BPDA董事會通過 波士頓市所有發展計畫需遵守揭露DEI

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)  宣佈，市內所有土地發展計畫，將需揭露多元、公平
及包容計畫 (DEI Disclosure) 。 (周菊子攝)

                            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 波士頓計畫發展局 (BPDA)董事會週四 (11日) 晚一聲” 通過” ，即日起波士頓市內，面積超過2萬平方呎，需經” 第80章 (Article 80)” 提申請的發展計畫，無論公家或私有土地，都得繳交「多元化，公平及包容計畫 (DEI Plan) 」供審核。

波士頓市長吳弭 (中)在他的市長辦公室內舉行記者會。 (周菊子攝)

                                 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 在BPDA董事會討論前的8月11日早上10點，先和今年5月到任，統帥波士頓計畫發展局的波士頓市計畫長 Arthur Jemison，升任為BPDA發展及轉型副首長的Devin Quirk，新聘的城市設計副首長Diana Fernandez，波士頓市房屋長Sheila Dillon，波士頓市經濟及機會包容長Segun Idowu等人，在市長辦公室內聯袂宣佈了這一新做法。

                       在波士頓市長吳弭的安排下，波士頓市議員Erin Murphy， Tania Fernandes Anderson，以及有色建商聯盟(Builders of Color Coalition )主任Colleen Fonseca，也都出席了發佈會，眾口一聲稱讚這新作法。

波士頓市新任計畫長Arthur Jemison。 (周菊子攝)

                       吳弭在新政策提案發佈會中指出，新做法 (DEI Disclosure)要求波士頓市內所有的土地發展計畫都揭露關於多元化結構，是否包括婦女等資訊，將是使波士頓市真正成為「共有財富 (Commonwealth)」的正路。

   Arthur Jemison指出，這作法旨在把經濟繁榮機會也帶給那些一直以來被遺忘的人們。

                                 Devin Quirk表示，BPDA相信波士頓市是全美第一個要求私人土地發展商在提交土地發展計畫時，同時提供「多元化，公平及包容」資訊的城市。BPDA將藉此收集數據，以了解房地產市場差距，並假以時日的增加少數族裔及婦女所經營企業參與度，評估能夠帶動更大影響的策略。

波士頓房屋長Sheila Dillon 指出BPDA在設計新政策時，和她保持密切溝通。 (周菊子攝)

                        新的「多元化，公平及包容計畫 (DEI Plan)」以波士頓計畫發展局從2018年就已實施，要求公有土地發展商列出多元、平等、包容計畫的作法為依據，擴大實施。

                      波士頓市府指出，在公有土地優先用於公益的原則下，波士頓計畫發展局從2018年來要求土地發展商在包括公司擁有者在內的各方面，照顧到多元化及公平、包容原則。包括華埠R1地段在內的BPDA18個招標，11

BPDA發展及轉型副首長的Devin Quirk 直言波士頓的DEI新政策，應是全美第一個。 (周菊子攝)

個已發包項目，都遵循了這原則。

                     波士頓市長吳弭在2019年，她還是波士頓市不分區市議員，擔任計畫、發展及交通委員會主席時，曾提出過一份76頁，標榜「修理波士頓的破碎發展流程」，並以「為什麼及如何廢除波士頓計畫發展局」為副標題的報告。

                      波士頓前鋒報在11日的BPDA新政策發佈會後，以「波士頓計畫發展局會撐過吳 (弭)的第一個任期嗎」為題，發表了一篇文章，質疑BPDA的未來命運。

波士頓市長吳弭特地介紹新任BPDA城市設計副首長Diana Fernandez (左)。 (周菊子攝)

                  吳弭和新到任的波士頓市計畫長Arthur Jemison在發佈會上都強調，波士頓市將用和以往不同的態度，甚至方法來審核，檢視市內的土地發展計劃，目前波士頓市府還沒有詳細的未來計畫，但依歸民意，將是一大重點。

MAYOR WU AND BPDA INTRODUCE POLICY TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY WITHIN PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN BOSTON  BPDA Board of Directors to vote on policy at tonight’s August meeting

