Transportation

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Labor Day Progess

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Massachusetts Transportation Collective Forms to Reduce Construction Costs 

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority recently unveiled a collective purchasing agreement among the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), along with 13 area municipalities representing more than one-fifth of the state’s total population.

Cooperation between the public transportation agencies is intended to bring down costs of several improvement projects including bus and bike lane road markings.

MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak says of the collective:

“This is another example of the region working together to move everyone forward. Increasingly, we all need to collaborate in new ways to better serve our riders and constituents. This agreement will ensure that public agencies like the MBTA will be using their funds as cost-effectively as possible, especially throughout the current public health and economic crisis.”

And MAPC Transportation Director Eric Bourassa stated:

“Establishing more bus and bike lanes is critical for the region as we continue to re-open the economy during this pandemic. By reducing costs for the MBTA as well as cities and towns, we can stretch our public dollars further to make public transit and cycling better and safer.”

The MBTA has estimated that the joint effort could save taxpayers more than $2 million in 2021 and make regional roadways more reliable for tens of thousands of daily bus riders.

Mass Transit Magazine has more on this story.

MBTA Lowers Fares For Charlie and Everyone Else 

After increasing fares several times in the past few years, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has now lowered both cash and CharlieTicket fares to match CharlieCard prices. The fares have been lowered to $2.40 for rapid transit — a reduction of 50 cents from the previous fare. 

The reduction was instituted due to budget issues caused by decreased ridership. According to an MBTA financial report, the MBTA is facing an estimated $300-million budget deficit. 

Jarred Johnson, chief operating officer, and development director at TransitMatters, an organization advocating for affordable transportation, says the fare change will benefit lower-income riders, riders without bank accounts, and recent immigrants.

In an email to the Daily Free Press, Johnson states:

“The real issue isn’t costs, it’s that the T needs more revenue and needs to be less reliant on fares to be more resilient for future disasters or pandemics. It is often still difficult for bus riders to reload their card if there’s not a train station close by.”

Marc Draisen, executive director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, hopes the change will prevent the agency from having to lay off workers or raise fares. 

Read all about it at Daily Free Press. 

Mass DOER Finalizes Solar Incentive Program 

The Mass. Department of Energy Resources has issued final regulations intended to strike a compromise between various stakeholders and environmental advocates by maintaining land-use restrictions and expanding SMART. 

SMART is a long-term sustainable solar incentive program sponsored by Eversource Energy, National Grid, and Unitil Corporation. 

The program originally covered 17 projects totaling 53.273 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV). It has since been made available to solar PV projects of all types and sizes, up to 5 MW. 

Lexology.com reports:

Under the new rules, Solar projects on private property, either “owned or operated by a municipality or where the project’s owner has assigned 100% of the output to the host municipality” will be considered as public entity Solar Tariff Generation Units —  a “raised structure allowing for continuous growth of crops underneath the solar photovoltaic modules, with height enough for labor and/or machinery as it relates to tilling, cultivating, soil amendments, harvesting, etc.; and grazing animals.” 

Under DOER’s finalized rules, the SMART program will double the size of solar projects from 1.6 gigawatts to 3.2 gigawatts. Changes to SMART also increase prices for public entities developing solar, from 2 cents to 4 cents per kilowatt-hour. 

The SMART program is one keystone of the state’s goal to become the most energy-efficient state in the nation, according to DOER Commissioner Patrick Woodcock. Woodcock believes the guidelines will “allow for Massachusetts to maintain its national leadership role in the solar industry while protecting the Commonwealth’s natural resources.”

Lexology.com has a more extensive report.

Cannabis Commission Approves Cannabis Delivery Rule Changes 

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission announced several changes to its delivery license model including dividing delivery licenses into two categories — courier-style licenses and wholesale licenses. 

The new rules don’t require license holders to maintain a brick-and-mortar location and allow delivery businesses to purchase inventory directly from cultivation and manufacturing facilities rather than from retailers. 

Interestingly, applications for delivery businesses are exclusively limited to economic empowerment applicants and social equity program participants for a period of three years.

After Friday’s meeting, Commissioner Shaleen Title tweeted: 

“With this change creating unprecedented exclusivity for social equity + economic empowerment businesses, Massachusetts might be back on track to be the first state with a functioning national model for equity. Very grateful to all who took the time to comment, and my colleagues.” 

According to MJBizDaily, “Massachusetts is one of the only states in the nation to set aside marijuana delivery licenses exclusively for minority entrepreneurs.”

To qualify for a social equity license, applicants must be located in an area disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs or have a child or spouse with multiple cannabis convictions.

Additional rule changes were also unveiled after last week’s meeting. 

