From the President & CEO, Richard A. Dimino

 

Letter from the President, 2010

 

As 2009 came to a close, A Better City (ABC) successfully reached several milestones in our important transportation, land development, and environmental work that set the stage for 2010 projects and priorities.  True to our mission statement, ABC continues to provide the business and institutional leadership essential for sustaining and improving the Boston area’s economy and quality of life.  Over the past year, the organization has been presented with challenges that, due to our hard work and steadfast dedication to our membership, have evolved into opportunities for ensuring Boston remains a truly dynamic city for economic growth & development, employment opportunities, and as a place to live or visit. 

One of the greatest achievements my staff and I have been working towards this year is expanding the organization’s environmental services.  In 2009 A Better City received a $50,000 grant from The Boston Foundation to provide continued support of the Sustainability & Climate Change Initiative.  Their generous support has enabled us to develop and launch a one-year pilot of ABC’s Challenge for Sustainability.  The Challenge for Sustainability is designed to leverage the private sector’s ability to influence change and make Greater Boston a leader in sustainable building and transportation practices.  Through the program we will challenge and recognize businesses, institutions and building to commit to meet established sustainability standards and practices that increase efficiencies, reduce resource consumption, decrease solid waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  We are proud to say that eighteen member facilities have signed up to participate in the pilot.  Through their involvement they have agreed to work towards the goals and objectives of the program, while receiving a range of value added services and assistance from ABC. 

In addition to our sustainability efforts, I was requested by Mayor Menino to represent the interests of the business and institutional community on the Mayor’s Climate Leadership Task Force which has been leading the development of the City of Boston’s new Climate Action Plan.  This plan will lay out a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 and between 20-25% by 2020, through a number of new building and transportation regulations, policies, and initiatives that will impact businesses, buildings, and residents.  The task force will be finalizing its recommendations to the Mayor this spring.

ABC’s commitment to transportation and land use remains strong.  We stand behind our beliefs that access to a reliable and well-maintained transportation system reduces congestion on our roads and bridges and creates opportunities for economic growth.  One of the major transportation issues affecting our membership this past year has been the long term stability of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the state transportation entities.  In March of 2009, ABC published, “Shoring Up Massachusetts’ Economy through Transportation Investment:  A Review of Potential New Funding Sources for Transportation”, which was presented at a panel discussion titled, “Moving the Economy Forward through Transportation Investment”, in partnership with the Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University.  In this document ABC outlined reasons to move forward with transit expansion projects that will immediately stimulate the economy, improve the capacity for smart economic growth and strengthen the state’s competitive edge.  Our efforts towards improving the way State officials manage transportation has lead to clear successes; ABC played an influential role in shaping the Transportation Reform legislation which led to the November 2009 launch of the new Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).

ABC is also actively involved with MassDOT’s Accelerated Bridge Program.  We are particularly in tune to the bridge projects within the Charles River Basin.   These include the Longfellow Bridge, Craigie Bridges, and the Boston University Bridge.  During 2009 we established the Charles River Basin Working Group to actively participate in the planning, design and implementation of over a dozen roadway and bridge reconstruction projects located in the Charles River Basins.  The group conducted frequent, detailed review sessions with officials from MassDOT’s Accelerated Bridge Program to recommend construction modifications and traffic management approaches for the Craigie Bridges and Boston University Bridge.  It is ABC’s goal to ensure the DCR maintains a timely construction process as the bridges and roadways along or across the Charles are important transportation assets that are used by many commuters entering or passing through the region’s core.

ABC continues to support the efforts of the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy since they have assumed primary responsibility for themaintenance of the Greenway corridor and maintain this valuable public resource.  The Greenway can be a model for how to reinvigorate the urban core through engaging public space; we eagerly look forward to the recreational, civic and cultural programming the Conservancy is planning for the parks. 

I would like to close by saying that ABC owes much of its successes to our dedicated staff and board members.  It is with their support that I look forward to the continued leadership role that ABC plays in ensuring Boston remains a truly dynamic city. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Richard A. Dimino

President and CEO

A Better City

 

   

Richard A. Dimino is President and CEO of A Better City and has been with the organization since 1995.

*Zakim Bridge photo by Caroline Crockett