 

BOSTON - Thursday, August 11, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu and Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison announced today that the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors will vote on a new policy introducing diversity, equity and inclusion into the review process for large projects in the City of Boston at their August board meeting later today. This proposed policy would request that proponents disclose diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) plans for large projects when they are filed with the BPDA through Article 80. The agency believes this proposed policy would be the first of its kind in the country.   The City of Boston and the BPDA are strongly committed to advancing opportunities for diversity, equity, and inclusion within Boston’s economic development community and real estate sectors. With the approval of the proposed BPDA’s DEI in Development policy Thursday night, applicants filing development projects over 20,000 square feet (SF) would be requested to submit plans to include economic participation, employment, and management roles for people of color, women, and certified Minority and Women Owned (M/WBE) Businesses within the scope of their project.   “Our residents, developers and businesses all want the same thing: we want to see Boston thriving and growing sustainably, and connect opportunity to all of our residents, in particular our young people,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This new policy is about ensuring success is spread across our communities, while incentivizing sustainable growth and creating more transparent processes.”    “Development can be a catalyst to not only bring positive investment to our neighborhoods, create good jobs and affordable housing at a range of levels, but also bring opportunities to build wealth for those who have historically been left out of Boston’s building boom,” said Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison. “Building a Boston that is equitable, and representative of the people living here is important to our agency, and we believe this policy will begin to get us there.”  The BPDA would collect these plans for informational purposes to understand disparities in the real estate market, increase M/WBE participation over time, and evaluate strategies to drive greater impact. This proposed policy builds on the BPDA’s DEI requirements that ask bidders for public land parcels to outline a DEI plan. The DEI plan disclosure may also include initiatives undertaken by the project proponent to meet these goals within the context of the proposed project.  "The Builders of Color Coalition is pleased to see the City moving forward in increasing access and diversity in Boston's commercial real estate sector,” said Colleen Fonseca, Executive Director of the Builders of Color Coalition. “This proposed policy stands to empower the development community to highlight and promote innovative solutions to transform commercial real estate into an industry of opportunity and diversity."   This proposed policy also builds on the BPDA’s progress to diversify development on publicly-owned land. For the past several years, the agency has prioritized using public land for public good, and in 2018 began requiring that developers competing for publicly-owned land demonstrate commitments to diversity in all aspects of their proposed project, including ownership. More than 18 projects have included this criteria, and transformative projects are underway on BPDA-owned parcels in Nubian Square, Chinatown, the South Boston Waterfront, and Charlestown. Much of the BPDA’s policy was written alongside the community as part of PLAN: Nubian Square.   Last year, the BPDA redesigned its procurement process and adopted an Equitable Procurement Plan to ensure that M/WBEs benefit from the agency’s contracts. The BPDA has increased training and staffing to better equip the agency to successfully diversify the yearly contract spend, including hiring a Supplier Diversity Specialist, who reaches out directly to M/WBEs to provide notifications of upcoming contract opportunities. The BPDA is collecting data to measure the impact the Equitable Procurement Plan has on diverse contracts, and provides quarterly updates to the BPDA Board.  Recognizing that it is critical to support a pipeline of diverse young people interested in jobs in planning and development, in April the BPDA hosted an interactive event aimed at introducing Boston Public Schools (BPS) ninth and tenth graders to careers in planning and development.  In February, the BPDA co-hosted an event with the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts ​​(BECMA) to introduce Boston-based businesses, architects, engineers, planners, property managers, and general contractors to opportunities with the BPDA.    