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Transportation Justice Coalitions & Working Groups

ABHC has a presence in a number of different coalitions and organizations working to improve transportation accessibility and equity in Allston-Brighton. This is an overview of those groups, and what they’re working on right now.

Boston Green New Deal Coalition

This is a civic network of groups and individuals committed to transforming the city into an equitable climate and environmentally healthy place to live by supporting policies and programs that center those most impacted by current economic, racial, environmental, and climate injustices.

  • BGND is working directly with the City of Boston in developing Boston’s 2030 Climate Action Plan which will serve as a detailed roadmap for 2026-2030 in outlining actions to Advance Boston’s carbon neutrality and climate resilience goals. Community feedback includes desire for better transit with less reliance on cars, reducing cost and complexity barriers to “going green,” and matching energy upgrades with renter protections
  • Coalition Website

Boston Green New Deal Coalition – Transportation and Mobility Justice Working Group

This is a working group focused on promoting equity, efficiency, adoption, and electrification of public transit and alternative means of transportation within Boston.

  • BGNDC T&MJWG is in the process of coordinating testimony for legislative priorities

o   H.3753/S.2359, An Act Relative to Setting Deadlines to Electrify the Commuter Rail

o   H.1014/S.588 An Act Establishing a Climate Change Superfund

o   H.3448, An Act Setting Deadlines to Electrify School Buses and Public Fleets and Establishing Programs to Encourage Private Fleet Electrification

o   H.3638 An Act Relative to Fare Equity / S.2440 An Act Promoting Fare Equity

o   H.3623/S.2397 – An Act Relative to Fare Free Buses

o   S.2366/H.3658 – An Act Establishing a Special Commission on Micro-transit

MBTA Policy Development Working Group

This is a forum where the MBTA discusses policy changes and transportation justice nonprofits are able to give direct feedback and policy suggestions. We ask that anyone with comments or suggestions regarding MBTA policy reach out to Mike or Jonathan so that we can bring them up with the working group.

  • The MBTA’s Income-Eligible Reduced Fare Program is in full swing with projected year one enrollment of 25,000 and 29,000 riders.
  • The MBTA policy team discussed data privacy in fare collection. The MBTA protects personal information and only shares it with law enforcement under a judge-signed probably cause warrant or emergency situation. To minimize data collection, the MBTA recommends paying for services with cash, buying disposable tickets, and avoiding uploading documents online when applying to reduced-fare programs.
  • The MBTA Transit Police (TPD) discussed immigration enforcement. The TPD does not have the authority to enforce immigration and does not ask for immigration status. The main goal of the TPD is safety within the public transit system. The MBTA has not directly collaborated with ICE and has asked residents to inform them of potential ICE agents at MBTA locations by calling 617-222-1212 or using the MBTA See Say App so that they may confirm their identities and monitor potential enforcement actions.
  • The MBTA’s Policy and Strategic Planning team is currently working on a Mobility Integration Plan which is a guide on how the MBTA builds connections between modes. More information to follow.

MBTA Riders’ Transportation Access Group

This is a forum where riders can provide input and feedback regarding accessible transportation to MBTA’s System Wide Accessibility group and RIDE paratransit group. We recommend that anyone interested in accessibility within the MBTA join to learn about ongoing efforts and to directly provide comments.

  • RTAG joined the Institute of Human-Centered Design (IHCD) to evaluate bike lane safety and accessibility across Boston, focusing on where bike lanes may intersect with bus stops. The videos and narrative data collected from this site visit will be shared with the City of Boston’s Disability Commission so it can help shape future policies and decisions regarding these shared spaces in the city.
  • RTAG encourages people to join Shared Spaces site visits and to inform the Shared Spaces group of any paths of travel that could benefit from a site visit. Email suggestions to rtagboston@bostoncil.org.
  • RTAG is offering input and feedback on basic accessibility and disability awareness training for the MBTA Transit Police Department.
  • RTAG Website – Follow @rtagboston on Instagram and Facebook
  • MBTA Accessibility Initiatives

Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition

Coalition that is focused on ensuring the basic safety of pedestrians and encouraging transit justice by shifting priority of transportation policies and projects from speed to safety. The coalition tracks bills and engages directly with policymakers, traffic planners, engineers, and public health professionals.

  • Families for Safe Streets is seeking to establish a local chapter with support and intent to collaborate with VZMA and member organizations. Families for Safe Streets is a fast-growing movement supporting, organizing, and elevating voices of those affected by roadway deaths and severe injuries in order to end preventable traffic deaths.
  • Coalition Website

Transit Is Essential

Coalition of environmental justice, mobility justice, and business organizations working to ensure the MBTA is safe, robustly funded, and affordable to everyone in the region. Advocates for practical solutions that will sustain the MBTA in the long term.

  • TiE and member organizations including ABHC sent a letter to the Budget Conference Committee members supporting budget priorities for the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. Budget priorities include increased spending on RTAs and the MBTA and further investment in transportation programs, microtransit, trails, and pedestrian infrastructure.

·        Coalition Website

Transportation For Massachusetts

Statewide coalition focused on improving transportation systems and advocating for transportation policies that are just, safe, reliable, accessible, equitable, and affordable. Focus is expanding into public health, food insecurity, and advocating for people with disabilities.

  • T4MA and member organizations including ABHC sent a letter to the Budget Conference Committee members supporting budget priorities for the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. Budget priorities include increased spending on RTAs and the MBTA and further investment in transportation programs, microtransit, trails, and pedestrian infrastructure.
  • Coalition Website

Allston Multimodal Project Rail and Transit Working Group

This is a working group focused on discussing the design tasks and decision points of the Rail and Transit aspects of the Allston Multimodal Project between MassDOT, MBTA, the Project Team and several local stakeholders.

  • This Project is still in planning phases. MBTA is planning for enhanced MassDOT Compass Rail and MBTA Regional Rail service. Closure of Grand Junction during the construction of project will necessitate layover and maintenance capacity for the south side of Boston’s train system. The future West Station will seamlessly merge bus, train, bike, and pedestrian transit.
  • Current timeline is as follows:
    • Winter 2025-Fall 2026 – Preparation and Agency Review of Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
    • Fall 2026 – Public Review of filed Final Draft Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
    • Fall 2026 – Design-Build Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
    • Fall 2027 – Build Contractor Notice to Proceed
  • Working Group Website