Special Feature - 2025 Annual Council Meeting | | |
The 2025 MAPC Annual Council Meeting was a special one this year for numerous reasons.
- The keynote address focused on the importance of the economic relationship between Canada and New England, given by the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Consul General of Canada to Boston.
- A special panel discussion between Ms. Jordan, Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, also focused on the crucial economic relationship between Canada and New England.
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Numerous awards were given from MAPC to deserving recipients - including the annual staff award, the annual scholarship award for a high school senior in the Boston area, and a recognition of a previous award given during the 2005 Winter Council meeting.
Additionally, MAPC Executive Director Marc Draisen gave his 68th and final Executive Director's Report, as he is retiring from MAPC this month.
Read the full summary - 2025 Annual Council Meeting: Celebrations, Crucial Conversations, and Continuance
| Left to right: MAPC Council President Erin Wortman (Town of Stoneham); MAPC Deputy Executive Director Lizzi Weyant; Braintree Mayor Erin V. Joyce; Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll; The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Consul General of Canada to Boston; MAPC Executive Director Marc Draisen; and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. | |
Need to Know Now
Fostering Collaborations: A Symposium to Advance Equitable Heat Health Issues
Happening one week from today (June 18, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., in-person) - this regional event is being hosted by MAPC and the Center for Climate and Health at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) in partnership.
The symposium aims to engage with and foster constructive dialogue among key stakeholders across sectors to help bridge the gap between research and practice when it comes to advancing equitable health health solutions.
Visit the Project Webpage to Learn More About the Event
Register (free) to Join Us for the Event
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Peak Demand Notifications - Subscribe to Be in the Know
Each morning from June to mid-September, MAPC sends out an email that assesses the risk that the annual peak could occur that day and, if so, at what time. The notifications also include an outlook for the next week so municipalities have time to plan ahead and inform their residents.
Since 2015, MAPC has helped municipalities save hundreds of thousands of dollars from their largest facilities through peak demand management.
MAPC will be hosting a webinar on June 16, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. to explain the Peak Demand Program more. Access the registration page.
Visit the Program Webpage for Full Information
Subscribe to Receive the Free Daily Notification Alerts
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EOHLC ADU Office Hours
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) is offering ADU office hours to help municipal planners understand the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) law and regulations, that became effective on February 2, 2025.
The office hours will be once a month on every second Wednesday, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m., beginning today, June 11. There is also an additional June office hours on June 25. Registration for any of the office hours is required.
To learn more about the office hours, the office hour dates, and to register, please visit the registration page.
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Atlantic Hurricane Season - Keep Your Communities Prepared and Safe
The Atlantic Hurricane season is now underway for the year - beginning in June and going through November 2025. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the prediction is that it may be an above-normal hurricane season.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) put out a press release on June 2, that includes tips on how residents and communities across the Commonwealth can prepare.
Additionally, in a recent Planning 101 blog post, MAPC Emergency Preparedness Manager Elizabeth Robert provides localized tips that cities and towns can do now to prepare.
Read Hurricane Season 2025: What Cities and Towns Can Do to Prepare Beyond the Basics
Access the MEMA Press Release
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Chinatown History Trail Highlights Community-Led Preservation
MAPC was honored to be mentioned in Preservation Magazine’s Spring 2025 issue article "New Historical Markers Convey Immigrants' Stories in Boston's Chinatown Neighborhood."
The piece highlights the launch of the Immigrant History Trail by the Chinatown Community Land Trust and explores how historic and cultural preservation can serve as a tool for community resilience and anti-displacement. The article notes that MAPC played a leadership role in developing the Chinatown Master Plan 2020, working in close partnership with the Chinatown Master Plan Committee to help define and support Chinatown as a historic and cultural center.
Read the Preservation Magazine's Article
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Revere Walk, Bike, and Roll Project Featured on RevereTV
On May 21, a community event for the Revere Walk, Bike, and Roll Project was held at Revere High School. RevereTV was at the event, and featured interviews with vendors and project partners, and a special interview with Revere Mayor Patrick Keefe, conducted by two members of MAPC's Transportation Team in a segment on their YouTube channel.
The Revere Walk, Bike, and Roll Project is a partnership between MAPC and Revere.
