Pilot to focus on transportation gaps in Revere, Chelsea, and Everett
[Boston - July 10, 2024] - The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is one of eight applicants selected nationwide to receive a Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity (MATI) grant to explore strategies to improve people’s mobility and access to reliable transportation options. The award amount is $150,000.
The MATI grant, managed by the University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies and funded through the Federal Transit Administration, is intended to identify and address contributing factors leading to transportation insecurity. The MPO’s team of transportation planners will design a pilot to supplement the MBTA’s low-income fare program with access to low-cost community electric vehicle car-sharing options for affordable housing residents in Revere, Chelsea, and Everett. Upon completion of the project, the MPO will be eligible to apply for additional funding to implement the pilot.
The MPO will undertake this work in partnership with Good2Go, a nonprofit electric vehicle carshare organization, with support from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Union Capital, and The Neighborhood Developers.
“With this grant, the MPO will have the opportunity to better understand the mobility and accessibility needs of the communities we serve,” said Tegin Teich, Executive Director of the staff of the Boston Region MPO. “We’re eager to collaborate with our partners to design multimodal solutions that reduce barriers and address gaps in travel options for residents in Revere, Chelsea, and Everett.”
"Carsharing offers a complement, not competition, for existing public transit," said Susan Buchan, Executive Director of Good2Go. "We look forward to partnering with the Boston Region MPO to evaluate the combination of public transit and electric car-sharing as a cost-effective, easily implementable solution to equitable, clean, and affordable transportation."
“As a community convener, Union Capital frequently hears from our members on issues of accessing affordable and accessible public transit,” said Eric Leslie, Founder and Lead Organizer of Union Capital. “We look forward to supporting the MPO in this project, connecting residents with the planning team, and contributing to the improvement of transportation equity in the Boston region.”
More information about the MATI program is available at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies website.
The Boston Region MPO is the regional agency responsible for conducting the transportation planning process for the Boston metropolitan area, which includes 97 cities and towns totaling 3.4 million residents. The MPO develops a vision for transportation in the region and allocates federal and state transportation funds to programs and infrastructure projects that improve infrastructure for people walking, biking, taking transit, and driving.
