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Mar
14
Thu
2019
Lower Mystic Regional Working Group Report Release @ Knights of Columbus
Mar 14 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Join us for the release of the Lower Mystic Regional Working Group: Planning for Improved Transportation and Mobility in the Sullivan Square Area report.
Join MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack, Boston Transportation Commissioner Gina Fiandaca, Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria, and Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone to learn about the transportation recommendations for this area and the next steps to improve mobility.
The Lower Mystic Regional Working Group (LMRWG) has been studying options to improve transportation in an area encompassing parts of Boston, Everett, and Somerville and centered on the transportation hub of Sullivan Square, which has seen considerable development activity in recent years.
Although the Encore Casino in Everett is the most well-known site, other planned large-scale development proposals in the area have the potential for broad impacts on congestion in the region. The LMRWG was formed by MassDOT to study the effects these future developments may have on the entire area, identify opportunities to improve mobility, and to develop short- and long-term transportation infrastructure and policy recommendations for improving transportation in and around Sullivan Square.
The Working Group consists of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation; the cities of Boston, Everett, and Somerville; and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). These five stakeholders were designated as the decision-making body for the Working Group. Additionally, other parties – including the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the Office of the Attorney General, Massport, the Office of Congressman Michael Capuano, and Encore Boston Harbor – have been active participants providing their input and knowledge.
Apr
4
Thu
2019
Where Do We Go From Here? Insights on the Future of Transportation in MA @ Nye ABC, 5th floor, Taubman Building
Apr 4 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am

In December 2018, Governor Baker’s Commission on the Future of Transportation released their recommendations to address future challenges in transportation, exploring everything from the impacts of climate change to the rise of autonomous vehicle technology. This conference will give attendees an opportunity to hear directly from Commissioners as they present and discuss their findings. Secretary of Transportation, Stephanie Pollack, will offer a keynote address.

This event is free and open to the public, however, preregistration is required. Preregister here. Refreshments will be available.

Agenda:

Welcoming Remarks:

Rafael Carbonell, Executive Director, Taubman Center for State and Local Government

Keynote:

Stephanie Pollack, MA Secretary of Transportation

Presentation on the Future of Transportation:

Steve Kadish*, Chair, Commission on the Future of Transportation in Massachusetts and Senior Research Fellow, Taubman Center for State and Local Government

Panel Discussion:

      • Rebecca Davis*, Deputy Director, Metropolitan Area Planning Council
      • Tony Gomez-Ibanez*, Derek C. Bok Professor of Urban Planning and Policy at Harvard University
      • Karen Sawyer Conard*, Executive Director, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission
      • Moderator- Monica Tibbits-Nutt, Executive Director, 128 Business Council, and member of the MBTA Fiscal Management Advisory Board

Presentation on Autonomous Vehicles Policy:

Mark Fagan, Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School

Panel Discussion:

      • Colleen Quinn*, Senior Vice President of Global Public Policy, ChargePoint
      • Carol Lee Rawn*, Director of Transportation, CERES
      • Gretchen Effgen* Vice President of Global Partnerships and Business Team, Nutonomy
      • Moderator – Kris Carter, Co-Director, Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, City of Boston

Closing Remarks:

Joe Aiello, Senior Fellow, Meridiam Infrastructure and Chairman, MBTA Fiscal Management Advisory Board

*Members of the MA Commission on the Future of Transportation

Sponsored by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Taubman Center for State and Local Government, the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

Sep
9
Wed
2020
Small Steps: Dances of Resilience Screening @ YouTube Premiere
Sep 9 @ 7:00 pm
Small Steps: Dances of Resilience Screening @ YouTube Premiere

In the beginning, Small Steps on Climate Change was a dance and embodied movement performance intended to inspire Metro Boston to view climate change as an opportunity to create stronger, collaborative, healthier, and more vibrant communities in the face of climate change. Just six weeks before opening night, COVID-19 altered the path.

Small Steps: Dances of Resilience is a full-length documentary film about overcoming the struggle to create and perform during a global pandemic. The dancers tell their stories of climate, COVID, art, and hope, and, finally, they dance.

Join us for three film screenings on YouTube Live this September 9, 10, and 11. Each screening will be time-limited and all content will be removed between and after each screening, so see it while you can!

After the Friday, September 11 performance, we will hold a “Meet the Dancers” Q&A session on Zoom.

The production was developed by movement artist, screenwriter and Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) Artist-in-Residence Hortense Gerardo and MAPC Senior Environmental Planner Darci Schofield to integrate the arts into climate change planning.

Directed by Hortense Gerardo and produced by Darci Schofield and MAPC.

