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Welcome to the July 2020 issue of the
MassMobility newsletter.
This month, we celebrated the thirtieth birthday of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Thanks to all of you who work hard every day to promote accessibility and mobility!
Read on to learn about how transit authorities in Boston and the Berkshires are sharing information about bus crowding, new grant awards promoting transportation justice and public health,
and more
news related to transportation for
older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals in Massachusetts
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BRTA, MBTA share information on bus crowding
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Riders in Berkshire County can now find out how many passengers are already riding the bus before they board. As part of the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA)'s research into how to ensure the safety of customers and drivers, BRTA staff learned in early June that some transit authorities were sharing bus capacity information with the public. BRTA asked their transit software provider if that would be possible, and it was live within the week. Riders can visit the "
where's my B-bus" section of the BRTA website, check the route they are interested in, and then click on any large bus icons that show up to find out how many passengers are on the bus.
"This provides BRTA customers the ability to be proactive in their decisions to ride the bus or find an alternative. I am hopeful as we spread the word that people will find this technology useful to make them feel safer about riding public transit," shares Sarah Vallieres, Deputy Administrator at BRTA.
The MBTA is also sharing
real-time crowding information on selected high-frequency bus routes and plans to continue adding additional routes throughout the summer. Instead of sharing a numeric passenger count, the MBTA is classifying each vehicle as not crowded, some crowding, or crowded. This information is available online, through the Transit app, and on screens at certain bus stops and stations.
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Central Mass explores potential for regional TMA
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In June, the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) launched a
project to explore whether a
Transportation Management Association (TMA) would help their region address the workforce transportation needs of its residents, employees, jobseekers, and employers. Employment transportation emerged as a priority issue last year both in CMRPC's Long Range Transportation Plan and in a blueprint report from the Central Mass Workforce Investment Board. In addition, a statewide
report identified the area's Route 9 corridor as one of the state's most consistently congested corridors. In talking with area Chambers of Commerce, CMRPC decided that it would be worth exploring the potential a TMA might have for the region. The project is funded through a
Workforce Transportation grant from MassDOT and CMRPC's own District Local Technical Assistance funds.
Working closely with a steering committee of regional partners, CMRPC is analyzing census data to track employment transportation patterns and is also surveying
commuters and
jobseekers. They are interviewing other TMAs in the state and are reaching out to agencies representing a range of constituencies, including low-income employees and jobseekers. In response to COVID-19, they are revising their outreach strategies and examining new teleworking trends. By next summer, they expect to have a sense of how well a TMA would address the region's needs and whether it would be well received by area stakeholders.
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Webinar highlights inclusive transportation planning
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Organizations receive Transportation Justice grants
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In June,
Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA) awarded their second round of Transportation Justice grants to support organizations working at the intersection of transportation and social justice. The 12
grantees include groups organizing transit riders in Worcester and Southeastern Massachusetts, groups building community power through biking in Boston and Springfield, community leadership development programs with a transportation focus in Springfield and Boston, and a Somerville initiative exploring transportation through a climate and immigration lens, as well as two grants to transportation and climate initiatives in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania.
"We are committed to
transportation justice, and these grants are a way for us to show that we're serious about that," explains Angela Johnson-Rodriguez, T4MA Statewide Organizing Director. In the program's first year, many grantees represented programs offering direct services, so this year T4MA emphasized transportation policy and advocacy in their awards.
Funding for the one-year grants was provided by the Barr Foundation. Throughout the year, T4MA will keep in touch with grantees to learn from their work and provide support.
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MassDOT awards first round of Shared Streets & Spaces grants
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MassDOT awarded Shared Streets & Spaces grants to 12 communities in mid-July. Launched in June, the Shared Streets & Spaces program provides technical and funding assistance to help municipalities design and implement tactical changes to curbs, streets, and parking in support of public health, safe mobility, and renewed commerce. The first set of awards include ADA compliant walkways in Buckland, pedestrian improvements near schools in Chelsea, pilot walking and biking pathways in Lowell, and a dedicated bus lane in Somerville, among others.
Applications are open to all municipalities and will be accepted on a rolling basis through September 29.
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New guidance documents promote age-friendly walkability
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Age-Friendly Walking is a framework for planning and building communities that are walkable for people of all ages. Walkability is key to ensuring that older adults can age in community, access goods and services, and maintain physical, mental, and social health. To guide local Age-Friendly Walking efforts
for communities across the Commonwealth,
WalkBoston has developed a list of
8 policy actions and
8 infrastructure improvements to make communities more walkable. We hope these guidance documents help move your community to action in building accessible sidewalks and streets that are safe and welcoming for people of all ages across Massachusetts.
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Whether you are new to mobility management or a seasoned veteran of the field, you may be interested in these resources related to mobility management and community transportation.
Watch a webinar
The National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) has compiled an
events calendar
highlighting upcoming webinars offered by a range of organizations.
Read a report
NCMM also recently published three new reports:
Take a course
Looking ahead to the fall
Registration is open for
Organizing and Managing Senior Transportation Options
, a fall 2020 course offered through the Gerontology Institute and the College of Advancing and Professional Studies at UMass Boston. This online course is co-taught by Helen Kerschner, Director of Volunteer Transportation for the Shepherd's Centers of America, and Nina Silverstein, Professor in the Gerontology Department at UMass Boston. Kerschner and Silverstein, who are now in their eighth year of offering the course, also authored the course textbook:
Introduction to Senior Transportation
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Two national organizations are sponsoring photo contests! Submit your photo related to community transportation for a chance to win a prize:
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COVID-19 and community transportation
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We want to thank all our readers who are on the front lines helping older adults, people with disabilities, and essential workers. We also wish to send a special thank you
to all
drivers!
For up-to-date information about a particular transportation service, please contact the transportation provider directly.
For general information, visit these websites:
In addition, various organizations have compiled COVID-19 resources related to transportation or mobility management:
Transportation providers such as transit authorities, Transportation Management Associations, and Councils on Aging in the Greater Boston area can
submit requests to CTPS for technical assistance related to COVID-19. Applications are rolling and close July 31.
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Job postings
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The Community Transportation Association of America is hiring a
Senior Program Associate to support the National Center for Mobility Management and other projects. This position is based in Washington DC. Apply by July 30.
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Follow us on Twitter
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| Are you on Twitter? If so, follow us @MassMobility for links to community transportation resources relevant to organizations and agencies here in Massachusetts. If you aren't on Twitter, you can still see our posts online at twitter.com/MassMobility/. |
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We want to know your stories
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| If you have suggestions for news items or topics to cover in future newsletters, please contact us or submit a guest article. Comments, questions, and feedback are also welcome. |
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Please share this newsletter
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| Please forward this newsletter widely to others who are interested in mobility management, community transportation, or related topics and encourage them to subscribe to receive future newsletters and publications. You can also read past issues of all MassMobility newsletters. |
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