2025 Intern Recap
January 9, 2026
In the summer of 2025, A Better City was fortunate to host three summer interns working to advance a host of A Better City research priorities—from transportation finance, to fare policy, to downtown revitalization. You can read more about their backgrounds and work below!
William H. Harney V. joined A Better City as the UMass Boston 2025 Robert C. Wood Student Internship Awardee. William is a lifelong resident of Dorchester currently enrolled in the UMass Boston Urban Planning and Community Development Master of Science program. William received a Manufacturing Engineering Bachelor of Science from Wentworth Institute of Technology and worked in manufacturing facilities both big and small, where he developed project and data management skills. While serving on the Mayor's Youth Council of Boston, he developed a love of public service, social justice, and civic engagement. For the past several years, William has been involved in public transit advocacy with an interest in equity and accessibility, funding policy, and mode shift. When not riding the T, William can be found solo traveling the world or candlepin bowling with his friends.
At A Better City, William researched various roadway pricing options that could be considered in the Commonwealth, as state leaders explore new ways to apply user fees on driving as a way to manage traffic congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and invest in modern infrastructure. Williams’s analysis examines the history of various federal programs, as well as the potential benefits, legal issues, and general challenges behind these different plans. You can read his white paper here and view his LinkedIn profile here.
Cole Lewis joined A Better City through the Forest Foundation Summer Fellowship. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Cole is a senior studying sociology at Tufts University. He is fascinated by urban politics and public transit, and blends interests in data analysis and social sciences to work toward more livable cities. Cole previously interned at TransitMatters and enjoys hiking and biking around the Somerville/Cambridge area.
At A Better City, Cole explored the important topic of commuter fare policy and the policy impact on transit ridership, fare revenue, and incentives that could support the future growth of our commuter rail system. There are multiple proposals before the Massachusetts State Legislature and requests to the MBTA Board of Directors that would impact current fare policy, and Cole’s paper is the first to calculate the fiscal impact of three potential options under consideration. Cole’s analysis is helping to inform A Better City’s perspective for our ongoing advocacy on this important issue. You can read his white paper here and view his LinkedIn profile here.
Kerry Li joined A Better City through the Williams College Alumni Sponsored Internship Program. Kerry is a senior at Williams College, where he is majoring in Political Economy. He has a strong academic interest in public works and tax policy and is part of a student group advocating for the restoration of a passenger rail line connecting Western Massachusetts to the East. As a native of Hong Kong, Kerry has a special appreciation for the extensive urban planning and public infrastructure building needed to sustain growth for a large city.
At A Better City, Kerry researched strategies for downtown revitalization being implemented in Boston and other cities, interviewing key leaders in Boston and reviewing documentation of projects across the country. He produced a report and presentation on this research with recommendations for additional actions that could enhance the revitalization efforts. You can read his report here, check out his presentation here, and view his LinkedIn profile here.
