Massachusetts

Parking meters on Boston street.

Boston Could Introduce Parking Benefit Districts

The approach offers a way for cities to free up curb parking space while boosting revenue for local infrastructure.

November 6, 2023 - Governing

View of Boston skyline from Longfellow Bridge with cyclist riding in bike lane and pedestrian on sidewalk.

Progress Report: Boston Strong on Street Safety, Slow to Reduce Emissions

A new report assesses the city’s progress halfway through implementation of the ‘Go Boston 2030’ long-range transportation plan.

October 16, 2023 - Streetsblog Mass

Springfield, MA outdoor Amtrak station platform with train pulling in.

USDOT Awards $108 Million Grant for Massachusetts Rail Improvements

The grant will fund track and signal improvements to allow more trains to run faster on a segment between Boston and Springfield.

September 27, 2023 - Streetsblog Mass

Aerial view of Boston Massachusetts historic homes

Boston Pilot Program Funds Electrification of Small Residential Properties

Owners of small buildings can get up to $50,000 per unit to fund decarbonization retrofits.

September 25, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Few passengers waiting in subway station with multiple platforms and "North Station" signs in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Transit Riders Report Safety Concerns

Almost three-quarters of current and former riders report feeling unsafe while using MBTA services.

September 18, 2023 - Hoodline

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

Massachusetts State Capitol

Massachusetts Pushing Statewide Zoning Reforms With Steeper Penalties for Non-Compliance

Massachusetts is one of the states in the nation requiring local governments to make more space for multi-family housing. Not all local governments are willing to comply, however.

August 21, 2023 - Mass Live

Boston city skyline

Boston Grant Program Supports Greener Affordable Housing

The city wants to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

August 17, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Looking up at modernist/brutalist Boston City Hall building bathed in golden hour light

Boston Eliminates Fossil Fuels in New City-Owned Buildings

Mayor Michelle Wu said the new rule will help boost demand for green materials and create new jobs in the green building sector.

August 9, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

White geothermal heat pump installed on the side of a house

Geothermal Pilot Program Breaks Ground in Massachusetts

A first-of-its-kind’ program will connect roughly 40 residential and commercial buildings to an underground geothermal network that will replace fossil fuel-powered furnaces.

June 15, 2023 - Fast Company

Silver commuter train with purple stripe in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Transit Ridership Grows Steadily

Ridership on the region’s commuter rail reached 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels in March.

June 13, 2023 - CommonWealth Magazine

Route 6 highway in Massachusetts with fall trees on either side

Provincetown Proposes New Car-Free Trail

An underused highway could become a pedestrian and bike trail connecting the Cape Cod town to its beaches.

June 4, 2023 - Streetsblog Mass

Striped crosswalk with yellow pedestrian crossing signs and grassy pedestrian island in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Launches ‘Safety Surge’ Traffic Calming Initiative

The new program targets neighborhood streets for safety improvements such as speed humps and intersection redesigns.

May 24, 2023 - Streetsblog Mass

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

View of Boston from Bunker Hill with statue in foreground

How Ownership Structure Impacts Eviction Rates

A new study from Boston reveals that large landlords, who are less likely to live near their tenants, execute far more eviction filings than smaller property owners.

February 5, 2023 - Housing Matters

Aerial view of MBTA commuter rail station in Concord, Massachusetts among green trees

Massachusetts Zoning Reform Law Reaches First Deadline

Cities and towns had until January 31 to submit their draft plans for rezoning areas near transit stations to comply with a new state law.

February 1, 2023 - Streetsblog Mass

Passengers on Boston subway platform with blurred speeding train passing by

Assessing Transit Equity in Boston

The Transit Equity Dashboard highlights stark disparities in access to jobs, healthcare, and other essential services between Boston neighborhoods.

January 29, 2023 - TransitCenter

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

MBTA Green Line

Explaining Massachusetts’ New TOD Law

The MBTA Communities law sets ‘minimum multi-family unit capacity’ for communities located near transit stations to boost higher-density housing development in transit-rich areas.

January 6, 2023 - CommonWealth Magazine

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