MARPA Conference

On September 29, 2022, the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies and the Division of Local Services hosted the “Building the Foundation for our Future: Equitable Infrastructure Modernization in Massachusetts” conference. Special guests included Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, the Governor’s former Chief of Staff, Steve Kadish, as well as Secretaries Tesler, Acosta, Kennealy, and Card. Workshops held included Building the Municipal Workforce Pipeline, Early Education Reimagined, Broadening Broadband, and Transportation Infrastructure and Recovery.

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Rural Policy Plan for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

The Rural Policy Plan for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Prepared by the Rural Policy Advisory Commission, is intended to illustrate the unique attributes and challenges faced by rural communities, inform policy makers of existing best practices and identify a series of recommendations to be explored and implemented under a proposed new Office of Rural Policy

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21st Century Municipalities:
Challenges & Opportunities

Join Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and members from all the Massachusetts Regional Planning Agencies at the 2019 Annual Statewide Conference for Municipal Offcials and Staff, co-hosted by the Division of Local Services. You will learn about a range of key subject areas facing
communities today, including:

  • Climate Resiliency
  • New Challenges of Running A Municipality
  • Intergenerational Opportunities: Becoming an Age
  • Friendly Community
  • Cybersecurity
  • Regionalization of Services

To register, click here.

For the email invite, click here.

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MassDOT has released the Congestion in the Commonwealth Report to the Governor, 2019

To view the report, click here.

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East-West Passenger Rail Study is underway

To view documents and updates on the project, click here.

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MassDOT releases its 2020-2024 Capital Improvement Program for Public Review and Comment 

MassDOT is preparing the Commonwealth’s next five-year capital spending plan for transportation investments to be programmed in 2020-2024. The Capital Investment Plan (CIP) determines how MassDOT prioritizes and funds its investments, covering all transportation projects – everything from highway and municipal projects to regional airports, rail and transit – including the MBTA and Regional Transit Authorities as well as bicycle and pedestrian projects across the Commonwealth.

MassDOT will be holding twelve public meetings on the CIP in locations across the Commonwealth.  These meetings will be scheduled between  Monday, May 21, 2019 and Thursday, June 6, 2019.  Please visit MassDOT’s CIP site at www.mass.gov/cip to view the CIP public meeting schedule and to obtain additional information.
posted on April 22, 2019
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Learn About Preparing Facilities and Communities for Severe Weather 

Heat waves, flooding, intense storms, power outages and other climate change weather events pose a significant threat to communities where large toxic chemical users reside when critical infrastructure and services fail or are damaged.

To help educate the public about these issues, the Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance and Training will offer a one-hour webinar on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  Speakers:

  • Tiffany Skogstrom of the Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) will demonstrate an online mapping tool to identify toxics users in relation to climate change-related vulnerability factors such as flood, hurricane, and environmental justice zones.
  • Rick Ferreira of the Taunton Emergency Management agency will discuss the importance and value of building strong community partnerships between businesses and local government as part of emergency preparedness planning.

Visit the MA Office of Technical Assistance and Technology webpage to learn more about this topic and/or click here to register for the webinar.  

posted on April 8, 2019

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MassDOT Regional Transit Authority Task Force Releases Final Report 

The Task Force on Regional Transit Authority Funding and Performance issued its Final Report, which contains recommendations that will assist the Commonwealth’s Executive and Legislative officials in planning, funding and administering public transportation programs.  The Final Report includes public comments offered at meetings in Amherst, Hyannis and Worcester in March 2019.

Visit https://www.mass.gov/service-details/a-vision-for-the-future-of-massachusetts-regional-transit-authorities or https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2019/04/08/dot-rta_task_force_report_040519.pdf to access the final report.

For more information, contact Elizabeth McCarthy at MassDOT’s Rail and Transit Division, Elizabeth.McCarthy@dot.state.ma.us

posted on April 8, 2019

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Pioneer Valley Planning Commission announces candidate search for new Executive Director

Tim Brennan, the longtime Executive Director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), announced in April 2018 that he would be retiring in 2019 after over forty-five years of service at PVPC.  His contributions to PVPC, and to all of the RPAs in his leadership role with MARPA, are a testament to his professional commitments and the positive impact that he has had in the planning profession in Massachusetts and beyond.

Accordingly, PVPC has posted Tim’s position and is now conducting a candidate search.

Executive Director Position Ad_Web Posting_Final-1.31.19

For more information about this PVPC position and the application process, please go to www.pvpc.org/EDSearch to gain access to:

  • Application Process and Instructions
  • Executive Director Job Description
  • Executive Director Position Profile
  • PVPC Agency Organizational Chart

posted on February 6, 2018

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MassDOT Releases Updated Strategic Highway Safety Plan

MassDOT developed the initial 2006 Massachusetts SHSP in a cooperative process with Federal, State, local, private, and public sector safety stakeholders. The SHSP, and its new 2018 Update, is a data-driven, strategic plan that integrates the four E’s: engineering, education, enforcement and emergency medical services (EMS).

You can download the Plan here or on the UMass Transportation Center website at http://www.umasstransportationcenter.org/images/umtc/UMassSafe/MA_SHSP_2018_v5%20-%20low%20res.pdf

For questions or more information about the Commonwealth’s Strategic Highway Safety Program, contact Bonnie Polin, MassDOT Highway Safety Program Manager, at (857) 368-9636 or by email at http://bonnie.polin@state.ma.us.

posted 1/26/19

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New Future of Transportation Report Released

The Commonwealth’s Commission on the Future of Transportation, established by Governor Baker per Executive Order No. 579 (January 2018), issued its final report on December 14, 2018.  The Commission’s report details the Commonwealth’s projected transportation needs and challenges between 2020 and 2040.

The report considers complex factors affecting the future of transportation such as increasing electrification of the Commonwealth’s transportation system, preparing transportation infrastructure for climate change and the intersection of land use, housing and transportation policies.

The final report consists of two volumes, which are available at https://www.mass.gov/lists/choices-for-stewardship-recommendations-to-meet-the-transportation-future

posted 1/26/19