Watch the RevereTV Segment about the May 21 Event
Visit the Project Webpage to Learn More
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MARPA and DLS Conference 2025 - Save the Date and Register
You're invited to join the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA), and the Division of Local Services (DLS) at the 2025 MARPA and DLS Conference.
October 7, 2025
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Hogan Campus Center - Ballroom, College of the Holy Cross
1 College St, Worcester, MA 01610
We encourage you to save the date and time to your calendar, and register now. Additional information about the conference will be coming soon.
Register for the MARPA and DLS Conference
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Creative Sector Advocacy Day at the State House
On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, MAPC joined MASSCreative, the Mass Cultural Council, New England Foundation for the Arts, the New England Museum Association, Mass Humanities, and MassArt to host Creative Sector Advocacy Day at the State House.
View Photos Under "Our Team in Action" on the GA Hub
| | Municipal ADA Improvement Grant Program | | |
Application Deadline
June 13, 2025 (5:00 p.m.)
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Grant Authority
Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD)
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Description
This grant will provide reimbursement funding to municipalities across the Commonwealth for accessibility improvements within their communities. This includes capital improvements creating more access and less barriers, and for cities and towns updating their ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Self Evaluation and Transition plans.
Eligibility
- Housing authorities
- School districts
- Municipal owned properties (please see the grant webpage for more information)
Full information, including the grant application, can be accessed on the grant webpage.
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Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program | | |
Application Deadline
June 26, 2025 (5:00 p.m.)
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Grant Authority
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)
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Description
The purpose of this grant is to support projects focused on planning, behavioral, infrastructural, and operational, focused on preventing serious injury and death on streets/roads. Visit the Grant's webpage for full information.
Two Grant Program Categories
- Planning and Demonstration Grant
- Implementation Grant
Eligibility
- Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs)
- Federally recognized Tribal governments
- Political subdivisions of a State, which includes counties, cities, towns, transit agencies, and other special districts
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Child Passenger Safety Education and Assistance Program | | |
Application Deadline
Depends. See note below.
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Grant Authority
Office of Grants and Research
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Application Deadline
Applications accepted on a rolling basis until either all funds are depleted or until August 31, 2025; whichever comes first.
Description
To provide eligible entities with car seats for distribution to low-income families through certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technicians. Visit the grant program's webpage for full description.
Eligibility
Includes but is not limited to Massachusetts municipal agencies. View the full eligibility requirements and eligible entities on the grant program's webpage.
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Technical Assistance
If your municipality is interested in applying for grant funding but lacks staff capacity, MAPC may be able to help. Grant Assistance Program (GAP) funding could allow you to seek assistance from knowledgeable Regional Planning Agency (RPA) staff, which can also lead to more competitive regional and multi-municipal applications, increasing the likelihood of receiving funding. For inquiries or questions, contact Gloria Huangpu (ghuangpu@mapc.org).
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*New* MAPC Tools, Resources, and Opportunities to Participate | |
Lower Mystic Cool Communications Materials
This newly launched regional initiative - Lower Mystic Cool Communications Resources Webpage - focuses on creating communications systems designed to empower communities - specifically the Lower Mystic Communities - with timely information about upcoming extreme heat days and community-driven safety strategies.
On the webpage, you will find resources such as social graphics (editable and general), flyers, and more to help communicate to your community when an extreme heat day is forecasted, and ways to stay safe.
This initiative is a partnership with the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH). It builds on regional collaboration through the Resilient Mystic Collaborative (RMC), North Suffolk Public Health Collaborative, and Metro Mayors Coalition (MMC) Climate Taskforce, while centering community knowledge and preferences to strengthen social connectedness and overall climate resilience.
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Did You know?
The Lower Mystic communities of Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Revere, and Winthrop face increasing threats from extreme heat, made worse by urban heat islands that can be up to 10 degrees hotter than surrounding areas.
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Officials blast cancelation of climate grants in Chelsea, Everett
Publication Date: May 28, 2025 | Source: Boston Herald
“’Economic analysis performed by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council found flooding at Island End River, which is home to more than 5,000 people, ‘could result in a loss of $2.3 billion in annual economic activity and 11,000 jobs.’”
