星期二, 8月 30, 2022

麻州政府再撥3200萬元氣候變遷經費給市鎮 總額達一億元

 Baker-Polito Administration Awards Over $32 Million in Climate Change Funding to Cities and Towns Bringing Total Investment to $100 Million

97% of Communities Now Participating in Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program

 

WILLIAMSBURG – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $32.8 million in grants to cities and towns through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ (EEA) Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program, continuing its historic investment in building climate change resilience throughout the Commonwealth. The grant program, which was launched in 2017 as part of Governor Baker’s Executive Order 569, provides communities with funding and technical support to identify climate hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience, and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change. With today’s announcement, the Administration has now awarded $100 million to 97% of the Commonwealth’s cities and towns through the MVP program.

 

“Since we started the program in 2017, the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program has played a large role in helping cities and towns across the state fight climate change by investing $100 million in 341 municipalities, or 97% of the Commonwealth’s communities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “With this latest round of MVP funding, we are making the single largest investment in the program by directing nearly $33 million towards critical climate resilience projects throughout Massachusetts.”

 

“This is the sixth round of MVP funding, and we are making a major push forward by funding more climate resilience implementation projects than ever before,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “It has been rewarding to see projects move through the phases from planning to design to construction and implementation over the last five years, and we are starting to see the tangible difference these projects are making in our communities as we prepare for a changing climate.”

 

The MVP Program pairs local leadership and knowledge with a significant investment of resources and funding from the Commonwealth to address ongoing climate change impacts, such as inland flooding, increase in storm events, sea level rise, drought, and extreme temperatures. Of the $32.8 million in grants announced, $32.6 million was awarded to 73 municipal projects that build local resilience to climate change in the Commonwealth’s sixth round of MVP Action Grant funding. Additionally, $157,700 was awarded to six towns to pursue a community-led planning process to identify vulnerabilities to climate change and priority actions. When complete, these municipalities will be eligible for the next round of implementation funding.

 

“Every year the real need for climate resilience funding becomes even more important for our municipal partners, who have remained steadfast in their commitment to the hard work of preparing their communities for climate change,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card. “It is extremely gratifying to see more dollars than ever before being put towards local projects, such as drought mitigation, stormwater and culvert upgrades, and land acquisitions, which will have numerous positive impacts on the state’s residents for many years to come.”

 

The following communities will receive funding to complete the MVP planning process:

 

Grantee 

MVP Program Region 

Total Award 

Hancock 

Berkshires & Hilltowns 

$27,000 

Hanover 

Greater Boston 

$36,700 

Lee 

Berkshires & Hilltowns 

$27,000 

Middlefield 

Berkshires & Hilltowns 

$27,000 

Monroe 

Berkshires & Hilltowns 

$25,000 

West Stockbridge 

Berkshires & Hilltowns 

$15,000 

Total (6) 

 

Total: $157,700 

  

The following projects are receiving Action Grants: 

 

Grantee 

Project Title 

Grant Award 

Andover & Lawrence 

Shawsheen River Nature-Based Flood Resilience 

 $271,705  

Ayer & Devens 

Ayer-Devens Main Streets Regional Pocket Forests Pilot Project  

 $282,624  

Belchertown 

Scarborough Brook Watershed Improvements 

 $139,500  

Berlin 

Horseshoe Pond Acquisition Project  

 $874,268  

Beverly 

Bass River District Resilience Plan  

 $200,000  

Boxford 

Increasing Watershed Scale Resiliency in Boxford Through Culvert Upgrades in the Howlett Brook Watershed 

 $265,900  

Brockton 

Trout Brook Flood Resilience 

 $157,300  

Brookline 

Climate Crisis Action and Resilience Plan Update 

 $75,000  

Cambridge 

Cambridge Community Corps Climate Readiness Initiative 

 $150,000  

Chatham, Provincetown, Harwich, Mashpee, & Falmouth 

Regional Low Lying Road Assessment and Feasibility 

 $205,479  

Chatham Brewster, Harwich, & Orleans 

Pleasant Bay Climate Adaptation Action Plan 

 $292,710  

Chelsea, Revere, & Winthrop 

Envisioning Resilience in the North Suffolk Region through Community Preparedness 

