By the time we emerge from the pandemic and turn the economy back on, we will be winding down the transportation networks central to an equitable recovery. But an affordable, accessible, and reliable public transit is especially vital to Gateway City revitalization.
Regional Ballot Initiatives and the promise of local autonomy
Gateways Episode 65
A major transit bill with provisions for RBIs would give voters the ability to raise their own transportation funds and invest in their own communities.
Moving Forward with Mobility: What will the post-COVID future of transportation hold?
The Gateways Podcast Episode 62
In response to the pandemic, the MBTA allowed for back-door boarding on buses, making rides effectively free. But is that the right plan?Two guests stop by the Gateways Podcast to continue the transportation conversation — Jarred Johnson, director of TransitMatters and Brenna Robeson, lead coordinator at Zero Fare WRTA Coalition.
Speaking up for Gateway City Teachers
The Gateway Cities Journal
Schools are finishing up for the year, but the emotional toll of the pandemic bears down on Gateway City educators harder than ever. For the past three months, they engaged in heroic efforts: helping families find food, consoling those who lost loved ones, leading painful dialogues on race and identity. Gateway City districts haven’t been
Where equity gaps are deepest, we need more patience
The Gateway Cities Journal
In the most recent FMCB meeting, board chair Joe Aiello called out the one week fare decrease on the commuter rail from Lynn to North Station. The mitigation has had tremendous success during blue line construction. However, the MBTA has not committed to extending that fare decrease to encourage more ridership between Lynn and Boston. The
From Transactional to Transformative: The Case for Equity in Gateway City Transit-Oriented Development
Transformative Transit-Oriented Development recognizes that equity is the key to transforming cities and towns in Massachusetts, and the country. In Massachusetts, a decades long economic boom has not always reached Gateway Cities, yielding uneven growth and investment that have deepened inequities across places, races, classes and cultures. The coronavirus pandemic has amplified these disparities. To
Why Massachusetts can’t scale back rail infrastructure
Last week, Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack indicated it may make sense to slow down planned improvements to the MBTA commuter rail network. Here's why this is the wrong move for Massachusetts.
Using 40R and 43D to Stimulate Transformative Transit-Oriented Development in Gateway Cities
This policy brief is the third in a series exploring state and local level approaches to generating transformative transit-oriented development (TTOD) in Gateway Cities. This brief examines two additional state incentive programs—43D Expedited Permitting and 40R Smart Growth Zoning—as tools to spur Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Gateway Cities
TTOD Planning & Design Competition Award Ceremony
Learn more about the nine teams that participated in the inaugural TTOD Planning and Design Competition!
Why COVID-19 tells us to embrace transit-oriented development, not reject it
The Gateway Cities Journal
Recently, coronavirus has caused some to question the validity and safety of population density and transit. But the real culprits lie in crowding, poverty, pollution, and other socioeconomic factors - which TTOD aims to address.