October 5, 2024

MBTA crews perfomed repair work on stations as part of the September Red Line closure. (MBTA)

Happy first week of October! We’ll be sharing a broad overview of HUUSL events and urban happenings in October, with more updates every week!

HUUSL Events

HUUSL wrapped up September with the second week of Fall 2024 comp, discussing mobility and transportation in national and global contexts. Compers, be sure to join the third and final comp learning session on Urban Justice this weekend! As a reminder, we will be offering two sessions, and you only have to attend one.

Also, be sure to submit a short proposal for your final project through this form by EOD 10/06.

Overview of HUUSL events in October:

10/05 (Sat., TODAY!) 1-2 PM, Urban Justice Comp Session #1 (Harvard Hall 104)

10/06 (Sun.) 2-3 PM Urban Justice Comp Session #2 (Harvard Hall 105)

Learn about how governance, planning, and policy impact marginalized communities, and how to ensure equitable access to public spaces and participation.

10/06 (Sun.) EOD Comp Final Project proposal form due.

Submit this short form to give us an idea of what you plan to do!

10/13 (Sun.) 1-2 PM Urban Workshop #1 (Boylston Hall)

Join HUUSL Co-president Clyve Lawrence as he looks back on his role in local leader Evan MacKay’s state Democratic primary campaign.

10/18 (Fri.) EOD Comp final projects due!

10/20 (Sun.) 2-3:30 PM Final Project Presentations (Harvard Hall 101)

Come see our compers' final projects!

10/27 (Sun.) 6 PM All Hands Meeting #1 (Harvard Hall 201/202)

Join HUUSL for the first all-hands meeting of the year! We will be checking in on working groups and recapping comp projects. (May be rescheduled)

Add the HUUSL Calendar to Gcal to stay updated!

Other Events

10/10 (Thu.) 1 PM, Cambridge City Council, Neighborhood and Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee Hearing (Hybrid)

Attend this public hearing to hear discussion on preliminary recommendations from the Central Square rezoning process. Attend through Zoom or in person at Cambridge City Hall's Sullivan Chamber. (More information here)

10/22 (Tue.) 1-2 PM U.S. DOT/Volpe Center Student Employment Info Session (Virtual)

Learn about the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center and the various internship and career opportunities available. (Register here)

Cambridge News

Cyclist Killed on Memorial Drive

On Sep. 23rd, John H. Corcoran ‘84 of Newton was struck and killed by a car while riding on Memorial Drive. Reporting from the Harvard Crimson, the Cambridge Day, Cambridge Bicycle Safety, and the Boston Globe cover the crash, frustrations over safety, city policy efforts, potential safety improvements, and a memorial bike ride.

Cambridge City Council Supports the Week Without Driving Challenge

The Cambridge City Council adopted a policy order recognizing the importance of non-car mobility in Cambridge and encouraging residents to try out alternative forms of transportation such as walking, biking, and public transit.

Affordable Housing Project Breaks Ground in Cambridge

On Wednesday, Oct. 2nd, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Cambridge Housing Authority began a revitalization project to develop 278 affordable housing units and to provide community amenities at Jefferson Park in North Cambridge.

Green Line Train Derails near Lechmere Station

A Green Line train derailed on Tuesday, Oct. 1st forcing passengers to evacuate and injuring seven The MBTA replaced service with shuttles between North Station and Medford/Tufts until the derailed train was removed on Thursday.

Metro Boston News

Boston Aims to Advance Development Review Policy

Mayor Michelle Wu ‘07 revealed plans to revamp the Boston Planning Department’s development review process, a complicated and outdated set of steps certain developments must take to comply with the city’s zoning code. (Draft Action Plan)

The MBTA Reopens the Red Line’s Braintree Branch

After 24 days of being closed to facilitate accelerated repair and maintenance work, the MBTA resumed service between the JFK/UMass and Braintree stations on the Red Line. With the removal of 37 speed-restricted sections, round trips should be up to 24 minutes faster than before the closure. (MBTA Press Release)

Boston Continues to Convert City Properties into Housing

In response to increasing housing prices, the City of Boston is transforming underused municipal buildings and lots into housing, most of which are to be income-restricted. Though an estimated 5% of the city’s properties are vacant or underutilized the conversion process can be slow and expensive, hindering efforts.

Boston to Offer $100M for Stalled Housing Projects

In an effort to overcome high interest rates and expensive materials, the City of Boston unveiled a $100 million fund aimed to help developers begin construction on approved but financially frozen housing projects.

Interesting Reads!

This is the first in a series of three articles (2nd, 3rd) documenting the prevalence and impact of transportation-related air pollution in Greater Boston. In particular, this first article includes an interactive map showing major highways and their proximity to schools and long-term care facilities.

