The Boston Globe

Aerial view of downtown Boston, Massachusetts.

Boston Zoning Commission to Consider ‘Squares and Streets’ Plan

The proposal would reduce barriers to the development of denser housing.

January 16, 2024 - The Boston Globe

People enjoying a sunny day on a green lawn with pink lawn chairs and colorful bird mural in background in Boston, Massachusetts.

Why Social Infrastructure Matters

The pandemic highlighted the importance of parks and public spaces for maintaining both the physical and mental health of urban residents.

November 19, 2023 - The Boston Globe

View of Boston from Bunker Hill with statue in foreground

Boston to Begin Zoning Code Update, Mayor Announces

It’s been nearly 60 years, but the city of Boston is finally ready to do a comprehensive rewrite of its zoning code.

September 14, 2023 - The Boston Globe

White and yellow MBTA bus in Cambridge, Massachusetts with brick buildings in background

Boston Bus Garage Delays Jeopardize Electrification Goals

With garage construction behind schedule and over budget, it appears doubtful that the MBTA will be able to convert its fleet to electric buses by its self-imposed deadlines.

April 5, 2023 - The Boston Globe

Quincy Market

Op-Ed: Boston Needs Zoning Reform Now

The Boston Globe’s editorial board calls on the city to take on citywide zoning reform to boost housing construction and revitalize areas that have faced historical underinvestment.

February 21, 2023 - The Boston Globe

Quincy Market

Boston Mayor Fights for Rent Control

Mayor Wu says putting a rent control policy in place is just one of several ways the city plans to improve housing affordability and prevent evictions, but the proposal requires state approval.

January 24, 2023 - The Boston Globe

Person on bike wearing backpack with small bus and Boston buildings in background

Massachusetts Passes New Road Safety Law

The legislation requires cars to keep four feet away from cyclists and other “vulnerable” road users and eases the process for lowering speed limits on state-owned roads.

January 4, 2023 - The Boston Globe

Old church and modern glass building in downtown Boston, Massachusetts

How One Massachusetts Governor Rejected Car-Oriented Development

Fifty years ago, Governor Francis W. Sargent nixed a proposed expressway and set in motion a transportation future for Boston that would be remarkably different from many other U.S. cities.

December 7, 2022 - The Boston Globe

MBTA Bus

MBTA Announces Improved Bus Frequencies, Redesigned Route Map in Boston

A large system redesign is nearing implementation in and around Boston, but the new system map will require more drivers than the MBTA currently employs.

November 21, 2022 - The Boston Globe

Close-up  of wooden beehive with bees flying in and out

A Sweet Deal: Zoning for Honeybees

A Boston ordinance could make it easier for residents to take up urban beekeeping.

October 10, 2022 - The Boston Globe

Brutalism

Zoning Board of Appeals Overhaul One Step Toward Approval Process Reform in Boston

Mayor Wu recently overhauled the makeup of Boston’s Zoning Board of Appeals, but bigger changes will be necessary to depoliticize the city’s development approvals process.

October 2, 2022 - The Boston Globe

Massachusetts

Boston Will Urge Developers to Provide Diversity Disclosures

Stopping short of a mandate, the city plans to request that developers provide information about diversity and inclusion on their teams.

August 22, 2022 - The Boston Globe

Rural Highway

Rural States Refusing Federal Housing Aid

Rural states like Nebraska, Montana, and West Virginia have refused federal funding to aid vulnerable renters during the economic shocks of the pandemic, and that money is now headed to other parts of the country.

April 25, 2022 - The Boston Globe

A historoci image of West End Boston, cleared completely of buildings to make way for a massive urban renewal program that would include the city's present-day City Hall.

Boston's New Mayor Wants to End Old Urban Renewal Districts

Michelle Wu, Boston's new mayor, is ready to finally end the government powers that displaced communities in the mid-20th century.

March 15, 2022 - The Boston Globe

The East Bay Bike Lane runs along the water in Rhode Island.

Lessons From Past Bike Lane Controversies Rarely Inform Present Debates

History repeats itself with the political controversies created by bike lanes.

October 19, 2021 - The Boston Globe

A fence shows a walkway to the beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Proposed Law Would Open Beach Access in Massachusetts

It's harder to access the ocean in Massachusetts than any other coastal state in the country, but that could soon change.

September 29, 2021 - The Boston Globe

A map of the Boston harbor with locations highlighted that will be vulnerable to sea-level rise.

Boston to Leverage Private Developers for a New Climate Resiliency Fund

It's going to take a lot of funding to build the infrastructure to protect coastal cities from rising seas as climate change takes hold. The city of Boston is starting to experiment with revenue sources that can fund the necessary improvements.

September 10, 2021 - The Boston Globe

Boston Aerial

Acting Mayor Pulls Boston's Downtown Harbor Plan

Intrigue continues for waterfront development plans in Boston and nearby cities.

September 5, 2021 - The Boston Globe

Zakim Bridge and Tobin Bridge

Post-Pandemic Traffic: Easier Morning Commutes, Heading for Afternoon 'Peak Spreading'

The Boston Globe recently published an analysis of Boston-area traffic through the pandemic, finding that congestion is finally recovering to pre-pandemic levels, but in new patterns.

August 15, 2021 - The Boston Globe

Chicago Dog Park

Boston Leaders Want A Dog Park in Every Neighborhood

City leaders want to build more off-leash dog parks, partly as a response to the trend of "pandemic puppies" that has led to a sharp spike in urban dog ownership.

February 24, 2021 - The Boston Globe

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