In this issue....

• ONE WEEK AWAY: 495/MetroWest Partnership Annual Conference

• Water Resources Committee to Host MWRA Presentation on MetroWest Expansion Feasibility Study

• MassDOT Extends Deadline for FY24 Regional Transit Innovation Grant

• Town of Natick to Host Public Meeting on Route 135 Corridor

ONE WEEK AWAY: 495/MetroWest Partnership Annual Conference,

The Future of Transportation in 495/MetroWest

495/MetroWest Partnership Annual Conference

The Future of Transportation in 495/MetroWest

Featuring

Secretary and CEO of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation

Monica Tibbits-Nutt

Speaker Pro Tempore of the Massachusetts House of Representatives

Kate Hogan

Tuesday, December 12th, 2023

8:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Village Hall on the Common

2 Oak Street, Framingham, MA 01701

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS

On Tuesday, December 12th, 2023, the 495/MetroWest Partnership will hold its Annual Conference, The Future of Transportation in 495/MetroWest. The conference will showcase the organization’s updated visions for improved roadways, Commuter Rail service, and Regional Transit Authority service in our region. Join leaders in business, government, higher education, development, and environmental protection from across the region as we gather at Village Hall in Framingham to celebrate our progress in advancing the interests of the 495/MetroWest region, and discuss our updated regional transportation vision. Click here to get your tickets!

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors:

Water Resources Committee to Host MWRA Presentation on MetroWest Expansion Feasibility Study

On December 19th, the Water Resources Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership will host a presentation from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) regarding their recently completed study to assess the feasibility of expanding MWRA’s water system further into the Metro West area. 495/MetroWest communities included in this study were Acton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Littleton, Maynard, Natick, Sherborn, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, Westborough, and Westford. This event will take place virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, December 19th at 8:30 AM; click here to register.

MassDOT Extends Deadline for FY24

Regional Transit Innovation Grant

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has extended the deadline for the FY24 Regional Transit Innovation Grant to January 19th. MassDOT has $15 million available in discretionary operating and capital funding to award to transit providers as Transit Innovation Grants. Awards will be made on a competitive basis with funding provided contractually. At least 25 percent of the funding ($3,750,000) will be reserved for rural areas.

Any transit provider providing public transportation in Massachusetts is eligible. Public transportation is defined as shared-ride services open to the public, or to a large segment of the general public (such as any person with a disability who cannot ride fixed-route transit, in the case of ADA paratransit services). Services open to the general public will receive priority. For more information on the grant and the application process, click here.

To receive an award, applicants must be registered with SAM.gov in active status. Organizations must be registered vendors of the Commonwealth. As this process can take 4-6 weeks, MassDOT recommends that interested applicants begin this process before award notification if you are not already registered. 

Town of Natick to Host Public Meeting on Route 135 Corridor

On December 18th, the Town of Natick and its consulting partners will begin a public engagement process for West Natick, as part of the MBTA Communities process. The Town of Natick is inviting members of the public to gather and share ideas and discuss the plan for the future of the 135 Corridor and the area around the West Natick MBTA Commuter Rail Station. The event will start with a 20-30-minute presentation regarding existing conditions and findings, followed by an open house format with stations to collect information from attendees. 

The event will be held from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Kennedy Middle School, located at 165 Mill Street in Natick. Click here to download a flyer for the event.

Interested residents and impacted parties may take this survey to share feedback, regardless of ability to attend on December 18th.