January 15th Information & Resource Update | |
|
In this issue...
- Transportation Funding Task Force Report: Key Priorities for 495/MetroWest Addressed
- Emergency Regulations for MBTA Communities Released
- Reminder: Comment on Draft EPA RDA Permits Closes January 29th
- Drought Resiliency and Water Efficiency EEA Grant
- Mass. Taxpayers Foundation Open House
-
MetroWest Life Sciences Network Event: How to Fundraise, Seed to Scale
-
495/MetroWest Partnership Housing Vision & Priorities Statement
- Welcome New Members of the 495/MetroWest Legislative Delegation
| |
|
Transportation Funding Task Force:
Key Priorities for 495/MetroWest Addressed
Yesterday, Governor Healey unveiled a plan for new investments into the state’s transportation system, amounting to $8 billion over the next 10 years. The announcement happened concurrently with the release of the final report from the Massachusetts Transportation Funding Task Force, established by Governor Healey in January 2024 to provide recommendations for a long-term, sustainable transportation finance plan.
The 495/MetroWest Partnership was represented on the Task Force. The announced plan implements many of the Task Force’s recommendations, organized around the framework of stabilizing, enhancing, and transforming the way the state finances public transportation operations and infrastructure.
The plan will be included in the Governor's Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal and supplemental budget. The plan takes a "Fair Share first" approach of utilizing existing revenues from the surtax approved by voters in 2022; the plan does not include any additional tax increases.
The plan includes a number of items consistent with the 495/MetroWest Partnership's transportation priorities, including:
- Increasing the state’s investment in the Chapter 90 local roads programs by 50%, by filing a bill allocating $300 million per year for five years to Chapter 90. The bill represents an additional $100 million annual investment into the program and satisfies the Task Force’s recommendations to revamp local roadway infrastructure.
- Appropriating $110 million for Regional Transit Authorities, including $66 million for formula-based capital improvements, $30 million for Fare Free service, and $10 million to enhance inter-RTA connectivity. Enhanced RTA service and greater inter-connectivity have long been key priorities of the Partnership.
A media release announcing Governor Healey’s transportation investment plan can be accessed here. The Transportation Funding Task Force’s full final report can be found here.
| |
|
Emergency Regulations for MBTA Communities Released
On January 8th, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court published an opinion confirming that the MBTA Communities Law is constitutional and valid, and that the Attorney General has the power to enforce it. The Court also opined that the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) must promulgate the law’s implementing guidelines through the Administrative Procedures Act if they are to be enforceable.
As a result, on January 14th, EOHLC filed emergency regulations with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, which are in effect for 90 days. Over the next three months, EOHLC intends to adopt permanent guidelines following a public comment period, before the expiration of the temporary procedures. The emergency regulations do not substantively change the law’s zoning requirements, and do not affect any determinations of compliance that have been already issued by EOHLC.
More information can be found at EOHLC's MBTA Communities Act webpage.
| |
|
Reminder: Comment on Draft EPA RDA Permits Closes January 29th
EPA Region 1 announced in 2022 that they will exercise their residual designation authority under the Clean Water Act in the Charles, Mystic, and Neponset river watersheds. Certain commercial, industrial, and institutional properties with one or more acres of impervious area will be required to obtain coverage under an EPA Clean Water Act permit. On October 31st, EPA published the draft NPDES General Permit for Private Commercial Industrial, and Institutional Stormwater Discharges in the Charles, Mystic, and Neponset River Watersheds in Massachusetts ("Draft CII GP").
Click here to access the draft permit.
EPA is hosting two public hearings on this topic:
The public comment period for the draft permit begins today and will remain open until January 29th, 2025. Interested parties can submit comments on the Preliminary Designation and the Draft Permit at this link. All comments must be received by January 29th.
495/MetroWest Partnership communities that are fully or partially located within the Charles River watershed are Ashland, Bellingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Norfolk, Sherborn, Wayland, and Wrentham. Portions of Foxborough and Medfield are located in the Neponset River watershed.
Additional information:
Questions may be directed to Laura Schifman of EPA Region 1 by phone at (617) 918-1015 or via email at R1.RDA@epa.gov.
| |
|
Grant Drought Resiliency and Water Efficiency EEA Grant
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) recently established a new grant program, the Drought Resiliency and Water Efficiency Grant. The program is designed to fund projects that assist communities and public water suppliers reduce both indoor and outdoor water use, as well as strengthen water loss control programs.
Eligible applicants include municipalities, public water suppliers, non-profit organizations, public schools and higher education institutions, and regional planning organizations. The grant program will cover a wide variety of water use and management projects, including but not limited to water loss control program development and implementation, water conservation/efficiency program development, outdoor water use efficiency improvements, and drought management planning and local drought plan development.
The Drought Resiliency and Water Efficiency Grant Program offers awards up to $50,000 per project, with the potential for larger awards depending on the number of applicants. Applications are due by January 31st, 2025. Click here for application instructions and more information. Any questions can be directed to Purvi Patel at purvi.patel@mass.gov.
| |
|
Mass. Taxpayers Foundation Open House
On Friday, January 24th, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation will host a virtual Open House from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The event is open to non-members and will feature an in-depth overview of the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget plan and a Q&A session. Click here to register.
| |
|
MetroWest Life Sciences Network Event:
How to Fundraise, Seed to Scale
The MetroWest Life Sciences Network is hosting “Executives Unplugged: How to Fundraise, Seed to Scale” on January 30th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at MassBay Community College in Wellesley. The event will feature a panel discussion with executives on the topic of fundraising in the life sciences field, as well as provide an opportunity to network and reconnect with colleagues. Click here to register.
| |
|
495/MetroWest Partnership Housing Vision & Priorities Statement
Last year, the Housing Committee of the 495/MetroWest Partnership led the development of a consensus Vision and Priorities statement for the organization, establishing the Partnership's vision and core beliefs on the subject of housing, and outlining specific actions that our coalition believes should be taken to address the situation.
The 495/MetroWest Partnership’s Housing Vision and Priorities statement was adopted unanimously by our Board of Directors on December 4th, 2024. The full statement can be found online at this link. The Partnership undertook a vigorous stakeholder engagement process during the development of this statement, to best reflect the views, values, and concerns of our partners. The final statement, as adopted by the Board, was first publicized at our Annual Conference on December 12th, 2024 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
| |
|
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if the 495/MetroWest Partnership can be of any assistance to you:
Jason Palitsch, Executive Director
(774) 760-0495
Jason@495Partnership.org
Thank you for your continued commitment to strengthening our region.
| | | | |
