An Update on Transportation Funding
June 18, 2025
On Monday, June 16th the Legislature reached a final agreement on how to allocate over $1.3 billion in Fair Share surtax revenue. This funding has been collected through the new surtax on incomes over $1 million, and must be spent only on education or transportation programs. For the first time, this bill spends nearly 60% of this money on transportation programs, marking a significant shift and a major milestone for public transit advocacy in Massachusetts. Since the implementation of the surtax in 2023, the Commonwealth had spent approximately 40% on transportation and 60% on education.
This new spending bill reflects long-standing priorities championed by A Better City, including using the Fair Share surtax to increase state assistance to the MBTA. In this bill, the MBTA will receive $535 million to help close its projected operating budget deficit. This money will now prevent service cuts for riders and avoid layoffs for transit workers. In addition to MBTA funding, the bill provides: over $140 million for municipally owned transportation infrastructure; $50 million for Regional Transit Authorities; and over $35 million for small bridges, culvert repairs, water ferry service, and other transportation projects across the Commonwealth.
"This agreement would provide the MBTA with multi-year stability for their operating budget and service levels for riders, while also addressing other transportation needs in all areas of the Commonwealth. This legislative compromise also makes meaningful progress toward achieving a 50/50 split between transportation and education spending from the surtax, which was a key recommendation of the Governor's Transportation Funding Task Force. We appreciate the complexity of making a budget amid unprecedented federal uncertainty, and thank Legislative leadership for prioritizing investments in transportation that will pay dividends in economic benefits to our regional economy and . . .
Supporting Emergency Shutoff Protections for Extreme Heat
June 18, 2025
A Better City also submitted comments supporting H.3972, An Act Providing for Utility Shutoff Protection During Periods of Extreme Heat. A Better City’s comments recommend that the state should: expand the emergency shutoff protection period to May 1-October 31st; design and implement a statewide clean power prescription . . .
Establishing a Regional Flood Resilience Authority
June 18, 2025
A Better City recently submitted comments supporting S.658, An Act Pertaining to Regional Resilience and Flood Protection Entities. S.658 is seeking to establish a regional Flood Management and Mitigation Authority in Massachusetts to help promote flood resilience, which A Better City recommends should be expanded to also: address other forms of resilience beyond flooding; include vulnerable residents and workers alongside built infrastructure resilience in forthcoming resilience regulations; and establish a Resilient Permitting Commission to guide regulatory reform. For any questions, please contact Isabella . . .
PLAN: Downtown Zoning
June 17, 2025
Earlier this week, Tom Nally, Senior Advisor at A Better City, testified in support of the City of Boston Planning Department's final draft zoning amendment for Downtown. The revised draft incorporates public feedback on the draft zoning released on January 8, 2025, and aims to strengthen protections for Downtown’s historic and cultural assets, while enabling a mix of uses and housing. In terms of next steps, the BPDA Board is expected to review the proposed zoning in July, and the Boston Zoning Commission is expected to review the proposed zoning in August. If approved, Mayor Wu could sign the zoning into law in September.
A Better City believes that it is important to enhance the vitality of Downtown Boston. A combination of many actions is needed to accomplish that end, and a very significant action is to put in place zoning provisions that will support that desired vitality. The proposed zoning changes will contribute to vitality by supporting appropriate density in this most transit accessible location in the city, by incentivizing the addition of more residential uses, by infusing the neighborhood with entertainment and retail elements, and by pacing a premium on preservation by providing a means of protecting valuable landmark structures and places that help to make Downtown Boston the diverse mix of experiences that it has always valued. We support the proposed new zoning for Downtown Boston. - Thomas J. Nally, Senior . . .
EVENT RECAP: UNDERSTANDING CURRENT FEDERAL TAX CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES AND THE BUDGETMAKING PROCESS
June 04, 2025
| Presentation Recording | Slides |
On May 28, 2025, A Better City hosted a virtual meeting with Mark Bacon, Practice Lead of Commercial Real Estate at Leyton, and Tom Ryan, Senior Advisor on Policy, Government and Community Affairs at A Better City, to understand the current federal tax credit opportunities and the federal budget making process.
Tom Ryan kicked off the meeting discussing the recent Federal “Reconciliation Bill” or the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act” that passed the US House of Representatives on May 22nd. The House bill would significantly restrict or eliminate many of the clean energy incentives created by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act related to clean power generation, solar, and electric vehicles. The bill now heads to the US Senate, and once they produce their own version of this reconciliation bill, the House and Senate will need to negotiate a final compromise version. The President has asked for the final bill by July 4th, but this timeline seems ambitious
Mark Bacon’s presentation focused on Commercial Real Estate incentives and those most likely to apply to A Better City members including: §45L Energy Efficient Homes Credit; §179D Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction;
Zero Net Carbon Zoning Implementation
May 19, 2025
The passage of the Zero Net Carbon Zoning in Boston at the end of January, 2025, detailed in this blogpost, means that on July 1, 2025, most new buildings with 15 or more units or 20,000 square feet, and additions of 50,000 square feet, will be required to meet a Net Zero Carbon emissions standard. This standard requires net zero operational emissions upon a building’s opening, embodied carbon reporting, and a LEED certifiable requirement. Labs will be given until 2035 to comply, and hospitals and manufacturing will be given until 2045 to comply with Net Zero Carbon emissions.
