From the President & CEO, Richard A. Dimino

 

As 2008 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 2009 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 six months, 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 reforms my staff and I have been working to address this year has been transportation finance.  According to the State Transportation Finance Commission, the Commonwealth’s transportation network will be underfunded by at least $15 to $19 billion over the next 20 years.  Furthermore, the State is on the verge of seeing the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) –a service central to the economic well-being of Boston -- slide into mediocrity due to projected service cuts.  Up to 1.3 million people travel to Boston every day on MBTA buses and subways.  In addition, 74 percent of the State’s population lives within the MBTA’s service area; utilizing the MBTA’s buses, subways, commuter boats and commuter rail to travel to employment, shopping or recreational destinations.  Many of these public transit users are traveling to destinations in the Financial District, Downtown Boston, the Back Bay and to the centers of our life sciences industries such as Longwood Medical Area. 

Access to a reliable and well-maintained transportation system reduces congestion on our roads and bridges and creates opportunities for economic growth.  In light of the significance of this issue, ABC has devoted major resources and time to the resolution of the financial question.  This past March, ABC published, “Shoring Up the 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.  In addition, ABC worked collaboratively with a statewide coalition to develop a position paper addressing the transportation needs of the business community.

A Better City has been working to keep our membership informed of developments with the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR’s) Accelerated Bridge Program.  We are particularly in tune to the bridge projects within the Charles River Basin.   These include the Longfellow Bridge, Craigie Bridge, Storrow Drive Tunnel and the 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 drivers entering or passing through the region’s core.

In regards to commuter traffic, A Better City Transportation Management Association (ABC TMA) continues to support the business community in incorporating smart transportation choices into daily work commutes.  Since January, our work has prevented over 74,500 vehicles miles from being traveled in personal car commutes to work.   This translates into 68,000 pounds less carbon being emitted into the Boston area atmosphere and decreased congestion on our roads and bridges.  In addition, A Better City continues to support the MBTA through TransitWorks which will remain an effective partner of the MBTA advisory Board.

I am pleased to share that the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy assumed responsibility for the maintenance of the Greenway corridor this past February.  A Better City has been working closely with the Conservancy during this transition and will continue to support the organization in their efforts to maintain this valuable public resource.  The Greenway is 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 has planned for the park. 

This past Spring I was extended the generous invitation to represent the business and institutional community on the newly established Mayor’s Climate Task Force, which will lead the development of the City of Boston’s new Climate Action Plan.  This invitation complements our other most recent Sustainability related achievement; receiving a $50,000 grant from The Boston Foundation to provide funding for the creation of the Sustainability Leadership Initiative.  This Initiative will challenge and recognize businesses, institutions, and buildings that commit to meet established sustainability standards and practices that increase efficiencies, reduce resource consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions.  ABC has hired ERG to assist in the development of the program, which will expand upon existing federal and local programs from around the country. 

Lastly, due to the hard work of our staff, ABC was able to secure support from the Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) and Congressman Michael Capuano for inclusion of the Urban Ring and Silver Line Phase III in the Federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act.   As the Urban Ring project moves forward, ABC will continue to advocate for the incremental implementation of the project which will have the end result of connecting many important public transportation corridors into a larger system.

A Better City owes much of its successes to our dedicated board members.  It is with their support that I look forward to the continued leadership role that A Better City plays in ensuring Boston remains a truly dynamic city.  I invite you to stay up to date on our progress through our quarterly newsletters.

 

Sincerely,

Richard A. Dimino

 

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