 $87,500  

Chelsea 

Eastern Ave. Alternatives Analysis + Conceptual Design  

 $333,492  

Chelsea, Somerville, Everett, Malden, Revere, & Winthrop 

Equitable Coastal Resilience and Redevelopment in Lower Mystic  

 $556,000  

Chester, Blandford, & Middlefield 

Evaluating & Planning for Resilient Rural Dirt Roads 

 $317,550  

Dedham & Neponset Watershed Communities 

Neponset Watershed Regional Adaptation Strategy and Flood Model 

 $389,457  

Dennis 

Pound Pond - Flood Mitigation and Storm Drainage Improvements Dennis, Massachusetts - Phase 2 Final Design  

 $73,628  

Dracut 

Design and Permitting for Collinsville Dam Removal Project 

 $174,000  

Easthampton 

Emerald Place Resiliency 

 $117,800  

Essex 

Apple Street Roadbed Elevation and Culvert Replacement Project 

 $222,037  

Everett & Chelsea 

Island End River Flood Resilience Project 

 $2,998,600  

Everett, Malden, Chelsea, & Arlington 

Beat the Heat: Wicked Cool Outdoors / Venza el Calor: Súper Fresco Afuera 

 $339,915  

Fairhaven 

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 

 $40,000  

Fall River & Westport 

South Watuppa Pond Green Infrastructure Blue Water Restoration 

 $379,875  

Fall River 

Fall River CSO Treatment Study 

 $1,163,000  

Fitchburg 

Generating Resiliency in Downtown Fitchburg with Nature-Based Solutions  

 $109,000  

Framingham 

Walnut Street Neighborhood Flood Mitigation -Permits & Easements 

 $155,000  

Great Barrington 

Lake Mansfield Recreation Area Improvements Phase 1 

 $992,500  

Hatfield 

Climate-Smart Comprehensive Planning for Hatfield 

 $283,900  

Hudson, Framingham, & Natick 

SuAsCo Natural Climate Solutions Project 

 $314,393  

Hull 

Hull Climate Adaption Roadmap; Alternatives Analysis for the Hampton Circle Area 

 $198,624  

Lincoln 

Town of Lincoln Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (L-CAP) Proposal 

 $100,000  

Longmeadow 

Toward the New Normal: Envisioning an Inclusive & Resilient Longmeadow 

 $235,555 

Lowell 

Resilient Urban Forest Master Plan and Urban Heat Island Assessment 

 $93,000  

Malden 

Malden River Works for Waterfront Equity and Resilience 

 $200,550  

Mashpee 

Increasing Resilience to Harmful Algal Blooms in Santuit Pond Stormwater Retrofit Implementation - Phase 1 

 $469,037  

Mattapoisett, Fairhaven, Marion, Rochester, & Acushnet 

Mattapoisett River Valley Water Supply Resilience Project 

 $4,500,000  

Medford 

Interconnected Resiliency Network & Resilient Communications 

 $416,738  

Medford 

Andrews School Resilient Emergency Shelter 

 $670,568  

Middleborough 

Picone Farm Preservation for Climate Resiliency, Flood Storage, Water Quality & Food Security 

 $1,364,325  

Monson 

Chicopee Brook Flood Resilience Improvements 

 $295,000  

Montague 

Incorporating Climate Resiliency into the Montague Comprehensive Plan 

 $80,000  

Monterey 

Enhancing Flood Resiliency Through the Evaluation and Redesign of Critical Infrastructure Along the Konkapot River - Phase II Final Design & Permitting 