To learn more, check out these sources:

Massachusetts Airports Rake in $9.8 Million In Infrastructure Grants 

Eleven Mass. airports will be the recipients of a total $9.8 million grant from a $1.2 billion Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) fund. The fund is intended to beef up airport safety and infrastructure across the U.S. All told, more than 400 airports across the country will benefit from the influx of capital. 

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao announced the grants stating:

“This $1.2 billion federal investment will improve our nation’s airport infrastructure, enhance safety, and strengthen growth in local communities, which is especially important as the economy recovers from COVID-19.”

Following is a list of Mass. airports and the allocation of funds:

  • Boston Logan International Airport to support a Voluntary Airport Low Emissions Program (VALE): $1,365,716 

  • Chatham Municipal Airport to conduct an airport-related environmental study: $347,000

  • Barnstable Municipal-Boardman Airport in Hyannis to improve the aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle building: $506,700 

  • Mansfield Municipal Airport to remove obstruction markings and lighting: $216,300 

  • Harriman-and-West Airport in North Adams to install perimeter fencing: $660,898 

  • Norwood Memorial Airport to conduct an environmental study: $283,332 

  • Pittsfield Municipal Airport to conduct an environmental study: $66,581 

  • Plymouth Municipal Airport to reconfigure an existing taxiway: $3,986,590 

  • Provincetown Municipal Airport to install taxiway lighting and purchase an emergency generator: $1,736,682 

  • Southbridge Municipal Airport to rehabilitate the runway and conduct an airport wildlife hazard assessment and a miscellaneous study: $217,000 

  • Martha’s Vineyard Airport to conduct an environmental study: $366,016

According to the American Journal of Transportation, $13.5 billion has been granted to America’s airports to improve infrastructure and safety since January 2017,  with $10 billion being delivered in 2020. 

Mass. Credit Union Partners with Cannabis Payment Processor

Benzinga reports that GFA Federal Credit Union has announced a new partnership with cannabis payment processor Hypur. The partnership will bring much needed digital payment options to Mass. dispensaries.

Hypur’s chief revenue officer, Tyler Beuerlein, told Benzinga:

“Digital payment solutions like Hypur Pay are now essential to helping cannabis businesses thrive and empowering cannabis consumers to buy products when and how they want to, just as they would for any other purchase.” 

This is an exciting development for Mass. dispensaries. 

Learn why at Bezinga.com.

More of the Latest Massachusetts News

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High Unemployment Rates Sticking Around

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Heading into September, the outlook for recovery from pandemic safety measures continues to improve in Massachusetts. In particular, three key metrics from the Dept. of Public Health illustrate this fact:

  • The seven-day average of the positive test rate is at an all-time low of 1.4 percent. 

  • The three-day average of hospitalizations is 371, only 3 percent above the 359 low. 

  • The three-day average number of deaths attributed to the pandemic stands at 13.

However, there are still some clouds distinctly lacking in silver linings. 

For example, Massachusetts still has the highest unemployment rate in the country. And chipping away at the numbers has proven to be a challenge. 

  • 16,709 residents filed unemployment claims last week, up from about 13,000 last week.

  • 12,282 residents applied for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits — a massive rise from 8,750 last week.

That being said, fiscally speaking, it turns out that the city of Boston is better off than most U.S. cities. A recent study estimated revenue shortfalls for 150 major U.S. cities. And authors of the study claim that Boston will experience the least severe drop in revenue.

According to a report by The New York Times, Boston is looking at a meager 2 to 4 percent decline for the fiscal year 2021. 

MBTA Facing potential $400 Million Budget Shortfall

Although an influx of federal funds is helping to stabilize public transportation, a massive reduction in the number of MBTA riders could result in a $400 million shortfall for the agency. That is according to an analysis by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. And that number assumes that fare revenue rebounds by 75 percent in the next year — which is highly speculative. 

Although some bus routes have seen a greater than 50 percent increase in ridership since springtime lows, most are still floundering around at a miserable 20 percent of previous ridership. Commuter rail trains are faring even worse.

The MBTA’s day-to-day budget is currently about $2.3 billion. And that figure is expected to grow slightly in the coming year. However, with the estimated drop in ridership, revenue is expected to barely top $2 billion.

The Boston Globe has a detailed report on this topic.

Rising Sea Levels Threaten $100 Billion In Essex County Real Estate

As if a global pandemic is not enough to make our collective heads spin, climate change and rising sea levels threaten to decimate some Mass. coastal communities. Massive flooding and beach erosion could conceivably wipe out more than $100 billion in real estate in Essex County alone. That is according to a recent report by a leading conservation group titled “State of the Coast” 

Of great concern are the county’s 50-plus miles of aging sea barriers. It’s estimated that upgrades to sea walls could run up a $88 million repair bill. 

