Municipal stormwater systems epitomize the concept of “stranded infrastructure.”  Unlike water and sewer systems, there is no dedicated funding stream to ensure adequate maintenance of stormwater systems.  Capital funding (grants, bonds, or developer mitigation) pays for new infrastructure, but constrained tax revenues and competing priorities mean that public works departments are under resourced.  Municipal staff are unable to conduct routine maintenance such as cleaning catch basins, repairing pipe, or removing blockages, resulting in lower pollutant removal an

Around the country, state transportation agencies are exploring various types of innovative project delivery, including partnerships with private construction or asset management firms to promote cost savings and efficiencies, reduce risk, and/or leverage expertise and experience.

The Boston MPO should adopt project evaluation criteria that explicitly address the alignment between proposed projects and local zoning, land use plans, and the regional plan.  The highest ranking should go to those projects that support a land use plan that will efficiently utilize new capacity to support sustainable growth.  Projects that promote unsustainable growth patterns inconsistent with MetroFuture should be given a very low priority, and the MPO should work with those proponents to revise the project design and land use plans to support sustainable growth.  

A 2007 Pioneer Institute report concluded that “Many local road design standards represent “worst practices” in terms of landscape design, and some appear to be designed to increase the cost of subdivision for developers.” Pioneer’s research found that 20% of municipalities in Metro Boston require typical residential roads be 30 feet wide or more, enough for two travel lanes and two lanes of parking.    

Municipalities may establish a preference for local residents during the selection of occupants for affordable housing.  Currently, up to 70% of the units can be for local preference based on regulations from the Department of Housing and Community Development.  Local preference criteria might be designed to address truly local housing needs -- needs that are unique to the community and perhaps not found in other areas of the region.  While local preference criteria may not include discriminatory criteria beyond an individual's location of residency, these preferences may cre

In Metro Boston, municipalities can draw upon the goals and objectives of MetroFuture and a Regional Housing Needs Assessment, to create local Housing Production Plans as described in 760 CMR 56.03(4).  With these local plans in place, communities can implement a balanced housing strategy tailored to include deed-restricted units affordable to low- and moderate-income households that meet both local and regional needs.

Municipalities that institute a split rate property tax apply a different tax rates to the value of land and the value of the buildings on each parcel.  Some municipalities already apply a split (residential/commercial) tax rates.  Like tax increment financing, split (land/building) tax rates can be a strong incentive for additional development.   Consequently, such tax strategies should be applied only on in municipalities and districts with consistent planning and zoning in place to guide the resulting growth.  

Historic inventories and plans are necessary to guide protection and reuse efforts.  Careful inventories and plans will ensure development proposals can be designed to protect and enhance historic resources.  They can also make the permitting process more efficient if the expectations for preservation and enhancement are outlined in a plan, rather than debated after a development has been proposed.  

The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) must make its investments as cost effective as possible, due at least in part to its limited resources, the relative expense of school construction, and the relative infrequency with which the authority can revisit a previous decision.  It is already expected to advance cost effectiveness by encouraging renovation and smart growth locations over new construction and locations that are more distant and therefore more expensive to serve.

It is essential that the state track and report on performance and progress in coordinating its policies and investments with the Sustainable Development Principles.  This provides for evaluation of those policies and investments, the identification of approaches that are more and less successful, modifications as needed to either improve efficacy or to account for progress made, and the means for the public to hold their government accountable for acting in accordance with its commitments.