BOSTON – A diverse group of
business, environmental, public interest
and planning organizations
today announced that they have formed a first-of-its-kind
statewide
coalition to support actions that will address the state’s
transportation finance
woes. In a letter to Legislators the groups
said, “We are united in our belief that we
cannot allow our
transportation systems to deteriorate further and that we should not
cease advancing strategic expansion and enhancement projects that
will provide immense
economic and environmental benefits to the
Commonwealth.”
Naming itself the Massachusetts
Transportation Investment Coalition, this group formed
in response
to the alarming findings recently released by the state’s
Transportation
Finance Commission. These findings indicate that the
Commonwealth faces a $15 - $19
billion dollar maintenance and
operations funding shortfall over the next 20 years.
Phil Warburg, President of the
Conservation Law Foundation and a forming member of
the coalition,
said “The Transportation Finance Commission has articulated a
bleak
outlook for the future of our transportation system if we
don’t take action. It is critical
that we work together to address
our funding challenges.” Richard A. Dimino, President
& CEO of
A Better City, added, “There is no easy solution to this problem.
But, not
taking action will put our future economy, our safety, and
our environment at risk.”
Still growing, the Transportation
Investment Coalition is comprised of almost 20
organizations and
includes many business, industry, labor, environmental,
environmental
justice, and municipal and regionally focused
organizations. Tim Brennan, Executive
Director of the Pioneer Valley
Planning Commission, located in West Springfield, said “I
joined
this coalition because I think it is incredibly important for a
diverse group of
organizations, from throughout the state, to work
together and support solutions to our
transportation finance
problems.”
Transportation Investment Coalition
Members:
Joe Bator, Chair, Transportation
Priorities Task Force
Urban Land Institute
David Begelfer, CEO
NAIOP Massachusetts (National
Association of Industrial and Office Properties)
Eugene B. Benson, Legal Counsel &
Program Director
Alternatives for Community and
Environment
Eric Bourassa, Consumer Advocate
MASSPIRG
Timothy W. Brennan, Executive Director
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Francis X. Callahan, Jr., President
Massachusetts Building Trades Council,
AFL-CIO
Marc Draisen, Executive Director
Metropolitan Area Planning Council
Richard A. Dimino, President & CEO
A Better City
Kristina Egan, Director
Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance
Brian Gilmore, Executive Vice
President, Public Affairs
Associated Industries of Massachusetts
Jim Gomes
Environmental League of Massachusetts
Abbie R. Goodman, Executive Director
American Council of Engineering
Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA)
Aaron Gornstein
Citizens' Housing and Planning
Association
Mossik Hacobian, Executive Director
Urban Edge
Ginny Hamilton
Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston
Richard Keenan, Executive Director
Boston Society of Civil Engineers
Section/ASCE
Art Kinsman, Director of Government
Affairs
AAA Southern New England
Joe Kriesberg
Massachusetts Association of Community
Development Corporations
Anne M. Lynch, Executive Director
Massachusetts Motor Transportation
Association
John Pourbaix, Executive Director
Construction Industries of
Massachusetts
Paul Regan, Executive Director
MBTA Advisory Board
William J. Rizzo, Jr., President
The Engineering Center
David Straus, Assistant Program
Manager
MassCommute
Phil Warburg, President
Conservation Law Foundation
Jay Wickersham,
Boston Society of Architects Civic
Initiative for Smart Growth
The Transportation Investment
Coalition Mission:
To meet mobility needs, foster economic
growth, create jobs, increase economic competitiveness and sustain a healthy
environment, the Massachusetts Transportation Investment Coalition advocates for an
efficient, equitable and effective transportation system for the Commonwealth. To this
end, the Coalition supports legislation, programs and policies to adequately fund the
repair and maintenance of the Commonwealth’s existing transportation system, as well
as investment in strategic expansion and enhancement projects.