The report also also warns that by 2030 more than 600 North Shore buildings could experience daily tidal flooding. And upwards of 7,000 waterfront buildings could see flooding should there be a 100-year-storm event. And with storms becoming more powerful due to climate change that possibility is certainly not out of the question. 

The ominous projections are based on a flood risk model developed by Bourne-based environmental consultancy firm, the Woods Hole Group.

To give some sense of the magnitude of the problem, according to its trustees, Crane Beach in Ipswich has lost the equivalent of 84 football fields of sand since the 1950s. And it’s estimated that coastal homes in Salisbury could be worth $200,000 to $300,000 more if not for more frequent tidal flooding.

The report covers 13 North Shore communities: Swampscott, Marblehead, Salem, Beverly, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich, Newbury, Rowley, Newburyport, and Salisbury.

Boston.com has more on this story.

Offshore Wind Firms To Pay $33m To Lease New Bedford Terminal

The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal is set to become the primary staging and deployment base for the construction and installation of offshore wind projects being developed by Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind. 

According to South Coast Today, the lease agreements “commit the facility to full-time offshore wind work from 2023 into 2027 and are worth more than $32.5 million.”

Governor Charlie Baker had this to say about the development:

“These lease agreements with Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind are another major milestone for offshore wind in Massachusetts. With this announcement, the Commonwealth continues its national leadership on clean energy and ensures Massachusetts workers will benefit from the jobs and economic opportunities provided by this new industry.”

South Coast Today describes the terminal this way:

“The first port in North America specifically purpose-built to support the staging and installation of offshore wind components, the terminal has been engineered to sustain mobile crane and storage loads that rival the highest capacity ports in the world.”

According to Vineyard Wind CEO Lars T. Pedersen:

“Once construction begins, the Marine Commerce Terminal will become the birthplace of an entirely new industry, with jobs and opportunities for local residents that simply don’t exist today. We’re fortunate to have such great partners both locally in the City and Port of New Bedford and in the Baker-Polito Administration. We look forward to being a growing part of the community.”

And Michael Brown, President and CEO, Mayflower Wind says:

“Mayflower Wind would like to thank the commonwealth and City of New Bedford for their leadership and vision in establishing the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal. We look forward to creating thousands of good-paying jobs during the construction and installation of our project, anchored around this critical infrastructure investment.”

As we’ve been reporting over the past few months, in order to combat climate change, Massachusetts has set an ambitious net zero emissions target. Offshore wind is expected to play a key role in achieving that goal while creating an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 jobs over next 10 years. 

The new wind plants are expected to provide up to 1,600 megawatts of wind power to Massachusetts. 

More of the Latest Massachusetts News

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Eviction Moratorium, Housing and Transportation Dominate News

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This is the first week since it took hold in Massachusetts that the majority of the headlines are not about the pandemic. Hopefully, that’s a good sign. Check out last week’s news for a plethora of encouraging facts and figures related to Mass. COVID-19 infections and unemployment.

The big story this week is the extension of the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures until October and a lawsuit against the state to overturn the measures.

Gov. Baker Extends Moratorium On Evictions and Foreclosures Until Mid-October

The moratorium on evictions and foreclosures put in place in Massachusetts has been extended through at least Oct. 17. The proclamation by Gov. Baker comes weeks before the original expiration date of Aug. 18. Obviously the move has caused mixed emotions. 

While affordable housing advocates breathed a sigh of relief, landlords and lenders are furious and suing the state.

The sigh of relief by recently unemployed renters and homeowners may be short-lived. City Life/Vida Urbana Executive Director Lisa Owens told the Herald:

“This does give an additional two months of security and protection and that’s important for people, but unfortunately what that means is the moratorium will be lifted … right in the middle of an expected second surge and when people are likely facing higher levels of unemployment than they are facing now.”

Housing advocates are working to pass a “no brainer” bill that would halt evictions and freeze rents as far into the future as one year from the time that the governor lifts the public health emergency.

Renters are still obligated to pay rent under the moratorium. However, some renters who have no emergency savings and might be using the moratorium as a reason to not pay rent.  

Read more about the moratorium extension at The Boston Herald.

Landlords and Lenders Fight Back Against Eviction Moratorium

The moratorium on evictions is obviously upsetting to landlords and lenders some of whom are struggling financially as a result. Many property owners are already considering abandoning properties.

In response, attorney Richard Vetstein, representing a coalition of Mass. landlords has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the moratorium. The complaint, filed in a federal court, lists the defendants as the state of Massachusetts and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. 