 $124,071  

Natick & Charles River Watershed Communities 

Building Resilience Across the Charles River Watershed Phase III 

 $333,070  

New Bedford 

Kempton Street Corridor Green Infrastructure 

 $161,800  

Northampton 

Climate Resilient Downtown Affordable Housing 

 $921,300 

Oak Bluffs 

Vulnerability Assessment and Permit Level Design of Coastal Resilience Improvements for Dukes County Ave Pump Station 

 $69,529  

Plympton 

Preserving Turkey Swamp: A Keystone Goal 

 $502,500  

Reading & Mystic River Watershed Communities 

Maillet, Sommes, Morgan Constructed Stormwater Wetland  

 $2,116,578  

Revere 

Diamond Creek Catchment Improvements Investigation and Assessment 

 $235,509  

Revere, Saugus, Malden, Everett, & Lynn 

Regional Saugus River Watershed Vulnerability and Adaptation Study  

 $150,872  

Richmond & West Stockbridge 

Resilient Stormwater Action and Implementation Plan  

 $265,408  

Rowe, Heath, Shelburne, & Conway 

Community Driven Forest Climate Adaptation: Implementing the Forest Climate Resilience Program in the Mohawk Trail Woodland Partnership  

 $164,450  

Salem 

Collins Cove to Willows Resilience Study 

 $234,565  

Seekonk 

Attleboro Dye Works Dam Removal: Design & Permitting 

 $191,000  

Sherborn 

Sherborn's Climate Activation and Resilience Plan- A Model for Climate Mobilization for the MetroWest Region 

 $38,145  

Shrewsbury 

Regulatory Update for Sustainable Parking Requirements 

 $90,000  

Shrewsbury 

Climate Action and Resilience Plan  

 $100,000  

South Hadley 

Queensville Dam and Buttery Brook Restoration 

 $162,000  

Stoneham 

Stoneham High School Wetland Restoration 

 $108,700  

Stoughton 

Stoughton Town-wide Drainage Model, Vulnerability Assessment, and Adaptation Strategies to Mitigate Future Flooding 

 $218,175  

Stow 

Stow Acres North Acquisition and Climate Resilience Master Plan 

 $1,135,000  

Sutton 

Manchaug Village Water Resource Resiliency Action Plan 

 $75,000  

Templeton 

Old Royalston Road Culvert Replacement 

 $503,225  

Uxbridge 

Home Brew Dam and Whitin Pond Dam Removal 

 $185,450  

Waltham 

Designing a Resilient Chester Brook Corridor 

 $143,900  

Ware 

Muddy Brook Subwatershed Resiliency Master Plan 

 $42,740  

Whately 

Whately Energy Resilience and Education 

 $304,778  

Williamsburg 

Williamsburg Public Safety Complex 

 $1,831,137  

Woburn & Mystic River Watershed Communities 

Hurld Park - Heat Resilient Park 

 $271,425  

Worcester 

Drainage and Green Infrastructure Master Plan  

 $1,253,091  

Wrentham & Norfolk 

Eagle Dam Removal Phase II 

 $41,337  

Yarmouth 

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan 

 $80,089  

Total: 73 

 

Total: $32,640,374 

 

“The MVP grant program is among the most relevant and the most effective in the Commonwealth,” said State Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “I'm absolutely delighted to see substantial funds flowing to western Massachusetts thanks to the stellar work of EEA officials and municipal leaders alike. I look forward to offering sustained support for this critical initiative.”

 

“We are witnessing the elevated impact of climate change in our small towns, including storms that wipe out culverts, bridges, and roads,” said State Senator Adam Hinds (D-Pittsfield). “I am proud of the relationship between the legislature and the administration to act forcefully in support of our municipalities that often struggle to keep up with demand.”

 

“Communities often struggle with figuring out how to stretch dollars to fund critical projects. The infusion of funds to Northampton, Williamsburg, and Hatfield in my district will go a long way to support projects that will help ensure these communities are climate ready,” said State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa (D-Northampton). “I am extremely grateful that the Commonwealth has acknowledged the importance of offering tangible support to these cities and towns today.”

