Massachusetts' Gateway Cities are home to large numbers of vulnerable populations, including immigrants and people experiencing homelessness. This week, we talk to experts about why certain populations are more at risk when it comes to COVID-19, and how Gateway Cities can respond.
Resiliency in their DNA: Gateway Cities in the face of crisis
Gateways Episode 54
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This week, Ben and Tracy look at how Gateway Cities are responding to the spread of coronavirus.
Baker’s Economic Development Bill Builds on Gateway City Strengths
The economic development package positions Massachusetts and its Gateway Cities for strong, equitable, and sustainable growth.
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The Governor’s bill contains several provisions with the potential to play a particularly powerful role increasing the vitality of Gateway Cities across the state by building on their strengths.
Why regional ballot initiatives make sense for Massachusetts
The Gateway Cities Journal
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The previous edition of our journal argued that regional ballot initiatives (RBIs) are a must-have tool if Massachusetts is going to move forward with transformative transportation investments. This position is supported by MassINC research dating back to 2010. As more and more regions around the country successfully wield RBIs to make 21-century transportation investments, the
WANTED: Sharper tools for Gateway City transit-oriented development
The Gateway Cities Journal
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If we hope to spur growth and attract residents, jobs, and talent to our Massachusetts Gateway Cities, we need a transportation funding package that includes multiple tools to transform passenger rail.
RBIs to the rescue: What happens when locals make their own decisions about transit
Gateways Episode 52
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This week on Gateways, Tracy is joined by Denny Zane, Executive Director of Move LA. Having lived in Massachusetts, Denny is familiar with the unreliable public transit that Commonwealth riders deal with on a daily basis.
MassINC study finds Gateway City residents priced-out of public transit
Report says state must reduce rail fares in order to achieve more equitable growth
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To address the state’s transportation woes, planners and policymakers are evaluating major upgrades to the Commonwealth’s rail network. At the same time, a report from the nonpartisan think tank MassINC argues state leaders must consider new methods of discounting train fares so that low- and moderate-income residents can afford to ride. The new report presents
Hearing that glorious swish
The Gateways Cities Journal
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Down for nearly a decade, Gateway City real estate markets finally show signs of life. From Brockton to Fall River and Lynn to Worcester, private developers are unveiling plans for exactly the kind of mixed-use TOD projects these regional urban centers need to become 21st-century cities. However, as we’ve learned from previous real estate cycles,
Budgeting for the transformation of commuter rail
The Gateway Cities Journal
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MassDOT’s Rail Vision team presented a long awaited set of scenarios for the transformation of commuter rail at a joint MBTA/MassDOT board meeting this week. Their analysis provides more information about what it would take to run trains every 15 minutes to urban centers all throughout the day. It also gave us a sense of
Northern Massachusetts Transformative Transit-Oriented Development (TTOD) Regional Forum
Event Recap
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On Thursday, May 30th, the Northern Massachusetts Transformative Transit-Oriented Development (TTOD) Regional Forum brought people from across the Commonwealth to the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub. Participants in the morning’s activities dug into how Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill are transforming their cities and surrounding communities using transit-oriented development. Speakers and panelists discussed proposed and active rail