Interdisciplinary project to focus on reducing heat exposure for people who walk and bike in the Boston area
[Boston] – The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has been awarded a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Action Grant from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The grant, totaling $1,001,100, will support the MPO's innovative project titled "Neutralizing Onerous Heat Effects on Active Transportation" (NO-HEAT), which aims to enhance climate resilience by addressing dangerous heat exposure faced by people in Boston-area communities who walk and bike.
The NO-HEAT project will integrate urban microclimate data with high-resolution mobility data to assess heat exposure levels for individuals walking or biking across the Boston region. The project will focus on identifying high-risk communities and prioritizing key pedestrian and bike network segments most vulnerable to heat stress. In collaboration with local partners, the MPO will plan, design, and implement pilot mitigation measures, such as urban greenery, reflective paint, and shaded shelters, to reduce heat exposure at selected high-risk locations.
The MPO will partner with the cities of Chelsea, Everett, Framingham, and Revere, along with the advocacy organizations WalkMassachusetts, MassBike, Bike to the Sea, and the Mystic River Watershed Association to carry out the project. These partners will play a crucial role in conducting walkability and bikeability audits, as well as leading community outreach and public engagement efforts.
“This grant will allow us to take an innovative approach to address one of the pressing climate challenges facing our most vulnerable communities,” said Tegin Teich, Executive Director of the staff of the Boston Region MPO. “By leveraging cutting-edge data and working closely with our municipal and advocacy partners, we can create safer, cooler, and more comfortable spaces for people who walk, bike, and roll in our region.”
“Heat island effect is particularly pronounced in Everett,” said Carlo DeMaria, Mayor of the City of Everett. “The City of Everett is engaged in numerous efforts to mitigate these challenges, and this project will provide better data and information to inform future projects and develop and construct those projects.”
“As a pedestrian advocacy organization, we recognize the significance of understanding the impact of heat exposure on individuals who walk and bike in our communities,” said Brendan Kearney, Co-Executive Director of WalkMassachusetts. “Identifying high-priority pedestrian network segments and implementing mitigation measures strongly aligns with our mission to create safer and more accessible walking environments for all.”
“As a past recipient of Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grants to support our own heat safety initiatives, we’re thrilled to be partnering with the Boston Region MPO on this project,” said Patrick Herron, Executive Director of the Mystic River Watershed Association. “The data from this project will help bridge intersections between transit justice and climate justice in our heat reduction programs by providing pertinent information to share with our municipal partners.”
More information about the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program can be found on the program website.
The Boston Region MPO is the regional agency responsible for conducting the transportation planning process for the Boston metropolitan area, which includes 97 cities and towns with a combined population of 3.4 million. The MPO develops a vision for the regional transportation system and allocates federal and state transportation funds to programs and projects that improve infrastructure for people walking, biking, taking transit, and driving.