 

As the MVP program reaches its five-year anniversary, EEA is formulating a process, trainings, and resources, called “MVP Planning 2.0,” for updating MVP plans and the priority actions identified within them. EEA is seeking to develop an updated process that is inclusive, engaging, equitable, collaborative, and actionable. The update process will take into account newly available climate change tools and projections, the ongoing Massachusetts Climate Assessment, data from the first iteration of MVP planning grants, and feedback from the many MVP stakeholders who have made the program a success to date. The revamped process and resources are expected to launch in Spring 2023.

 

Furthermore, MVP supports the implementation of the State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan (SHMCAP), released in September 2018, which provided a national model of integrating hazard mitigation priorities with forward-looking climate change data and solutions. The plan is implemented within state government by the Resilient MA Action Team (RMAT), an inter-agency team led by EEA and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, and staffed by designated Climate Change Coordinators from each Executive Office. The Resilient MA Action Team provides guidance and decision-making for plan implementation, further refines priority actions, and ensures actions are integrated into agency practice and policy. Recently, the RMAT launched the Climate Resilience Design Standards Tool to integrate best available statewide climate change projections to inform climate resilient planning and design of infrastructure, buildings, and natural resource assets. This tool was used in the 2022 MVP Action Grant and Community One Stop for Growth application processes.

 

Currently, RMAT and EEA are developing the MA Climate Change Assessment, a statewide analysis detailing how Massachusetts people, environments, and infrastructure may be affected by climate change and related hazards through the end of the century. This assessment will directly inform the first five-year update to the SHMCAP, which will be released in Fall 2023.

波士頓市長吳弭呼籲美國交通部長插手 協助恢復麻州地鐵服務

(Boston Orange編譯) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 829日和波士頓市街道長Jascha Franklin-Hodge,移居街道聯盟 (LivableStreets Alliance) 、更好城市 (A Better City) ,以及交通有關係 (Transit Matters)等機構聯合發表聲明,呼籲聯邦、州、市政府合作,恢復麻州地鐵 (MBTA)服務。

麻州地鐵在824日發出通告,聲稱從828日起,紅藍橘線地鐵的夏季刪減服務模式,將展延進秋季。綠線地鐵服務也將縮減,巴士服務也將縮減。

這意味著正當學校開學之際,地鐵乘客將面對地鐵、巴士班次更少狀況。

在聯邦交通管理局 (FTA)發現麻州地鐵的操作控制中心人員嚴重不足後,麻州地鐵從620日起,把夏季的平日 (週一至週五) 服務量減少20%以來,麻州地鐵的紅藍橘線地鐵班次,已經更少了。

預定從919日起恢復營運的麻州地鐵橘線,今秋將增加週六的服務,但減少週日的服務。

麻州地鐵的巴士服務在12月時,因為駕駛人員不足,減少了大約3%824日這天,麻州地鐵宣佈,入秋後,將刪減更多服務,有43條巴士路線將更少發車,9條巴士路線有變動,30條巴士路線的發車時間有變動。有2條巴士路線會增加服務。

麻州地鐵人員表示,根據疫情期間的搭乘量,該機構暫停了一些乘客量少的路線,把服務調至更仰賴巴士的社區。該機構今秋將持續監看使用狀況,適時調整。

麻州地鐵網站表示,紅線地鐵將在平日 (週一至週五) 期間,停駛Davis站,從1030日起,週末停駛公園街站 (Park Street),已配合Alewife車站的軌道工作。

麻州地鐵在上個月時說,該機構現有17明調派員,想要再增聘15名。新增的調派員必須先接受10週培訓,才能上任,而麻州地鐵在同一時段只能培訓6明調派員。麻州地鐵在招聘調派員上,一直面對困難,最近甚至推出了簽約就有獎金1萬元的鼓勵策略。