Featuring original choreography and performances by:

  • Laura Sanchez Garcia, award-winning flamenco dancer, choreographer, and educator
  • Elizabeth Walker, former Los Angeles Ballet soloist
  • Simon Chernow, KRUMP and fusion hip-hop dancer and core leader of Boston’s Climate Strike
  • Jean Appolon Expressions, Haitian dance troupe fusing contemporary elements with Haitian folkloric dance
  • Olivia Link, contemporary modern dancer and Urbanity Dance educator
  • Any Berube and Theo Martinez, competitive ballroom salsa dancers and instructors
Sep
10
Thu
2020
Small Steps: Dances of Resilience Screening @ YouTube Premiere
Sep 10 @ 7:00 pm
Small Steps: Dances of Resilience Screening @ YouTube Premiere

In the beginning, Small Steps on Climate Change was a dance and embodied movement performance intended to inspire Metro Boston to view climate change as an opportunity to create stronger, collaborative, healthier, and more vibrant communities in the face of climate change. Just six weeks before opening night, COVID-19 altered the path.

Small Steps: Dances of Resilience is a full-length documentary film about overcoming the struggle to create and perform during a global pandemic. The dancers tell their stories of climate, COVID, art, and hope, and, finally, they dance.

Join us for three film screenings on YouTube Live this September 9, 10, and 11. Each screening will be time-limited and all content will be removed between and after each screening, so see it while you can!

After the Friday, September 11 performance, we will hold a “Meet the Dancers” Q&A session on Zoom.

The production was developed by movement artist, screenwriter and Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) Artist-in-Residence Hortense Gerardo and MAPC Senior Environmental Planner Darci Schofield to integrate the arts into climate change planning.

Directed by Hortense Gerardo and produced by Darci Schofield and MAPC.

Featuring original choreography and performances by:

  • Laura Sanchez Garcia, award-winning flamenco dancer, choreographer, and educator
  • Elizabeth Walker, former Los Angeles Ballet soloist
  • Simon Chernow, KRUMP and fusion hip-hop dancer and core leader of Boston’s Climate Strike
  • Jean Appolon Expressions, Haitian dance troupe fusing contemporary elements with Haitian folkloric dance
  • Olivia Link, contemporary modern dancer and Urbanity Dance educator
  • Any Berube and Theo Martinez, competitive ballroom salsa dancers and instructors
Sep
11
Fri
2020
Small Steps: Dances of Resilience Screening @ YouTube Premiere
Sep 11 @ 7:00 pm
Small Steps: Dances of Resilience Screening @ YouTube Premiere

In the beginning, Small Steps on Climate Change was a dance and embodied movement performance intended to inspire Metro Boston to view climate change as an opportunity to create stronger, collaborative, healthier, and more vibrant communities in the face of climate change. Just six weeks before opening night, COVID-19 altered the path.

Small Steps: Dances of Resilience is a full-length documentary film about overcoming the struggle to create and perform during a global pandemic. The dancers tell their stories of climate, COVID, art, and hope, and, finally, they dance.

Join us for three film screenings on YouTube Live this September 9, 10, and 11. Each screening will be time-limited and all content will be removed between and after each screening, so see it while you can!

After the Friday, September 11 performance, we will hold a “Meet the Dancers” Q&A session on Zoom.

The production was developed by movement artist, screenwriter and Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) Artist-in-Residence Hortense Gerardo and MAPC Senior Environmental Planner Darci Schofield to integrate the arts into climate change planning.

Directed by Hortense Gerardo and produced by Darci Schofield and MAPC.

Featuring original choreography and performances by:

  • Laura Sanchez Garcia, award-winning flamenco dancer, choreographer, and educator
  • Elizabeth Walker, former Los Angeles Ballet soloist
  • Simon Chernow, KRUMP and fusion hip-hop dancer and core leader of Boston’s Climate Strike
  • Jean Appolon Expressions, Haitian dance troupe fusing contemporary elements with Haitian folkloric dance
  • Olivia Link, contemporary modern dancer and Urbanity Dance educator
  • Any Berube and Theo Martinez, competitive ballroom salsa dancers and instructors
May
3
Wed
2023
Water, Water Everywhere: The Increasing Threat of Stormwater Flooding in Greater Boston @ Zoom (Virtual)
May 3 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Water, Water Everywhere: The Increasing Threat of Stormwater Flooding in Greater Boston @ Zoom (Virtual)

MAPC is releasing new research that analyzed 27,000 flood claims from the historic March 2010 storms that dropped 18 inches of rain across Eastern Massachusetts. $59m in disaster assistance was paid out. We found that only 4% of disaster claims were located in FEMA 1% chance flood zones. With the prospect of more frequent and severe storms due to a changing climate, what can local, state, and the federal government do to better understand, prepare for, and minimize flooding and flood damage?