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Lynn listens and will respond
Publication Date: May 13, 2025 | Source: The Daily Item
“The city is about to take a huge step on June 3 with the start of the Lynn Calm Team (LCT) pilot program. The LCT is an unarmed alternative response group… ‘We have worked with outside consultant partners, and one of them is the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and they wanted to stay on board with this project in order to help us with that data evaluation piece.’”
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Metro Boston municipal leaders sign new climate commitment amid Trump rollbacks
Publication Date: May 21, 2025 | Source: The Bay State Banner
“’The Atlantic Ocean does not pay any attention to municipal boundaries, neither do most of our rivers and certainly our atmosphere doesn’t,’ said Marc Draisen, executive director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, which helped organize the Metro Mayors Climate Taskforce. ‘So, while we have to pay attention to those boundaries, we also have to speak and shake hands and take action across those borders.’”
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Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events, and we encourage you to check our online events calendar often for new and updated event postings.
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Peak Demand: What It Is and How It Can Serve Your Community (virtual)
June 16, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Each morning from June to mid-September, MAPC sends out an email that assesses the risk that the annual peak could occur that day and, if so, at what time. The notifications also include an outlook for the next week so municipalities have time to plan ahead. MAPC develops this assessment by analyzing data provided by the grid operator, ISO-NE. Visit the Program webpage for more information.
Join MAPC and Eversource to learn more about the Peak Demand Notification Program and other ways to manage demand and costs for your buildings this summer!
Questions? Please contact:
Kat Kobylt, Senior Environmental Planner (kkobylt@mapc.org)
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Fostering Collaborations: A Symposium to Advance Equitable Heat Health Actions (in-person)
June 18, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Boston University (BU) Center for Computing and Data Services (CCDS) 17th Floor, 665 Commonwealth Ave, Boston
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) in partnership with the Center for Climate and Health at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH), is hosting this regional symposium.
The symposium aims to engage with and foster constructive dialogue among key stakeholders across sectors. By bringing together experts and leaders from academic, state and municipal governments, healthcare institutions, community-based organizations, foundations, and advocacy groups in the region, we will help bridge the gap between research and practice.
The Symposium is part of Strengthening Pathways: a national conversation about health research.
Visit the Symposium webpage for more information (including agenda).
Questions? Please contact:
Van Du, Assistant Director of Environmental Planning (vdu@mapc.org)
Kat Kobylt, Senior Environmental Planner (kkobylt@mapc.org)
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MPO Corner: News from our partner in transportation planning
The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is Boston’s regional transportation planning agency. MAPC is one of 23 voting MPO board members. Subscribe for updates and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X at @BostonRegionMPO.
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MPO’s 2026 Draft Regional Transportation Planning Priorities
Out for Public Review until Friday, June 27
The MPO’s 2026 draft Regional Transportation Planning Priorities, also known as the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), is out for public review until Friday, June 27.
The UPWP is a one-year planning document and financial plan that outlines how the MPO will allocate its federal transportation planning funds in alignment with the Boston region’s long-term vision, goals, and objectives.
The total budget for completing this work in federal fiscal year 2026 is $7,729,915.
Draft UPWP
Draft Executive Summary and Translations
Submit a comment
Schedule a time to meet with MPO staff
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Join the MPO's Community Advisory Council
We’re seeking applicants to join the MPO’s new Community Advisory Council, a forum for members of the public, representatives of advocacy, interest, professional, and community-based organizations, as well as municipalities and government agencies, to participate in and advise on the MPO’s work. Any community member or stakeholder in the Boston region is welcome to apply.
Membership provides:
- A direct voice in MPO planning;
- Opportunities to network with transportation decision-makers; and
- Continuous communication with MPO staff in developing programs and projects.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis; however, we aim to select our initial member cohort within the next few weeks.
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Data Manager
Manager of Model Development
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Upcoming MPO Meetings and Events:
Wednesday, June 12 – Congestion Management Committee Meeting
Wednesday, June 12 – TIP Process, Engagement, and Readiness Committee Meeting
Thursday, June 26 – MPO Meeting
Public attendance and comments are welcome at all MPO meetings and events. Visit the MPO’s website for more information. Meeting dates and materials are available on the MPO meeting calendar. Submit questions and comments via the MPO’s feedback forms.
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