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NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT
Dear Friends of MAPC:
Out of an abundance of caution, MAPC has decided to postpone the Winter Council Meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday, March 10) in Framingham. Over the next few days, we will assess the situation and decide how to reschedule the Council Meeting and Legislative Panel on Housing, Transportation, and Climate. We will consider rescheduling as a virtual event, which will provide Council members and allies the opportunity to learn the latest about what is going on at the State House, without having to participate in a crowded event that might make some people uncomfortable.
I realize we sent out a note earlier this morning reminding people about the Council Meeting, and I apologize if this update causes any confusion. Still, we feel the wisest course is to postpone the meeting, and to reschedule in a different format.
Please stay tuned, and stay safe!
Best regards,
Marc Draisen
Executive Director
Hosted in partnership with the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA) and MassDOT
Hear from MassDOT, the Barr Foundation, and the Operational Services Division on how cities and towns can apply for the new MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces grant program.
In addition to an overview of the program from MassDOT, we will learn more about the technical assistance available through the Barr Foundation and representatives from the Operation Services Division will discuss how municipalities may purchase materials needed for their pilots using OSD’s statewide contracts.
MAPC is offering grants of up to $5,000 for community organizations to participate and collaborate in the regional heat preparedness planning process.
Summer temperatures in the Northeast are increasing, along with extreme heat days and heat waves. At “From Snow Days to Heat Waves,” learn about the intersections of climate change, heat, and health in the Greater Boston area.
Speakers will highlight projects across the Greater Boston area addressing the issues of rising and extreme temperatures, public health, equity, and climate change via short presentations and a panel discussion. A full list of speakers will be announced soon.
Extreme heat is one of the deadliest weather events in the United States, and can exacerbate existing health conditions. And the effects aren’t experienced equally: the impacts of extreme heat are greater in low-income and BIPOC neighborhoods, where historic disinvestment has resulted in less access to green space, fewer street trees, and inadequate housing and cooling infrastructure. These impacts will likely be intensified as climate change causes temperatures to increase and humidity to rise.
This event is co-hosted by the Museum of Science, Boston; Mystic River Watershed Association; and Metropolitan Area Planning Council. The Metropolitan Mayors Coalition Climate Taskforce and Resilient Mystic Collaborative are co-sponsors.
The program is made possible with generous support from the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program.
Join to hear Jacqueline Patterson, Director of Environmental and Climate Justice Program at the NAACP, discuss the intersection of climate resiliency and racial justice.
As cities and towns experience more frequent and intense weather events due to climate change, the arts offer opportunities to support climate resilience efforts. Collaborations with artists and creatives can enhance resilience, transform infrastructure, and increase community awareness of preparedness practices and climate risks.
Please join us for a conversation with Sarah Rawbottam, Creative Producer at Arts House in Melbourne, Australia; and Erin Genia, former Boston Artist-in-Residence. They’ll discuss the role of the artist in addressing climate change and building resilience, their experiences building resilience through art, and their advice for working with artists.
You’ll also learn more about “Cool it with Art,” MAPC’s upcoming how-to guide for tackling rising temperatures with art in Massachusetts.
Join the Mass. Association of Regional Planning Agencies and Division of Local Services to hear from special guests Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, the Governor’s former Chief of Staff, Steve Kadish, as well as Secretaries Tesler, Acosta, Kennealy and Card about how to make the most of unprecedented infrastructure modernization resources and build a firm foundation for our Commonwealth’s future. Click here to register.
“Building the Foundation for our Future: Equitable Infrastructure Modernization in Massachusetts” will be hosted at College of the Holy Cross on Thursday, September 29, 2022.
After remarks from the Governor and Lt. Governor, we’ll welcome to the stage Secretaries Tesler, Acosta, Kennealy and Card to talk about the potential available funding in each of their fields, and how communities can work with the Commonwealth to make the most of this funding, followed by a brief audience Q&A.
Afternoon workshops led by senior administration officials and local leaders from across the Commonwealth provide the chance, among other things, to dive deeper into these funding opportunities, think through the challenges facing your community, and hear from other communities looking to work through those same challenges.
Finally, you’ll hear from former Baker Chief of Staff and Harvard Taubman Center Senior Fellow Steve Kadish about some of the most promising strategies for working with community members and stakeholders to make the local change that our communities need.
Workshop topics include:
- Building the Municipal Workforce Pipeline: Challenges and Opportunities
- Early Education Reimagined: Funding Reform and Municipal Implications
- Broadening Broadband: Expanding Access to High-Speed Internet
- Transportation Infrastructure and Recovery: Stimulating Local Economies with Infrastructure Improvements
The Central Transportation Planning Staff to the Boston MPO is hosting an upcoming discussion on resilience in transportation planning at next week’s Regional Transportation Advisory Council meeting on May 10, from 2:30-4:05 PM. The Advisory Council is an independent public body that meets monthly to discuss transportation topics in the Boston region and help direct the Boston MPO’s work by advising staff and voting on the MPO board.
Staff will be discussing the MPO’s environmental and resilience work, and will welcome feedback on goals and ideas for the resilience program and priorities for incorporating resilience and climate adaptation into transportation planning.
You can find a Zoom link for the 5/10 Advisory Council meeting on the MPO Calendar, where a detailed agenda and more materials will be posted shortly.
Please reach out to Stella Jordan at sjordan@ctps.org if you have any questions.
This event is now full. However, you can still join the waiting list, and if a spot opens up between now and the date of the event and you are next on the waiting list, we will contact you by email. Thank you!
MAPC invites you to join us for this exciting MetroCommon 2050 Speaker Series event featuring keynote speaker Henry Grabar.
Event Program:
- Keynote address by Henry Grabar; Slate staff writer, author (Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World), and a Loeb Fellow at the Harvard School of Design
- Panel of municipal planners will discuss how they are taking on the issue of the “perfect parking space”, and advancing sustainable and equitable housing and transportation options.
As cities and towns work to comply with the MBTA Communities Act, this event will focus on how to “right-size” parking for your community while managing this political issue and promoting healthy neighborhoods that are economically vibrant, equitable, and sustainable by design.