The Boston Planning Department requested a focus group with A Better City, held on May 7th, 2025, to discuss implementation of the new zoning regulations. A presentation and recording are available.
The presentation focused on the implementation of procedures and the timeline for small and large project review. The procedure for small project review (15+ units or 20,000+ square feet up to 50,000 square feet) requires:
- A small project review application
- A small project Article 37 checklist
- A Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions Acknowledgement Letter (template provided)
- There are NO LEED Green Building requirements for small project applications
The procedure for large project review (50,000 square feet +) requires:
- A large project notification form
- A large project Article 37 checklist
- A LEED certifiable green building summary and . . .
Update on MA Large Building Energy Reporting
May 16, 2025
As an update to the blogpost posted in February about Large Building Energy Reporting (LBER) at a state level, the final version of the 225 CMR 27.00:Building Energy Reporting regulations went into effect at the end of February, 2025. Reporting for all energy usage for the previous calendar year is now due to DOER by June 30, 2025. Building owners are responsible for reporting energy usage not provided by an electric, gas, or steam utility, like fuel oil, propane, wood, or on-site solar generation. As a reminder, based on feedback a new section was added, section 27.02 (2) (c), that stated that if a building owner was responsible for reporting a building’s energy use through BERDO, BEUDO, or other approved municipal ordinances or by-laws, they could submit the same information for LBER that they submit for municipal regulations.
DOER has released a Covered Buildings List showing all buildings that must report their energy use by June 30th. On October 31, 2025, DOER will publish LBER disclosure reports.
Please reach out to Yve Torrie if you have any questions or would like to be part of A Better City’s Buildings Policy . . .
A Better City and Members Receive Boston Climate Leader Awards
May 01, 2025
On April 17, 2025, A Better City was honored with the Resilient Boston Award at the inaugural Boston Climate Leaders Awards. The event brought together civic leaders, community partners, advocates, businesses, and innovators to honor organizations, institutions, and individuals making extraordinary contributions to the City’s climate and sustainability goals.
In addition, several A Better City member companies and institutions were among the winners and finalists, including Beacon Capital Partners, Boston Building Resources, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Museum, Boston Medical Center, Boston University, BXP, Mass General Brigham, Pembroke, Turner Construction, UMass Boston, Vicinity Energy, and Zipcar.
Emerald Skyline Award for Decarbonizing Boston’s New and Existing Buildings
- Business and Institutions Winner: Boston University
- Business and Institutions Finalists: Beacon Capital Partners and BXP
- Individual Finalist: Colin Schless, Turner Construction
Bright Future Award for Transforming the Energy Grid to More Renewable Sources:
- Individual Winner: Dr. Anna Goldman, Boston Medical Center Clean Power Prescription Program
- Business and Institutions Finalist: Vicinity Energy
- Individual Finalist: Dennis Carlberg, Boston University
Clean, Green City Award for Working to Reduce Waste and/or Protect the Natural Environment
- Business and Institutions Winner: Boston Building Resources
- Business and Institutions Finalists: Boston Children’s Hospital Pediatric Environmental Health Center and Zipcar
Resilient Boston Award for Working to Prepare Boston for the Impacts of Climate Change
- Business and Institutions Winner: . . .
Greater Boston Chamber Transportation First Series
April 17, 2025
On April 15, Kate Dineen, A Better City President & CEO, participated in the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Transportation First series alongside Jim Rooney, President & CEO of the Boston Chamber, and Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Chief of Streets for the City of Boston, to discuss the City of Boston’s focus on local transportation modes. Attendees first heard from Jascha Franklin-Hodge, who discussed the City’s current transportation priorities and outlined the vision for moving people throughout Boston and its neighborhoods. Following the address, he was joined by Kate Dineen and Jim Rooney for their conversation on solutions and opportunities for businesses and communities to shape the future of transportation in the City of Boston. This event was the third installment of the Chamber's Transportation First series, which offers a platform to discuss the urgent challenges Greater Boston faces by bringing in experts and changemakers to explore the issues and potential solutions for the future of the Commonwealth. This series will help raise broader awareness among employees and employers who are affected by the transit system every . . .
PowerCorps Boston Building Operations Cohort #3 Graduation
April 16, 2025
On April 3rd, 2025, A Better City joined Mayor Wu and the whole