Ongoing transformations at the BPDA  As the BPDA implements Mayor Wu’s vision, these are some early actions the agency has taken since Chief Jemison took on his new role in May 2022. While these transformations are ongoing, there will be more announcements regarding reforms to the agency in the months ahead.  Planning-led development   As an agency, the BPDA is committed to Mayor Wu’s vision for people-centric, planning-led development. Chief Jemison has been meeting with developers of active projects under review sharing a message that proposals are expected to align with the planning priorities of the Wu Administration. Chief Jemison recently met collectively with developers who have current project proposals in Charlestown, to encourage them to ensure that their projects align with the emerging recommendations that will come out of the ongoing PLAN: Charlestown process. This guidance is what the agency has been sharing across the city, and will lead the agency’s review of incoming projects.  In support of this effort, the BPDA is prioritizing staff resources to completing existing on-going planning efforts tied closely to affordability, resilience, mobility and social equity themes such as PLAN: East Boston, PLAN: Charlestown, PLAN: Mattapan, PLAN: Newmarket and the Western Avenue Corridor Study and Rezoning. These planning efforts, plus new planning efforts to be announced in the months ahead, will enable the BPDA to advance planning-led development review decisions. Concurrently, in areas where active planning and rezoning has yet to commence, the BPDA will review development proposals with teams led by professional trained planners, like Chief Jemison, and work alongside community members to ensure development decisions are transparent, predictable and accountable.        Hiring and organizational change   Since May of this year, the BPDA has hired or promoted 33 people to lead the agency in this era of transformation. This includes Arthur Jemison as Chief of Planning and BPDA Director, Devin Quirk as Deputy Chief of Development and Transformation, Diana Fernandez as Deputy Chief of Urban Design, Prataap Patrose as Senior Advisor of Long Term Planning, and Caroline Vanasse as Transformation Manager.   In addition, Quirk and Vanasse are supported by a transformation team internal to the BPDA which is creating the dedicated capacity to develop and implement both strategic and operational recommendations on the future of planning and development in the City of Boston.  The team is staffed by new full time employees, external consultants, and experienced BPDA employees. The team is actively recruiting for Transformation Project Manager positions which are posted on the BPDA website. The transformation team’s work will help to advance the Wu Administration’s goal of continuing to build trust with communities through planning-led development while advancing equity, affordability, and resilience across all functions of the BPDA. Changes for consideration include reforming planning, development review, the zoning code, community engagement, intergovernmental collaboration, governance and organizational structure and more. Deputy Chief of Urban Design Diana Fernandez begins work at the BPDA  Deputy Chief of Urban Design Diana Fernandez began working at the BPDA this month. Under the leadership of Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison, Fernandez will elevate the importance of urban design, and champion the transformative power of sustainable and walkable communities for all ages and abilities. In partnership with Chief Jemison and the BPDA’s Urban Design Department, Fernandez will work to strategically transform existing BPDA urban design processes to promote predictability and quality for both the community members and the development industry.  BPDA adopts decarbonization strategy for all agency property  In July, the BPDA adopted a new decarbonization strategy to achieve zero net carbon emissions at all BPDA-owned properties by 2030 for BPDA controlled properties and by 2040 for leased properties. This strategy builds on Carbon Free Boston and the Climate Action Plan Update, the City of Boston’s initiative to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 in order to significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.  The BPDA has begun initial steps to execute on this strategy, including engaging with the BPDA’s tenants, initiating energy audits, and exploring a solar energy generation pilot on BPDA-owned land. The BPDA will track results of the strategies identified and continue to work with other City departments to make adjustments to the policy as needed.  The BPDA is simultaneously working to assess and identify strategies to strengthen green building zoning requirements to a zero net carbon standard for new construction through the Zero Net Carbon Building Zoning Initiative. The initiative is developing updated zoning for new construction.