This article provides an introduction to the problem of exaggerated travel forecasting motivating overbuilt transportation projects, which then often induce demand up to these exaggerated forecasts. This “predict and provide planning” approach tends to favor economically unsustainable investment in roadways and underinvestment in alternatives. The article also discusses a “decide and provide planning” approach, which directs investment according to policy goals, rather than traffic forecasts.

Have a great week!

HUUSL Board

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August 8, 2024

Welcome back to another semester of the HUUSL newsletter! We’ll continue to keep you informed with HUUSL events, urban-related opportunities, and important news from Cambridge and cities around the world. This week, we’ll share some local news from the summer to get you up to speed.

Working groups!

Do you have an idea for a project, partnership, or intiative to work on throughout the semester? Please fill out this form by August 18 to share your idea! Ideas are non-binding and can range from a project you have been thinking about but would like a team to work together with to an interest in working with specific Cambridge city council members or on a specific proposed ballot measure. Questions? Join us for office hours on Monday (see events section).

Upcoming events

8/12 2-2:45 PM HUUSL Office Hours (zoom)

Discuss working group ideas and more!

8/16 12-1:30 PM HUUSL Board Meeting (zoom)

Feel free to join!

8/30 10 AM GSD Mobility Bike Ride

Join Graduate School of Design students on a bike ride along the Minuteman Rail Trail. Details to come on HUUSL Calendar.

Stay tuned for more events, including our fall opening event and working group meetings.

Add the HUUSL Calendar to Gcal to stay updated!

Opportunities

Be a part of Boston's mobility future! The Go Boston 2030 survey will inform the city's transportation planning efforts.

Transit Matters, an organization advocating for a better MBTA, is seeking part-time fall interns in communications and planning.

Check out the HUUSL Jobs Board throughout the semester for internship and job opportunities.

Contribute to the HUUSL Blog this semester! Open to all students.

Summer reading

Democrats Are Calling Trump and Vance ‘Weird.’ Let’s Do the Same for Car Dependency.

Clvye Lawrence, Streetsblog USA

Clyve Lawrence, co-president of HUUSL, argues that we should redefine "normal" when it comes to getting around our cities.

Cambridge Bicycle Safety endorses Evan MacKay in local State House race

There's a competitive primary election September 3 in Harvard's district. Evan MacKay, a local progressive activist and union leader, is challenging current state rep. Marjorie Decker. Key issues in the race include safe streets and the MBTA, and our local bicycle safety org. just weighed in. Voter registration for this election ends August 24.

Slow zones are disappearing from the T, but longest subway shutdown still looms

Taylor Dolven, The Boston Globe

The MBTA's Track Improvement Program (which coordinates track shutdowns) has removed slowzones from much of the network, including between Harvard and Central.

CargoB is the First Electric Cargo Bike Share in the United States

Ron Johnson, Momentum Magazine

An electric cargo bike share service has launched in Boston. One of the starting locations is in Porter Square, if you want to try it out!

State House Democrats Flub Major Legislation As Formal Sessions End

Streetsblog Mass

The Massachusetts State House failed to pass various bills as the legislative session ended last week, including a bill requiring commuter rail electrification and a bill allowing automatic bus lane enforcement. However, according to CommonWealth Beacon, lawmakers may reconvene after the session to finish work on an economic bond bill, but "it was not immediately clear whether the special formal session [would] consider other legislation as well."

Mass. lawmakers didn’t do much last night. But they did pass a $5.2 billion housing bill and legalize ‘granny flats’ across the state

Andrew Brinker, The Boston Globe

The State Legislature passed a huge housing bond bill including $2 billion for public housing and the legalization of accesory dwelling units (ADUs) statewide! The bill was hailed as a victory for housing advocates, although some criticized the legislature for dropping some aspects of the original proposal.

T hires Keolis to electrify Fairmount commuter rail line

Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon

The T contracted Keolis, the company currently operating its Commuter Rail services, to oversee electrification of the Fairmount line. The project will use battery electric trains to achieve clean, quiet service and boost frequencies. As a nascent technology, battery-electric trains have been controversial; for interesting technical debate on their merits, see this critical blog post by Alon Levy and and this supportive (though freight-focused) study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

New Ways to Pay: MBTA Announces Contactless Payments Starting August 1

MBTA Press Release

MBTA riders can now use a credit card or mobile wallet to pay fares! For more context on the six year, billion dollar project, check out this Boston Globe article by Taylor Dolven.

MBTA eyes redevelopment of crumbling Alewife garage

Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe

The Alewife station garage at the Red Line's northern terminus requires expensive maintenance. Instead of rebuilding it as is, the agency is seeking a development partner for a mixed-use transit-oriented complex at the site. For more details, you can read the MBTA's message to potential partners here.

Have a great week!

HUUSL Board

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