Community Transportation News: April 2025

Massachusetts Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 04/03/2025 02:45 PM EDT

Community Transportation News

April 2025

If you have comments or questions about community transportation in Massachusetts, please reach out to us anytime at massmobility@dot.state.ma.us. Please do not reply to this newsletter, as your email will bounce.

New Statewide Mobility Lead

Welcome to Maria Foster, our new Statewide Mobility Lead in the MassDOT Rail and Transit Division. As Statewide Mobility Lead, Maria’s role is to partner with Regional Transit Authorities, aging and disability services agencies, riders, and other stakeholders to move forward on the next steps from the Regional Mobility Manager study, as well as promote mobility management statewide – by supporting and building on existing efforts at coordination. The Regional Mobility Manager study outlined an action plan based on feedback from an online survey, 60 interviews, and three focus groups – to establish a system of regional mobility managers across the state. Maria brings experience in senior transportation and mobility management from over 8 years working in transportation at the Brookline Council on Aging. Maria looks forward to collaborating with transit authorities, community transportation providers, regional planners, aging and disability services organizations, and riders on this important work. Contact her at maria.f.foster@dot.state.ma.us.

2025 Community Transit Grant Projects

We are excited to announce the 2025 Operating and Mobility Management Community Transit Grant Projects. These projects expand and enhance transportation services for older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income populations. This year, MassDOT is pleased to announce grants to 44 organizations for 56 projects, totaling $5.8 million in awards. Here are the 2025 operating and mobility management award announcements. *Vehicle grant awards will be coming soon.*

For more information visit the Community Transit Grant Program.

Apply for a Transportation Management Association Grant: Application due April 10th!

Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) may apply for funding for projects to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, facilitate mode shift, and/or expand mobility. Eligible project types include, but are not limited to:

New or expanded shuttle, bus, or transit service
Micromobility Services
Service planning
New vehicle purchase
Vehicle replacement
Commuter services and marketing activities such as emergency ride home, marketing of transportation alternatives, etc.

A Transportation Management Association (TMA) is a membership-based organization that focuses on improving transportation options and infrastructure within a specific region or community.

For additional funding opportunities, visit the funding for community transportation page.

Upcoming Events

Association of Mobility Managers Inaugural Conference: April 5th – 8th
The Association of Mobility Managers will feature a dynamic mix of speakers, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities designed to support and inspire mobility professionals. The event will kick off with mobility workshops, followed by engaging breakout workshops covering key topics in mobility management. Attendees will have opportunities to collaborate during panel discussions, roundtable sessions, and networking breaks. The conference will conclude with a closing keynote and a discussion on future initiatives. There is a virtual component! Conference registration and information can be found here.

Lexington Transportation Services presents author Anna Zivarts
On Thursday, May 29th 7PM-9PM, Lexington Transportation Services presents author Anna Zivarts for a Q&A on her book, When Driving is Not an Option. As a working parent with a disability that prevents her from driving, Anna has to access all the places and services any working parent does, but do so without a car. Her experience growing up as someone who cannot drive, coupled with her professional research focused on non-drivers makes her a powerful voice to help center non-drivers in planning so we can make communities work better for them, and in the process, for all. Registration is via Zoom at the registration link.

The Association of Travel Instruction (ATI): Conference and Call for Presentations
The Association of Travel Instruction will take place July 29-July 31, 2025 in Boston, MA. ATI is calling for presentations on new programs, best practices or resources you want to share with a national audience on travel-training, orientation & mobility-related, or mobility management topics. For submissions visit the Association Conference Website. The deadline for submission is April 25.

RideMatch

RideMatch is searchable database of public, private, and community based transportation services across Massachusetts. Not everyone in the state has easy access to transportation information. Ride Match was designed to help fill the gaps and provide the state’s most vulnerable populations, and the agencies that serve them, with a way to easily identify all the transportation options within their communities. Ride Match is a project of GATRA, with support from MassDOT.

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Title VI Notice of Nondiscrimination: MassDOT complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related federal and state statutes and regulations. It is the policy of MassDOT to ensure that no person or group of persons shall on the grounds of Title VI protected categories, including race, color, national origin, or under additional federal and state protected categories including sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, ancestry, veteran's status, or background, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity administered by MassDOT. To request additional information about this commitment, or to file a complaint under Title VI or a related nondiscrimination provision, please contact MassDOT's Title VI Specialist by phone at (857) 368-8580, MassRelay Service 7-1-1, fax (857) 368-0602 or by e-mail at MASSDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us.

If this information is needed in another language, please contact the MassDOT Title VI Specialist at 857-368-8580.

Caso esta informação seja necessária em outro idioma, favor contar o Especialista em Título VI do MassDOT pelo telefone 857-368-8580.

Si necesita esta información en otro idioma, por favor contacte al especialista de MassDOT del Título VI al 857-368-8580.

如果需要使用其它语言了解信息，请联系马萨诸塞州交通部（MassDOT）《民权法案》第六章专员，电话857-368-8580。

如果需要使用其它語言了解信息，請聯繫馬薩諸塞州交通部（MassDOT）《民權法案》第六章專員，電話857-368-8580。

Если Вам необходима данная информация на любом другом языке, пожалуйста, свяжитесь со cпециалистом по Титулу VI Департамента Транспорта штата Массачусетс (MassDOT) по тел: 857-368-8580.

Si yon moun vle genyen enfòmasyon sa yo nan yon lòt lang, tanpri kontakte Espesyalis MassDOT Title VI la nan nimewo 857-368-8580.

Nếu quý vị cần thông tin này bằng tiếng khác, vui lòng liên hệ Chuyên viên Luật VI của MassDOT theo số điện thoại 857-368-8580.

Si vous avez besoin d'obtenir une copie de la présente dans une autre langue, veuillez contacter le spécialiste du Titre VI de MassDOT en composant le 857-368-8580.

Se ha bisogno di ricevere queste informazioni in un’altra lingua si prega di contattare lo Specialista MassDOT del Titolo VI al numero 857-368-8580.

ប្រសិនបើលោក-អ្នកត្រូវការបកប្រែព័ត៌មាននេះ សូមទាក់ទកអ្នកឯកទេសលើជំពូកទី6 របស់MassDot តាមរយៈលេខទូរស័ព្ទ 857-368-8580

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