波士頓市長吳弭的聲明稱麻州地鐵在824日宣佈,麻州地鐵系統及巴士網路將維持並進一步縮減服務,將危害本地區的未來交通。這些服務刪減將和前所未有的橘線及綠線停駛同時發生,勢將逼使本地區乘客面對更大挑戰,也讓人更加擔憂平等、移動力、環境及經濟等議題。這些情況也放大了長年來對基礎建設的投資不足,這些服務刪減更彰顯了麻州地鐵的無力解決嚴重的員工問題。

該聲明稱,為了重建民眾對交通系統的信心,他們呼籲美國交通部部長Buttigieg,以及代表麻州的國會議員們和麻州地鐵、以及聯邦交通管理局合作,為波士頓及這個地區恢復安全,可靠的服務。

該聲明稱,我們必須:

找到加速解決鐵路調派員短缺問題的辦法,以儘快恢復尖峰時段的服務。

立刻解決巴士操作員嚴重短缺問題。

支持改善麻州地鐵和乘客的溝通。

定期向公眾提交進展報告。

在波士頓都匯區人們的生活品質、移動能力受到直接影響之外,麻州地鐵的無法提供完整服務,也將使全美最糟糕的擠塞地點大為增加,未來出行模式也將使得減碳目標更難達成。在安全是麻州地鐵首要考量之際,麻州地鐵必須支持每一層級政府,僅及執行解決安全問題的計畫,為人民提供安全可靠,平等的交通選擇,以支持地方上的通勤和流動性。

我們隨時準備和麻州地鐵合作,加速恢復社區應享有的安全可靠服務。    

       MBTA Fall Service Cuts are Yet Another Hit to Mobility in Greater Boston and the Region 

Today Mayor Michelle Wu, Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge, LivableStreets Alliance, A Better City, and Transit Matters issued the following joint statement: 

 MBTA Fall Service Cuts are Yet Another Hit to Mobility in Greater Boston and the Region 

Coordinated action needed by Federal, State, and local agencies to restore service

 

Wednesday’s announcement by the MBTA that it would sustain and deepen service cuts on the rapid transit system and bus network puts the region’s transportation future in jeopardy. Federal, state, and local officials must work together to restore critical services as quickly as possible. These service cuts will overlap with the unprecedented Orange and Green Line shutdowns, compounding significant challenges for riders and the region, and raising serious equity, mobility, environmental, and economic concerns. Magnifying the impact of chronic underinvestment in infrastructure, these cuts underscore the MBTA’s continued inability to address critical systemic staffing issues. 

Transit is essential to Boston and the consequences of diminished service are felt every day by riders. These cuts will ripple across our region this fall as students return to school, more workers return to the office, and the Orange Line resumes service with the expectation of major improvements. To rebuild trust in transit, we call on Secretary Buttigieg and members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation to work with the MBTA and the FTA to restore safe, reliable service to Boston and the region. We must:

 

·       Find accelerated solutions to the rail dispatcher shortage that has resulted in substantial reduction in rail service since June. As additional dispatchers enter service, the MBTA, with support from the FTA, must prioritize restoration of peak period service levels as quickly as possible. 

·       Immediately address the critical shortage of bus operators which has led to dwindling service for the most loyal and transit-dependent riders. The Department of Transportation and Department of Labor must work with the MBTA, state officials, and labor unions to understand and remove the barriers to attracting this essential workforce, financial or contractual.

·       Support improved MBTA communication with riders in advance of any significant future service disruptions that may be necessary to address safety deficiencies identified by the FTA. 

·       Provide regular progress reports to the public on staffing levels and targets, headways, and ridership impacts in order to maintain transparency and rebuild trust. 

In addition to the direct impact on mobility and quality of life for the people of Metro Boston, the MBTA’s inability to provide full service will increase some of the nation’s worst congestion, further lock in unsustainable travel patterns, and make our decarbonization goals more difficult to reach. While safety must be the MBTA’s number one priority, the MBTA needs the support of every level of government to urgently implement a plan to address safety and provide robust, reliable, and equitable transit options to support commuting and mobility within the region. We stand ready and eager to partner on these needs and accelerate the return of safe, reliable service that our communities deserve.