Thank you!

On May 28th, 200 residents, policymakers, and MAPC Council members gathered to adopt the MetroFuture scenario and goals as the regional plan, and to view for the first time the strategies to implement MetroFuture.

Participants discussed the best ways to achieve our goals for the region’s growth through 2030 in one of four concurrent breakout discussions.

Balancing Housing Production and Resource Conservation
Current growth patterns are consuming open space at a rapid clip, while simultaneously failing to produce enough housing to meet the region’s needs, particularly affordable housing.   MetroFuture’s implementation strategies will include a package of recommendations that together strive to create enough affordable housing for the region, while at the same time preserving its land and resources.  Participants in this breakout session discussed these draft recommendations, provided feedback, and addressed trade-offs.

Click here for a discussion summary, the handout of draft recommendations discussed, and detailed notes of the discussion.

Equitable Opportunity
Metro Boston faces enormous inequality across lines of race, class, income, and national origin.  Recent research shows that economic competitiveness can improve in regions that chose to confront inequality in a straightforward and effective manner.  MetroFuture includes recommendations intended to improve the ability of all the region’s residents to access educational and job opportunities.  These include strategies improving access to high-quality education, positioning the growing immigrant population for success, and removing barriers to job access.  These strategies seek not only to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged populations, but also to improve our region’s competitiveness in the global economy.  Participants in this breakout session discussed these recommendations and suggested additional strategies to reduce inequality in metro Boston.  

Click here for a discussion summary, the handout of draft recommendations discussed, and detailed notes of the discussion.

Regionalization
Cities and towns in Massachusetts have a long history of independence, which has led not only to the creation of a great many unique and distinctive places, but also to increasingly fragmented planning, purchasing and service provision.  MetroFuture will include a series of recommendations designed to foster regional thinking, to encourage collaboration among municipalities, and to make more decisions on a regional basis.  Participants in this breakout session discussed these strategies and suggested ways to advance those recommendations.

Click here for a discussion summary, the handout of draft recommendations discussed, and detailed notes of the discussion.

Transportation Finance
Metro Boston is known for its walkable cities and traditional town centers, as well as its extensive public transit and commuter rail system. However, decades of inconsistent state policies, as well as declining public funding, have left us with a transportation system desperately in need of new sources of revenue.  MetroFuture will include recommendations for specific reforms and revenue options to ensure that the Commonwealth’s transportation system is adequately funded for both maintenance and expansion.  Participants in this breakout session discussed these recommendations and priorities among them. 

Click here for a discussion summary, the handout of draft recommendations discussed, and detailed notes of the discussion.