Gateways, Tracy takes a walking tour in the heart of Fall River with private developer Alan Macomber and the city’s executive director of community development, Mike Dion. Our guests explain Fall River’s plans to connect downtown to its vibrant waterfront while creating more market rate
MetroWestRTA innovations spark transit-oriented development in Framingham
Gateways Episode 17
In this episode of Gateways, Tracy takes a tour of MetroWest Regional Transit Authority headquarters in Framingham. Led by MWRTA Administrator Ed Carr and 495/MetroWest Partnership Executive Director Paul Matthews, Tracy learns about all the MWRTA has been doing to revitalize parts of the city, protect pedestrians, maximize energy efficiency, and more.
More than one way to ‘transform’ a city
Gateways Episode 15
On this week’s episode of Gateways, Dr. Tracy Corley is joined by Noah Koretz, Director of Transformative Development for MassDevelopment. He discusses his Transformative Development Initiative (TDI), a “place and partnership program” that bolsters the economic development efforts of Gateway Cities.
Transformative transit-oriented development greets New Bedford
Gateways Episode 13
On this week’s episode of Gateways, co-hosts Ben and Tracy dissect the high points of MassINC’s regional forum on transformative transit oriented development, held in New Bedford’s historic Whaling Museum on April 8.
TOD planning takes root in the Heart of the Commonwealth
Gateways Episode 11
In this episode, we hear from Mayor Petty & Jake Sanders from the city of Worcester along with Craig Blais and Roberta Brien of the Worcester Business Development Corporation.
Walking Through Worcester
Gateways Episode 8.5
Dr. Tracy Corley takes a walk through Worcester along MassINC’s research director Ben Forman and Tim McGourthy, the former Executive Director of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau. The group walks us through the commuter rail stations, theater district, the Common, and the DCU Center, highlighting the
Hooray for Housing Choice and HDIP
Gateways Episode 8
In this episode of Gateways, co-hosts Ben Forman and Dr. Tracy Corley dive deep into state and federal housing policies that stimulate housing development in Gateway Cities. In response to Gov. Baker’s Housing Choice legislation announcement, they analyze its potential impacts on the quantity and quality of housing across the state.
Painting a prettier Salem
Gateways Episode 7.5
Rome wasn’t rebuilt in a day, and neither are Gateway City neighborhoods. In this bonus episode of “Gateways,” Dr. Tracy Corley takes us on a walking tour of Salem’s El Punto neighborhood alongside David Valecillos of the North Shore Community Development Coalition.
Dr. Corley’s big debut, Crighton and Cabral talk about their bill too
Gateways Episode 6
In this episode of GATEWAYS, Aimee and Ben introduce MassINC’s Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Fellow, Dr. Tracy Corley, who joins the podcast as a new host. We also speak with Representative Cabral and Senator Crighton about the recent neighborhood stabilization bill, which was unveiled last week in the State House by the Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus.
The importance of transit-oriented development in the Gateway Cities
Gateways Episode 4: Sal Lupoli
In this episode of Gateways, Aimee and Ben sit down with Sal Lupoli, Founder of and CEO of Lupoli Companies and discuss the importance of transit-oriented development in the Gateway Cities.
