Special Feature - Metro Mayors Coalition (MMC) Climate Summit | | |
On Monday, May 12, the mayors and managers from the Metro Mayors Coalition (MMC) came together at the Museum of Science in Boston to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the adoption of the 2015 MMC Climate Commitment, and the work accomplished thus far.
At the event, they also signed an updated 2025 MMC Climate Commitment, reiterating their shared commitment to advancing regional climate efforts.
In addition to the mayors and managers, other esteemed guests who participated in the event included:
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Secretary Rebecca Tepper, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
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Staci Rubin, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Pubic Utilities
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Katherine Antos, Undersecretary of Decarbonization and Resilience for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
- United States Senator Edward J. Markey
Visit the Climate Summit Event Webpage for a full recap of this special event.
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Back row, left to right: Brookline Town Manager Chas Carey, Arlington Town Manager Jim Feeney, Revere Mayor Patrick Keefe, Newton Mayor Ruthann Fuller, Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, U.S. Senator Edward Markey, and Watertown Town Manager George Proakis.
Front row, left to right: MAPC Deputy Executive Director Lizzi Weyant, MAPC Executive Director Marc Draisen, Melrose Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez, and Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang.
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Need to Know Now
ACR Call for Proposals Now Open!
The Accelerating Climate Resilience (ACR) Grant Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Call for Proposals is now open until May 30, 2025 (5:00 p.m.).
MAPC is accepting proposals for 15-month projects (up to $50,000) and for 21-month projects (up to $125,000). In addition to the 101 cities and towns in the MAPC region, eligible lead applicants also include entities and/or organizations that work in and serve the people of the MAPC region.
For full information on eligibility, the program, and how to apply, please visit the ACR program webpage.
Go to the ACR Program Webpage | Watch the ACR Grant Informational Session
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Lower Mystic Cool Communications Awarded Artists Announced
On Earth Day 2025 (April 22, 2025), we were thrilled to announce the awarded artists/artist teams for the Lower Mystic Cool Communications Call for Artists!
The project is a partnership with the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and aims to develop creative engagement methods to supplement traditional messaging on heat risk through art and creative storytelling. The goal is to reach residents disproportionately impacted by extreme heat.
Congratulations to the artists/artist teams:
- Hania Mariën (team lead) and Anna Lucia Deloia
- Carolyn Lewenberg (team lead) and Edwardo Chacon
- Daphne Lundi (team lead)
Visit the Project Webpage | Get to Know the Awarded Artists
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New 2025 Massachusetts Healthy Aging Report Now Available
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative released their 2025 Massachusetts Healthy Aging Report on May 1. The Report provides detailed information - including on the local level - on older adults in the Commonwealth. It includes 386 community profiles of 351 cities and towns, and also has neighborhood breakdowns for Boston, Springfield, and Worcester.
Access the 2025 Massachusetts Healthy Aging Report
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CNU 33 New England at Providence - Local Government Training (June 11)
As part of Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) 33 at Providence (June 11 - 14), a full day (June 11) is being specifically dedicated to the needs of local government officials. You can learn more about the agenda for the day and how to register by viewing the event flyer.
View the Local Government Training Flyer | Visit the CNU 33 Webpage
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Newton-Weston Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation (I-90/I-95)
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will be replacing the
I-90 bridge over the MBTA Worcester Commuter Rail in Newton, MA over two upcoming weekends and are alerting drivers to expect major delays due to the work.
The weekends:
Friday, May 30 (9:00 p.m.) to Monday, June 2 (5:00 a.m.)
Friday, June 20 (9:00 p.m.) to Monday, June 23 (5:00 a.m.)
You can get more detailed information on the MassDOT project flyer.
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MAPC Awarded $1M (ACT4All 2) Award
MAPC has been awarded a $1 million Accelerating Clean Transportation for All Round 2 (ACT4All 2) grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to expand electric vehicle access and infrastructure.
The work will be in conjunction with Framingham, Natick, and Quincy, as well as the Housing Authorities of Boston, Chelsea, and Somerville on a pilot focused on innovative electric vehicle (EV) charging systems.
Read the Press Release for Details
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Annual Budget - Senate Committee on Ways and Means
On May 6, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means (SWM) released their FY26 budget. Their budget proposal is a $61.32 billion package, a 6.3% increase over the final FY25 budget that was signed into law in July in 2024 and it is a 1.1% and .3% decrease over the Governor's and the House’s FY26 budgets respectively.
This is the third year that Fair Share surtax revenue is available, which is split between education ($1.185 billion or 61%) and transportation ($600 million or 31%) with an additional $165 million or 8% being transferred to the Education and Transportation Reserve Fund via Outside Section 81.
The bill also includes a $1 million increase over FY25 in funding for the District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) program to $4 million, and level funding for the Senator Charles E. Shannon Community Safety Initiative.
| | 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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MassDEP Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant | | |
Application Deadline
May 15, 2025 (5:00 p.m.)
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Grant Authority
MA Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
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Description
This grant will award eligible projects between $3,000 to $10,000 for projects focused on short-term (equal or less than one year) waste reduction. Eligible entities include: businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, regional authorities, and schools/colleges. Visit the grant's webpage for full information and details.
| 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
Informational Webinar Series
USDOT will host informational webinars associated with the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for this grant program. Visit the webinars webpage for information.
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Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office (FFIO) Community Tours
The Massachusetts FFIO has two upcoming informational sessions for local officials and community advocates to assist with federal and state matching grant applications. The community tours also provide the opportunity to meet FFIO team members, learn about what the FFIO does, and what resources they have available.
