Category: Transportation – Page 7

Help Envision Future Development Near Rockport Commuter Rail

Posted on January 29, 2018 at 9:55 am. Written by Elise Harmon

Plan will help achieve goals for future mixed-use development Do you live in Rockport? Are you interested in helping to shape a future vision for the Rockport commuter rail station area? Join the Town of Rockport and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) for a public forum on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018 starting a 7 […]

The Switch to an Electric Vehicle

Posted on November 1, 2017 at 3:10 pm. Written by Kit Un

Following the Fall Council Meeting, attendees had an exciting opportunity to ride and test drive electric vehicles. The Drive Electric Vehicle Event co-hosted by MAPC and the Department of Energy Resources were both informative and helpful. The event educated participants and even debunked myths surrounding Electric Vehicles. “Well, the Ride and Drive event sucked […]

2017 Fall Council Meeting and Drive Electric Vehicle Event Recap

Posted on October 26, 2017 at 2:57 pm. Written by Kit Un

On Wednesday, October 25th, MAPC held its annual Fall Council Meeting at the Quincy Marriott. The meeting brought together over 100 Council Members, staff, and officers; with special guests from the Mann family and City of Quincy’s Mayor Thomas P. Koch. We were delighted to have presented Michelle Ciccolo with the Mayor Theodore Mann Regional […]

Bike Sharing Programs Expand – and Not Just in Boston

Posted on June 14, 2017 at 11:31 am. Written by Elise Harmon

On May 25, 2017 Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the largest expansion of the Hubway system since 2011. In honor of the regional bike-sharing system’s plans to add over 70 new stations in Boston alone, we’re looking back at the development of bike-share in Boston – including the role MAPC has played – and […]

Piloting Bus Rapid Transit in Boston

Posted on June 7, 2017 at 1:20 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

For the past two weeks, MAPC employees have been assisting with an exciting bus rapid transit (BRT) pilot on the Silver Line. From May 22 to June 6, two staff members stood by the Temple Place bus stop outside our downtown offices every day, informing commuters and casual riders of the two-week pilot, which was […]

Introducing Trailmap, Your Comprehensive Guide to Local Trails

Posted on May 18, 2017 at 11:25 am. Written by Elise Harmon

On the first day of Bay State Bike Week, MAPC celebrated by announcing the launch of Trailmap, a comprehensive online map of trails for cyclists, walkers, and others engaging in active transportation and looking to explore the trails and other amenities throughout the MAPC region and beyond. Senior Transportation Planner David Loutzenheiser unveiled the tool […]

How Can We Tell if Complete Streets Policies are Working?

Posted on April 12, 2017 at 10:14 am. Written by Elise Harmon

How do we measure what really matters? As a planner, I know the plan is important but it is not what really counts at the end of the day. It’s the changes that follow the plan – changes in policies, funding, and social capital among others – that really count. And, to get to the things […]

Perfect Fit Parking: How Much is Residential Parking Actually Being Used?

Posted on February 24, 2017 at 4:09 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

In communities across Metro Boston, parking is a point of contention for initiatives ranging from zoning to housing projects: everyone needs more of it. However, there’s little hard data about how many off-street spaces are available in the region and what the actual demand for residential parking is. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s new initiative, […]

Is Metro Boston Building Too Much Parking?

Posted on February 22, 2017 at 4:17 pm. Written by designprinciples

Boston – Parking is a hotly-debated across Metro Boston, with little hard data about how many off-street spaces already exist in the region, and how many we need to build in order to meet future demand – until now.

Life Moves Pretty Fast, But Lowering Speed Limits Can Save Lives

Posted on January 5, 2017 at 2:45 pm. Written by Elise Harmon

“Life moves pretty fast,” goes the quote from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” “If you don’t slow down and look around, you might miss it.” What Ferris doesn’t say, though, is that if you slow down, you can also save lives. On Jan. 9, 2017, the City of Boston’s new default speed limit will be 25 […]