3 min read June 2023 — Invest: spoke with Kate Dineen, president & CEO of A Better City, about advocating for improving the MBTA public transit system, advancing the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project and the imperative to secure federal funding to transform and modernize our transportation infrastructure.
What have been some highlights or milestones for A Better City in the past year?
It has been an exciting year for A Better City as an organization. We had a number of wins across our three core areas of focus. First, we have brought increasing attention to the changes needed to build a public transit system that supports economic growth and vitality. We have been advocating for increased safety and service levels on the MBTA, which is in many ways the economic driver of our region. The system is facing serious safety, service, and staffing issues and is not meeting our current or future needs. It is encouraging that Governor Maura Healey and Secretary Gina Fiandaca have hired a new General Manager, a new safety officer, and new board leadership — now we must ensure they have the tools and resources needed to get the T back on track. It is also important to note that Mayor Wu is a stalwart champion for public transit. Our leaders understand that Greater Boston can’t thrive without a safe, affordable, and reliable public transit system.
Second, the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project continues to gain momentum. This is not just a Mass Pike project — it is a generational opportunity to transform the Western Gateway to our great city by demolishing an outdated viaduct, opening up access to the Charles River, restoring the river’s edge, and creating new opportunities for walking and biking. Importantly, the project will also create the new West Station stop on the Framingham/Worcester Commuter Rail Line, unlocking economic opportunity across the region and incredible development potential at Beacon Park Yard.
Third, thanks to support from our members and city and state partners, we were able to secure the renewal of the Greenway Business Improvement District (BID), which supports the operation of the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The Greenway is the gem of our downtown and the legacy of the Central Artery Project. We also look forward to working with the Greenway Conservancy and the Boston Public Market to develop a state-funded campaign to increase tourism during the shoulder season. We all know that Downtown Boston is a great place to visit any time of year!
Finally, on the climate front, we continue to work alongside the city and state to positively shape building sector climate policies, to advance workforce development opportunities, and develop strategies for building a region that is more resilient to flood and extreme heat climate risks. Just to name a few!
What are some of the advantages of doing business in Boston?
Boston is the best city in the world. We have an unparalleled talent pipeline and the globe’s leading hospitals and universities. At A Better City, we aim to amplify the voice of the business community, often bringing the public and private sectors together to foster collaboration and to get better outcomes.
What are some regulations and policies that will impact your operations?
The Commonwealth’s ability to secure federal infrastructure funding will impact the nature of our research and advocacy. The city and state must be well-positioned to submit competitive grant applications to secure the federal dollars needed to build big-ticket projects like the I-90 Allston project and Cape Cod Bridges, just to name a few. The city and state are taking this charge seriously and the Healey administration hired two senior officials to spearhead this work.
What is your outlook for the Greater Boston region and A Better City over the next three to five years?
Over the next three to five years, I hope that we will be transitioning from planning to implementation and making major investments in transportation infrastructure, coastal resilience, and our electric grid. We must also ensure we’re maintaining a robust development pipeline in order to build more housing, activate our streets, and support the fiscal health of the City of Boston. Thanks to Mayor Wu’s leadership, Boston is well positioned to be a city that is green and resilient and equitable and more affordable than it is right now. To do this, we need continued partnerships with the business community to bring ideas and technology to the table. We need to bring everyone along and we can’t leave anyone behind. We are facing some serious economic headwinds, but we also have a critical mass of solution-oriented business and civic leaders that want to be part of the solution — and they want to see Boston grow and thrive, bringing new businesses and families to our region.
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