麻州地鐵公佈橘線停駛期間交通分流計畫

 MBTA Releases Diversion Plan Ahead of Orange Line Closure Beginning August 19

 T to complete five years of construction in 30 days.

 Media availability with MassDOT, MBTA, and others transit partners to take place Monday, August 15, at the State Transportation Building. 

BOSTON – The MBTA today released the Rider’s Guide to Planning Ahead as the T prepares for a 30-day full closure of the Orange Line from Oak Grove to Forest Hills stations beginning at 9 PM on Friday, August 19, and the 28-day closure of the Green Line from Union Square to Government Center stations beginning Monday, August 22.  

The Rider’s Guide is a tool to provide riders with alternative travel options and information to inform travel decisions, including how the MBTA is ensuring accessibility during the shutdown, during this project. 

The Orange Line closure will be used to address a maintenance backlog and planned construction investments, all of which are focused on safety improvements and returning the system to a state of good repair. Thirty days of 24-hour access will replace more than five years of Orange Line delays and weekend diversions.  

The closure of the Green Line’s Union Square Branch will allow the T to perform final-phase construction work necessary to open the Medford Branch, which is now anticipated to open in late November 2022. 

Beginning today, the T will post detailed diversion information throughout each of the 20 Orange Line stations that depict alternative travel options for riders that need to traverse the transit system during the closure. 

 

Transportation officials will hold a media availability on Monday, August 15, at the State Transportation Building located at 10 Park Plaza in Boston to discuss these travel options and answer questions. More details to follow. 

Details on Alternative Service Options:

 

The MBTA encourages Orange Line riders to plan ahead and consider Commuter Rail service as an alternative to the Orange Line. Commuter Rail trains will make additional stops at Forest Hills, Ruggles, Back Bay, North Station, Malden Center, and Oak Grove stations to accommodate Orange Line passengers impacted by the bus diversion.  Riders can simply show their CharlieCard or CharlieTicket to conductors to ride the Commuter Rail in Zones 1A, 1, and 2 on all Commuter Rail lines at no charge. The Hyde Park – Forest Hills – Ruggles – Back Bay – South Station and Oak Grove – Malden Center – North Station Commuter Rail schedules are both available on mbta.com. 

During the Orange Line closure, the T will offer free shuttle buses between Oak Grove and Haymarket/Government Center and between Forest Hills and Back Bay/Copley. 

During the Green Line shutdown, riders traveling between Government Center and Union Square will board free and accessible shuttle buses, which will make stops at Lechmere station and the Lechmere station bus loop. 

While all shuttle buses are fully ADA-accessible, accessible vans will also be available for any rider who prefers van service upon request. MBTA personnel will also be available at every station to assist riders in requesting this accessible van service. Due to the free shuttle bus service, RIDE trips that begin and end within ¾ mile of the Orange Line will be free for RIDE users during the 30-day shutdown.

 

Riders can use other existing MBTA bus and subway services to complete their trips, like the Route 39 bus, Silver Lines 4 and 5, the Green Line, and others. Riders are also encouraged to check out the MBTA’s Trip Planner. 

The MBTA encourages those who can work from home to do so and for the public that needs to travel, to consider alternative travel options. The Orange Line closure will have regional impacts on the transportation network well beyond transit users. 

Riders are also encouraged to monitor MBTA social media for the latest updates on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, to subscribe to T-Alerts at mbta.com, and visit more information at mbta.com/BBT2022. 

Other Travel Impacts:

Starting on Monday, August 15, MassDOT’s Highway Division has advised that travelers of all modes throughout the Orange Line corridor will experience increased traffic congestion as a result of roadway modifications necessary to support the MBTA’s replacement bus shuttles. The modifications will occur at numerous points along the shuttle routes and range from reconfiguring travel and turning lanes, curb work, installation of designated bus lanes at various locations, and changes to traffic signal timing at multiple intersections. 

Following the full Orange Line shutdown, regional traffic congestion is expected to increase substantially. At that time, all travelers across all modes are strongly encouraged to avoid driving through the area altogether, work from home if possible, consider rescheduling trips through the area that are not absolutely necessary, or for necessary travel, expect significant traffic congestion and travel delays. 

More Information about the Work: 

The major revitalization and safety work to take place on the Orange Line during this 30-day shutdown will deliver a number of projects, including track replacement, upgraded signal systems, and more, over five years faster than originally planned. The MBTA will also accomplish required track maintenance associated with Federal Transit Association (FTA) directives as quickly as possible. 

This shutdown will maximize the amount of work able to be accomplished and will progress a number of projects and maintenance along the entire Orange Line, which will improve service, safety, and reliability for riders, including: 

-          The replacement of over 3,500 feet of 38-year-old Orange Line track and tie replacement work that will allow for the removal of speed restrictions, improving travel time for Orange Line riders.

