A Better City

A Better City
Name	A Better City
Formation	1985
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts
Region served	Greater Boston

A Better City is a nonprofit coalition of business, civic, and institutional leaders based in Boston, Massachusetts, focused on urban development, transportation, and land use advocacy. The organization convenes stakeholders from the private sector, academic institutions, and civic groups to shape policy and projects affecting the Boston metropolitan area, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and surrounding municipalities. It operates at the intersection of regional planning, infrastructure investment, and sustainability, engaging with municipal actors, state agencies, and federal programs.

History

Founded in 1985 amid redevelopment debates in Boston, the organization emerged during the era of revitalization that included projects such as the Big Dig, redevelopment of the Seaport District (Boston), and transformations in the South Boston Waterfront. Early activity intersected with initiatives involving the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, and leaders from institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. Over subsequent decades, it engaged with planning frameworks influenced by figures and entities such as Mayor Thomas Menino, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and regional plans tied to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Boston Planning & Development Agency. Its timeline includes participation in debates around the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, and landmark developments including the expansion of the Logan International Airport and the growth of the Longwood Medical and Academic Area.

Mission and Activities

The organization articulates a mission to advance transportation access, resilient infrastructure, and transit-oriented development across Greater Boston, collaborating with actors like the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the Federal Transit Administration, and philanthropic partners such as the Barr Foundation and the Boston Foundation. Activities encompass research and policy analysis, convening task forces with representatives from firms like Gilbane Building Company, Skanska, and Turner Construction Company, and producing reports leveraged by entities such as the Regional Transportation Advisory Council and the New England Council. It organizes forums that include participation from leaders at State House (Massachusetts), chambers like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and hospital systems such as Partners HealthCare (now Mass General Brigham). The organization’s work is informed by collaborations with universities, including Tufts University, Northeastern University, and Boston University.

Urban Planning and Policy Initiatives

Engaging with planning debates, the group has intervened in projects and policy processes involving the South Station, the North Station, and the Seaport District (Boston) land use. Its policy recommendations have intersected with zoning revisions considered by the Boston Planning & Development Agency, transit-oriented development proposals aligned with the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) program, and corridor planning linked to the MBTA Green Line Extension. The organization has provided testimony before bodies including the Massachusetts Legislature and municipal councils, intersecting with policy instruments like Chapter 91 licensing and environmental review processes administered by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office. It has also contributed to debates around redevelopment projects connected to institutions such as Massachusetts General Hospital and the Boston Medical Center.

Transportation and Sustainability Programs

Transportation programs prioritize collaboration with operators and planners including the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the MBTA, the Federal Highway Administration, and regional operators like the MBTA Commuter Rail. Initiatives have addressed commuter access, freight movement near facilities such as the Port of Boston, and multimodal integration involving Logan International Airport and the Silver Line (MBTA) bus rapid transit. Sustainability efforts connect to climate resilience planning relevant to coastal projects influenced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and state climate policy within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (Massachusetts). Projects and pilot programs have involved building owners, real estate developers, and institutional partners such as Harvard University and MIT, seeking alignment with standards referenced by agencies like the United States Green Building Council and federal grant programs overseen by the Department of Transportation (United States).

Advocacy, Partnerships, and Impact

The organization’s advocacy work includes coalition-building with entities such as the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the New England Council, labor groups like the Massachusetts AFL–CIO, and civic organizations including The Boston Foundation affiliates. Partnerships span academia, philanthropy, and private firms—examples include collaborations with ENTRUST Architects, engineering firms such as Arup (company), and consulting practices tied to McKinsey & Company and AECOM. Impact can be traced through involvement in major regional projects, influencing discourse around the Big Dig, the Green Line Extension, and redevelopment of the South Boston Waterfront, as well as shaping policy conversations at venues such as State House (Massachusetts) hearings and panels convened at institutions like Harvard Kennedy School.

Funding and Organizational Structure

As a nonprofit coalition, funding sources include membership dues from corporations and institutions, grants from philanthropic organizations such as the Barr Foundation and programmatic support from foundations like the Lunder Foundation, alongside project-specific contracts with state and federal agencies including the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration. Governance comprises a board of directors drawn from chief executives and civic leaders from companies such as Fidelity Investments, State Street Corporation, and real estate firms active in Boston, with staff including policy directors, urban planners, and communications professionals who liaise with entities like the Boston Planning & Development Agency, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and academic partners.

Category:Nonprofit organizations based in Boston Category:Urban planning organizations in the United States