Gloucester
May 21, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
Gloucester City Hall, Kyrouz Auditorium and Zoom
Learn More and Register
Medford/Somerville
June 17, 2025 | 11:00 a.m.
Tufts University Alumnae Lounge and Zoom
Learn More and Register
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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 | |
Community Engagement Conversations
From September 2024 until May 2025, the MAPC Community Engagement Team hosted once-a-month Community Engagement Conversations focused on different community engagement topics to support the work within your own community and introduced you to the services they offer when you work with them.
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Director of Land Use
Full-time | $125-135k annual | Benefits
| We encourage you to continuously check out the employment page on our website for any upcoming positions. | |
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Greater Boston municipal leaders recommit to climate goals
Publication Date: May 13, 2025 | Source: CommonWealth Beacon
“WITH THE SWEEPING federal funding cuts for climate projects and moves by the Trump administration to roll back environmental protections, the leaders of 17 municipalities in the Greater Boston area came together on Monday to renew their commitment to working together on regional climate initiatives over the next decade… These communities are all a part of a group called Metro Mayors Coalition, which was founded 25 years ago with the support of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council in order to promote information exchange and regional problem solving.
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Local leaders recommit to regional response to climate crisis
Publication Date: May 12, 2025 | Source: WGBH
“’This recommitment, after 10 years, is to advocate for necessary state and federal funding and a variety of things throughout the 17 cities and towns to protect us against climate impact,’ said Marc Draisen, executive director of Metropolitan Area Planning Council.”
“The MAPC hosted the climate commitment–signing event Monday at the Boston Museum of Science, which featured U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Energy and Environmental Secretary Rebecca Tepper, among other speakers.”
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Massachusetts needs more affordable housing, study says. Lots of it.
Publication Date: April 25, 2025 | Source: The Boston Globe
“'The reality is that we need thousands and thousands more units of affordable housing for people of every income, every household size, in every place in Massachusetts,’ said Jessie Partridge Guerrero, director of data services at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, which wrote the report with Housing Navigator Massachusetts, a nonprofit that created a statewide centralized affordable housing search tool.”
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New Historical Markers Convey Immigrants' Stories in Boston's Chinatown Neighborhood
Publication Date: Spring 2025 | Source: Preservation Magazine
“Funded partly by a National Trust grant, the trail emphasizes both individual and collective histories, including the lives of the many immigrants from all over the world who inhabited the area at different times… [We] played a leadership role in developing Chinatown Master Plan 2020, working in partnership with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the broad Chinatown Master Plan Committee.”
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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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E-Cargo Bikes: Small-Scale Deliveries for Big Impact (virtual)
May 15, 2025 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Please join MAPC, City of Boston, Net Zero Logistics, and MassCEC for an interactive discussion about our recently launched new resource, E-Cargo Bikes: Strategies for Municipal Delivery Transition!
This guide provides tools and resources to support municipalities in the Greater Boston region who want to make the transition from traditional delivery vehicles to electric bikes, or e-cargo bikes. E-cargo bikes can provide an alternative form of delivery that is cleaner, safer, and faster.
We understand that cities and towns who may be interested in making the transition might have questions on where to even begin. We encourage you to join us for this conversation, and bring those questions with you!
Questions? Please contact:
Marah Holland, Senior Transportation Planner Transportation (mholland@mapc.org)
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2025 Annual Council Meeting (in-person)
June 4, 2025 | 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Cahill Auditorium, Braintree
We invite you to join us for a very special Annual Council Meeting!
June 4, 2025 | 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Cahill Auditorium, 1 JFK Memorial Drive, Braintree
Agenda Overview:
Staff Appreciation and Annual Scholarship Awards
Canada and New England: An Economic Relationship That Impacts Every Community Panel
- Keynote Speaker: The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Consul General of Canada in Boston
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Panel Speaker: Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll
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Panel Speaker: Mayor Michelle Wu, City of Boston
Executive Director Marc Draisen's 68th and LAST Council Meeting!
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18th Annual Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) Housing Institute (in-person)
June 4-5, 2025 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | DCU Convention Center, Worcester
A two-day in-person training focused on the development of affordable housing in the Commonwealth, hosted by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP).
More information, including how to register can be found on the event webpage.
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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 Sciences (CCDS)
17th Floor (665 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA)
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 a regional symposium titled Fostering Collaborations: A Symposium to Advance Equitable Heat Health Actions.
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).
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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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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.
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As we celebrate National Bike Month, the MPO reaffirms our commitment to building a healthier, safer, and more connected region. We have made significant investments in expanding and connecting rail trails throughout the region. These trails offer additional opportunities for recreation, active mobility, and community engagement. Look out for these new trail segments expected to be completed in the next few years:
- $5.8M Lynnfield Rail Trail, Lynnfield
- $6M Route 28 Underpass, Medford
- $8.5M Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, Sudbury
- $27M Independence Greenway, Peabody
- $11M Cochituate Rail Extension, Natick
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Ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for cyclists and pedestrians is a top priority in the MPO’s infrastructure funding and planning work. Over the last few years, the MPO has invested millions in the Bluebikes system, funding the installation of 30+ Bluebikes stations and hundreds of electric bikes across the Boston region. Explore the map of MPO-funded stations and get out and ride this National Bike Month!
Subscribe to active mobility updates at the MPO: bostonmpo.org/subscribe
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*New* - Assistant Planner
Data Manager
Manager of Model Development
Transportation Planner
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Upcoming MPO Meetings and Events:
Thursday, May 15 – MPO Meeting
Friday, May 16 – Boston Bike to Work Day Festival
Thursday, May 29 - Unified Planning Work Program Committee
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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Your monthly MAPC newsletter. | | | | | |
