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MetroCommon 2050

MetroCommon 2050

Greater Boston's long-range regional plan

Metropolitan Boston is home to a vibrant, diverse population of 3.4 million. We’re a hub of innovation and tradition, of learning and culture, of sports, of history, of medicine – and that just scratches the surface. We also face big challenges, including the cost of housing, racial inequity, and a changing climate. MetroCommon 2050 is a road map for meeting those challenges. And for launching the region into a more equitable and resilient future.

MetroCommon is a land-use and policy plan designed to be used. It looks at how issues affect residents and workers throughout our region of 101 cities and towns. It offers actionable policy recommendations and useful research and tools. And every aspect of the plan, from goals to analysis, has been vetted by people who live here, very much including people from historically marginalized communities.

MetroCommon was adopted by the Council in the fall of 2021. The plan lives on an interactive website: Welcome to MetroCommon 2050 - Metropolitan Area Planning Council (mapc.org)

The plan's chapters are also downloadable below.

To request a presentation and discussion, please email Eric Hove at ehove@mapc.org.

Download Chapters

Recommendations (Click Here to Download)

Improve Growth and Mobility

  • Improve accessibility and regional connectivity
  • Promote cultural development and preservation, public art, and public realm design
  • Ensure land preservation, conservation, and access to recreational spaces
  • Reduce vehicle miles traveled and the need for single-occupant vehicle travel through increased development in transit-oriented areas and walkable centers

Homes for Everyone

  • Ensure that people of all races and income levels have equal access to affordable housing through homeownership and rental opportunities
  • Ensure adequate protections against displacement for communities and residents of color, low-income communities, and renters
  • Accelerate the production of diverse housing types, particularly deed-restricted affordable housing, throughout the region

Climate Mitigation and Resiliency

  • Accelerate the transition to a clean energy future
  • Prepare for and respond to the threats of climate change
  • Decarbonize the building and transportation sectors
  • Address regional water challenges

Dynamic and Representative Government

  • Improve local capacity and service delivery
  • Expand and improve the way we finance local and regional government
  • Make government more participatory and inclusive
  • Improve regional coordination and partnerships for infrastructure and services

Equity of Wealth and Health

  • Improve quality of life and reverse the rise of chronic diseases, particularly among populations experiencing health inequities
  • Expand and promote the resiliency of small businesses, particularly those owned by people of color, and encourage large employers to invest in local economies and advance equity
  • Enable wealth creation and intergenerational wealth transfer
  • Improve accessibility and efficacy of the Commonwealth's workforce development infrastructure
  • Ensure all residents are provided equal protection and support by law enforcement agencies and within the justice system