Presenters and panelists:

  • Anne Herbst, Principal Environmental Planner – retired, MAPC
  • Mia Mansfield, Director of Climate Adaptation and Resilience, MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
  • Jason Mammone, P.E., Director of Engineering, Town of Dedham
  • Van Du, Senior Environmental Planner, MAPC – Moderator

Following this event, all registrants will receive a copy of the report via email.

Register to join us for this webinar here!

Oct
26
Thu
2023
2023 Annual MetroWest Trails Forum @ Loring Ice Arena, 2nd floor conference room
Oct 26 @ 8:15 pm – 12:30 pm

Register Here

We invite you to join the MetroWest Collaborative at MAPC for our annual trails forum. Our host this year is the City of Framingham. The forum will provide an update of regional trail accomplishments and share progress in Framingham for linking the downtown, Farm Pond, Cushing Park and other City destinations with a connected trail network.

The event includes breakfast, a welcome by Mayor Sisitsky, several presentations, and a walking tour of trail projects adjacent.

Specific milestones to be celebrated this year:

  • The City recently completed the purchase of the CSX right-of-way to extend the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail into Framingham
  • Purchase agreement for ~50 acres of conservation land on the Framingham/Sherborn line that will provide key trail connections
  • The East Coast Greenway has relocated their route in 2023 to pass through Framingham

Optional afternoon walking tours look at two additional locations in Framingham where we are looking to create a continuous shared use path between the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and the Upper Charles Trail

Agenda:

8:15 a.m. – Breakfast and mingling

9:00 a.m. –  Welcome and Introductions

9:15 a.m. –  Metrowest Greenway status report from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council

10:00 a.m. –  Framingham Trails Focus

11:00 a.m. –  Walking Tour of current and proposed trail projects (about 2 miles long adjacent to Cushing Park). The tour will include the following projects or trails:

  • Sudbury Aqueduct
  • Chris Walsh Trail
  • Framingham Station Access
  • Development projects and trail potential

12:30 p.m. –  Formal event ends with additional optional walking tours after lunch

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break for those continuing the afternoon tours

Afternoon Walking Tours:

Walking Tour #1 at 1:30 p.m. –  South Framingham to Sherborn (Meet at Bates Park on Bates Road)

Walking Tour #2 at 3:00 p.m. – Bruce Freeman across Route 9 to Framingham State University (Meet at Oak St in front of Village Hall)

Feb
28
Wed
2024
Weaving Language Access into Local Projects: A Guide for Cities & Towns @ Zoom (Virtual)
Feb 28 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Join us for the launch of MAPC’s Access Language Guide for Municipalities, a tool to support establishing your Language Access practices. We are excited to announce that Massachusetts State Senator Sal DiDomenico will be joining us as Keynote Speaker for this event!

Learn about:

  • Developing an understanding of the needs of your linguistic communities and how to respond to them,
  • First steps you can take towards establishing language access in your community,
  • The intersection of Language & Disability Access,
  • How to staff for Language Access, and
  • Language Access and Events, and so much more!

This Guide will help support you in taking your language access work beyond providing interpretation and translation services within your community to:

  • Developing trust with people who speak different languages,
  • Creating opportunities to celebrate people’s cultures,
  • Investing in building the skills of community members.

Register for this virtual event

Questions? Please contact:
Sasha Parodi (sparodi@mapc.org) and
Najee Nunnally (nnunnally@mapc.org)

Mar
12
Tue
2024
Virtual Briefings | Support Protection From Third-Party Electric Suppliers in Massachusetts @ Virtual
Mar 12 @ 1:00 pm

Join the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the City of Boston Office of Environment, Energy, and Open Space, and nonprofit advocacy organizations for a briefing on how third-party electric suppliers harm Massachusetts residents, why the industry is past the point of reform, and how you can help support efforts to protect residential consumers.

Two Briefings: 1:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.

Visit Briefings Webpage for More Information

May
15
Wed
2024
Webinar: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Residual Designation Authority Permit @ Zoom (Virtual)
May 15 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am

EPA Region 1 continues to work on the development of a permit referred to as an “RDA Permit” – that will regulate stormwater run-off in the Charles, Mystic and Neponset River Watersheds.

In this webinar, the EPA will discuss the background and current development of the RDA permit, the types of actions that the permit will require, and will answer questions. The EPA is particularly interested in hearing from municipalities about how this permit can best be implemented to meet local as well as federal clean water goals.

For those unable to attend the presentation, there will be a chance after the draft permit is issued later this year, to provide comments to the EPA.

Register for the Webinar