-          The replacement of two crossovers that facilitate the movement of Orange Line trains, allowing for improved reliability and future capacity improvements;

-          Track repair, tie replacement, concrete work, and more  along the Southwest Corridor of the Orange Line, which will improve reliability; and

-          The installation of upgraded signals and associated systems at Oak Grove and Malden stations, allowing for improved safety and reliability. 

The Orange Line provides approximately 101,000 trips each day with ridership approximately 49% of what it was prior to the pandemic.  

For more information, visit mbta.com/BBT2022, www.mbta.com/RiderGuide, or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, or Instagram @theMBTA.

因應橘線地鐵停駛 波士頓市為民眾免費提供30天的藍自行車證

藍自行車網站截圖。

               (Boston Orange) 麻州地鐵橘線 (Orange Line) 將從8月19日起停駛一個月。波士頓市今 (12) 日宣佈，將在橘線停駛期間，為任何一個人提供30天，在45分鐘內騎行就免費的藍自行車通行證 (Passes)。

              波士頓市政府今日的新聞稿稱，波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 和街道長 Jascha Franklin-Hodge聯袂發佈這一消息，動用市政府的公眾共享自行車 (bike share)系統，藍自行車 (Bluebikes)，來協助紓緩民眾在這段期間出門的不方便。

             民眾可上網 bluebikes.com/join，或在藍自行車的移動程式中申請這通行證。藍自行車工作人員也會駐守在幾個主要的藍自行車站點，以確保民眾可取得自行車。

             藍自行車是波士頓市和劍橋市、Everett市，塞冷市 (Salem)，尚莫維爾市 (Somerville) 聯合擁有並管理的共享計畫，由麻州的藍十字藍盾 (Blue Cross Blue Shield)公司贊助。民眾在都會波士頓的11個市鎮，可找到400個車站，4000輛自行車。

            為確保騎車者的安全，波士頓市將在哥倫布道 (Columbus Avenue)，克拉倫頓街 (Clarendon)和教堂街 (Church)之間的史都華街 (Stuart) ，以及後灣區內從達特茅斯街 (Dartmouth) 到阿靈頓街 (Arlington) 之間的波約斯頓街 (Boylston)等街道段落，放置膠筒，把自行車道和汽車道路分隔開來。

             在自行車道外，波士頓交通局人員計畫在關鍵區域設巴士優先路線。波士頓市也將在政府中心及柯普利廣場安裝臨時帳棚，作為移動交通樞紐，以專屬的街角空間和清晰的標誌來協助通勤者轉搭綠線地鐵，銜接巴士，以及取得來自行車。

             波士頓市的boston.gov/boston-by-bike網站，備有許多資源，幫助對使用藍色自行車有興趣的民眾進一步了解。波士頓市也為婦女及各種背景的成人提供學習騎自行車課程，查詢課程日期可上網boston.gov/women-bike。

8月21日起6個週日 紐百利街重開行人徒步區

(Boston Orange) 在8月21日到9月25日間的6個週日，波士頓市著名遊客區的Newbury街，將在波士頓市的「開放街道 (Open Streets) 」計畫中，重新成為行人徒步區。               波士頓市府表示，把這行人徒步區的日期展延進九月份，是波士頓市長吳弭把公共空間變得對家庭更友善的努力之一。               波士頓市街道長Jascha Franklin-Hodge表示，從 8月21日起的每週日早上10點至晚上8點，在柏克利(Berkeley)街和麻州大道 (Massachusetts Avenue)之間的紐百利街，將開放成為行人徒步區。紐百利街及相鄰街道的街邊停車，也將從早上5點開始不准停車。市政府將張貼告示，提醒駕駛們這一變動。               後灣協會主任Meg Mainzer-Cohen，以及數名商家東主和居民，都很高興「行人徒步區」又重回紐百利街。               波士頓市交通局在2016年時，第一次試行「開放紐百利街」，在八月份的一個星期日，數以千計民眾踏進這條街遊逛。2017年，2018年，以及2019年，這「開放紐百利街」活動擴大為3個週日。2020年停頓一年後，2021年時，這「開放紐百利街」又恢復的3個週日模式。今年波士頓市長吳弭決定加倍街道開放日期，讓民眾有更多時間可以在景致優美的紐百利街上，享受悠哉遊逛樂趣。 MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES WEEKLY OPEN NEWBURY STREET SERIES Newbury Street will be closed to vehicle traffic every Sunday from August 21 to September 25

