Rethinking Transportation Finance in Massachusetts

Improving the systems and politics of transportation funding could ensure more local money, more efficient land use planning and mobility choices, and more.

1 minute read

October 31, 2019, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge

mandritoiu / Shutterstock

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council, the regional planning agency for metropolitan Boston, recently released a report that recommends 14 steps for developing a sustainable and resilient transportation financing system.

According to an article by Elise Harmon promoting the report, the 14 recommendations are proposed as a menu of options: "multiple solutions will likely be needed to address our local, regional, and statewide transportation goals."

"The released goals include recommendations to provide local funding options to cities and towns, encourage smart growth and mode shift, and raise broad-based revenue for transportation improvements."

Among the 14 total, four recommendations focus on providing funding to local needs, four recommendations focus on encouraging mode shift and smart growth, and six general recommendations are designed to increase revenues.

Monday, October 7, 2019 in Metropolitan Area Planning Council

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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