Resources
Data Services
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The MAPC Data Services Group provides research and analysis for many MAPC publications and presentations. View a selection of major MAPC reports that were created by the Data Center.
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MetroBoston DataCommon is a online mapping tool. A partnership between the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and the Boston Indicators Project, it makes available a wealth of data about cities and towns in Massachusetts.
Explore data, print out instant community snapshots or maps, and create your own maps.
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Economic Development
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The MAPC Resource Guide on the Federal Economic Stimulus summarizes the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), identifies potential grants for Massachusetts municipalities, and outlines the allocation of funds to Massachusetts as an informational resource for our constituents and municipalities.
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Environment
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Low Impact Development is a set of strategies that treat stormwater management as a site design problem, not an exercise in sizing storm drains and detention ponds. This publication is one component of the Massachusetts Low Impact Development Toolkit, produced by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, in coordination with the I-495 MetroWestCorridor Partnership, and with financial support from United States Environmental Protection Agency.
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Working in collaboration with the 495/MetroWest Partnership, MAPC developed the WaterSmart Toolkit, which provides guidance to communities on best practices for addressing storm water, water supply, and wastewater issues. The toolkit includes: SummerSmart Water Use Guide to Peak Season Water Demand Management, Once is Not Enough: A Guide to Water Reuse in Massachusetts, Low Impact Development Toolkit, and the 495 Watermarks Report.
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Housing
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As a municipal leader, you see the impact of foreclosures firsthand and know the ripple effects this crisis has on your community. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and some municipalities are providing assistance to address the causes and effects of foreclosures on our local communities.
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"The Use of Chapter 40R in Massachusetts as a Tool for Smart Growth and Affordable Housing Production" examines how Massachusetts communities have used Chapter 40R in the four-plus years since program regulations were issued in March 2005.
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Land Use
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The Conservation Subdivision Design (CSD) Project was conducted by MAPC in July 2000 and funded by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. CSD is arguably the best reform made to traditional cluster-type zoning to date. This project is intended to serve as an educational tool particularly for town planners, planning boards, and developers. The project includes positive examples of cluster-type subdivision and outlines the benefits of land development practices that consider environmental, cultural, and fiscal resources as equally important priorities.
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Mixed Use Zoning: A Planners Guide presents the fundamentals you need to plan a mixed use bylaw. A version of the guide for citizens is also available for download. This guide is based primarily on the experiences of five suburban communities that have prepared bylaws with assistance from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), supported by grants from the state’s Priority Development Fund.
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MAPC has been collaborating with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Minute Man National Historic Park, and the communities of Arlington, Lexington, Lincoln, and Concord to help preserve and promote the historic Battle Road Scenic Byway. MAPC and the project partners are working together to create a Corridor Management Plan which will address land use, roadway, tourism, and resource management for this State-designated Scenic Byway.
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MAPC Annual Reports
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MAPC's Annual Report is released in the form of an attractive, informative calendar. Each month highlights a particular topic or trend in the region.
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Municipal Governance
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The MAPC Municipal Governance team manages several collective purchasing programs: regional services consortiums (RSCs) and collective procurement programs like the Greater Boston Police Council (GBSC).
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Public Health
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The Northeast Homeland Security Regional Advisory Council (NERAC) is pleased to provide the “It’s Up to You to Stop the Flu” Toolkit. Funded by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant, this public information campaign provides ways to stay healthier during flu season.
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Regional Collaboration
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The Municipal Health Insurance Action Center provides comprehensive information about other options that municipalities have in grappling with spiraling health insurance costs.
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Smart Growth
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The Belmont, Lexington, Waltham Subarea (Trapelo Road) Study addresses an area encompassing Route 128 on the west, the Waverly MBTA station on the east, Route 2 on the north to Totten Pond Road, and Beaver Street on the south, with Trapelo Road running through the center. This study of Trapelo Road corridor land development and the related transportation impacts provides insights into how to address and plan for these developments throughout the Boston MPO region.
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MetroFuture is a bold and achievable plan to make a Greater Boston Region — to better the lives of the people who live and work in Metropolitan Boston between now and 2030. Learn more about the plan in "From Plan to Action: a MetroFuture Plan Summary".
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Toward a Sustainable Tax Policy, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), explores the links between tax policy and land use decisions in Massachusetts and presents a series of strategies that might tilt decision-makers away from “fiscal zoning” and toward “smart growth” or “sustainable development.”
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Transportation
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The Pedestrian Plan identifies actions local governments, advocacy organizations, citizen groups, the private sector, and individuals should take to encourage walking. Adopted and released in June 2010, the Pedestrian Plan addresses the importance of walking, describes existing pedestrian infrastructure in the Boston Region, and recommends policies and programs that will facilitate walking as a convenient, practical and safe mode of transportation.
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The I-495 Study identifies the existing and future capacity constraints associated with the I-495 Corridor and identifies both methods to move more people through the interchanges and strategies that might reduce the single-person auto trips now moving through these interchanges.
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This white paper, released by Our Transportation Future, reviews state, regional and national literature on the relationship between transportation investment and the economy to make the case that Massachusetts must continue to invest boldly in its transportation future in order to ensure its economic future.
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The MAPC Regional Bike Parking Program provides full reimbursement of the cost of purchasing bicycle racks (minus shipping and installation costs) for all 101 cities and towns in MAPC's region. The Boston Region MPO, the Executive Office of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have provided generous funding to enable 100% reimbursement of the cost of eligible bike parking equipment bought through this program.
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This toolkit is designed to help local officials, developers, citizen board members, and advocates understand the sources of parking issues in their communities and identify potential solutions. The strategies outlined in the toolkit address a variety of situations and concerns in ways that save money, protect the environment, support local businesses, and encourage alternatives to driving.
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"The Work Undone" describes a selection of unfunded or under-funded projects to maintain, improve and expand the Commonwealth's transportation infrastructure. It was prepared by members of the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA) in response to the findings released by the Transportation Finance Commission (TFC) in March, 2007.
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