(Photo from Open Newbury Street in 2021)

BOSTON - Friday, August 12, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) announced today that Open Newbury Street will be returning with expanded dates throughout August and September. Newbury Street will be pedestrian-only six Sundays in a row, with the first event on August 21 running through September 25. Open Newbury Street provides opportunities for residents and visitors to build community, shop and dine at local businesses, and have fun on a car-free street. The expansion of Open Newbury into the month of September builds on Mayor Wu’s commitment to reimagining family-friendly public spaces, including new one to two mile Open Streets events in Boston neighborhoods. “Open Newbury Street has become a treasured tradition for Boston residents, showing how we can celebrate community in public spaces,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Expanding Open Newbury to a weekly event and into the fall means returning college students and new residents will be able to join in on the fun. I want to thank BTD and our public safety officials for making this expansion a reality.” “We are excited to increase the number of Open Newbury days through the summer and fall for more residents to enjoy,” said Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Chief of Streets. “More car-free open streets events for shopping, walking, cycling and active transportation helps us realize our vision of making Boston’s streets work better for everyone.” Newbury Street will be open to pedestrians and closed to motor vehicles from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from Berkeley Street to Massachusetts Avenue on August 21 and 28, and on September 4, 11, 18, and 25. Parking will be restricted on Newbury Street and adjacent streets, with enforcement beginning at 5:00 a.m. Signs will be posted informing drivers of the change.

(Map of 2022 Open Newbury Street traffic changes)

“I am excited to see the Open Streets initiative transform our city and return to Newbury Street as another opportunity for residents, students, and visitors alike to enjoy our vibrant city,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “This initiative, led by our colleagues in the Boston Transportation Department, is an important initiative that continues to bring much needed support to our local restaurants and small businesses with increased foot and bike traffic.”  “In my nearly five decades of operating a business on Newbury Street, I have believed that creating a pedestrian space would effectively add to the sense of community and welcome to all,” said Bernie Pucker, owner of Pucker Gallery at 240 Newbury St. “After visiting many cities with such spaces and feeling the positive energy and sense of joy, it’s a gift to see the same style of car-free environment expand in our area.” “The expanded Open Newbury Street programming sounds great, especially with so many restaurants having street level patios,” said Ellen Fitzgerald, co-owner of Mother Juice at 291 Newbury St. “We've definitely noticed an uptick in foot traffic during Open Newbury in the past. The more, the better!” “The Back Bay Association is enthusiastic about an expanded Open Newbury Street,” said Meg Mainzer-Cohen, Executive Director of the Back Bay Association. “We look forward to hearing from Newbury Street businesses about how the increased pedestrian days impact customers and businesses on Boston’s iconic retail corridor.”  BTD first piloted Open Newbury Street in 2016. Thousands of people enjoyed food, shopping and dining in the street on one Sunday in August. To build on the success of the first event, Open Newbury Street was expanded to three Sundays a year in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Open Newbury Street returned for three Sundays in 2021 after a one-year hiatus. Businesses and attendees are encouraged to promote the event on social media using #OpenNewbury. The public is encouraged to utilize public transportation in addition to bicycling and walking. For more information, visit the event’s website at boston.gov/open-newbury. Businesses are asked to submit their plans for any of the Open Newbury days using the form on the website.  In addition to Open Newbury Street, the City of Boston is exploring how to reimagine City spaces by opening streets for exercise, play and community through temporary car-free zones. The City has hosted two half-day Open Streets events, with another in Dorchester happening on September 24. In June, the City launched Copley Connect, a 10-day pilot that transformed Dartmouth Street into an open plaza space.