Another possible solution to the dilemma would be a bailout of property owners, renters, and/or homeowners. A $20 million relief fund has already been established to help renters and homeowners. However, that figure falls far short of being a cure for the problem. Gov. Baker says his administration is looking into increasing that fund. 

Real Estate Boston has more on this story.

Mass Eviction Moratorium at Least Partly Responsible for Drop In Home Sales and Condo Prices

For the third straight month, home sales and prices have dropped in Massachusetts. Many attribute the slowdown to a combination of factors including uncertainty about the economy, high unemployment, increased red tape, and the impact of the eviction moratorium. 

According to The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman:

  • Sales of single-family homes and condos dropped by 25 and 30 percent respectively. 

  • The median price for a single-family home rose by 2.6 percent year over year to $440,000.

  • Condo sellers reported a 5.7 percent year-over-year drop in the median sales price to $396,000.

  • The median condo price in Greater Boston fell 4.4 percent year over year in June to $592,500.

One thing's for sure. The declines are not due to a lack of inventory which has been falling for some time. Tim Warren, CEO of The Warren Group had this to say about that:

“Even though single-family home sales saw a significant decline in June, it’s not due to a lack of demand. The statewide inventory has steadily declined for years on end, and COVID-19 has given homeowners new reasons to stay put for now. There seem to be plenty of buyers looking for homes, and the median price has climbed every month for 51 straight months.

“The median condo price took its first year-over-year dip in 14 months. Prior to this development, the median sale price exceeded $400,000 for four consecutive months and was actually on track to outpace the median single-family home price during the course of 2020. It seems like potential condo buyers are waiting to see how the pandemic progresses before they commit to urban living and elevator rides.”

And Jason Gell, association president and an agent with RE/Max Unlimited in Brookline believes the slowdown can be pinned on increased red tape and should ease up soon. He states:

“Our challenge these past few months has not been a lack of buyers; it’s the fact that the process of showing property and obtaining the necessary inspections and documentation requires more time and effort to perform the work and ensure the proper safety protocols are met. Although we lost much of the spring market, we think the summer months will be much busier than normal due to pent-up demand and a steady influx of new listings since May, especially in the condo market.” 

Another factor that is expected to help the market recover is the current low mortgage rates.

The Greater Boston Association of Realtors’ breakdown for 64 communities can be found here.

Could a Luxury Real Estate Tax Fund Affordable Housing?

By adding a surcharge for the sales of luxury properties, the city of Boston could generate millions of dollars that could be used to boost affordable housing projects. Nearly 40  U.S. states have such a surcharge. That is according to the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS). 

A petition drafted by City Councilor Lydia Edwards and Council President Kim Janey would give Boston the authority to collect a 2 percent surcharge on real estate sales of $2 million or greater. However, the proposal has sat in the Massachusetts House Committee on Ways and Means since December 2019.

Under the proposed plan, revenue from the surcharge would go into the Neighborhood Housing Trust fund for low-income housing projects.

Last year the group loaned out $16 million. That amount could have been generated by surcharges on the sale of just two buildings, according to IPS.

A study co-authored by Chuck Collins and Omar Ocampo states:

“As of July 14, 2020, 100 out of the 171 units at One Dalton Place — located in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood — have been sold, ranging in sale price from studio units under $1 million (thus exempt from the transfer fee) to a penthouse unit that sold for $34 million.”

Several other cities in Massachusetts are considering similar measures.

Read all about it at the Bay State Banner. 

Mass. Senate Approves Transportation Bond Bill

Massachusetts senators have passed a $17 billion bond bill aimed at funding major transportation projects throughout the state. 

Among the allotments designated in the Senate bond bill are:

  • $5.6 billion for federally aided highways

  • $2 billion for highways with no federal aid

  • $574 million for local and regional transportation projects.

The bill would also establish a special commission to investigate roadway congestion and recommend options for equitable roadway pricing mechanisms.

The bond bill now heads to a committee that includes lawmakers from both chambers of the state legislature in order to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

Read all about it at LandLine.

Is Massachusetts Planning To Phase Out Natural Gas?

Massachusetts officials have begun considering a managed decline of the state’s natural gas industry. The move would be part of a larger effort to meet the state’s clean energy goals.

Gas-fired appliances account for two-thirds of the space and water heating energy which is the second-largest category of greenhouse gas emissions in the sate. 

The plan currently calls for a two-phase investigation. 

  • Phase One - Gas companies would be required to prepare “detailed economic analyses and business plans depicting future gas demand in a carbon-constrained economy.”

  • Phase Two - Focuses on the development and implementation of policies aligned with the 2050 net-zero target.

A comprehensive report by Green Tech Media covers this topic in detail.

More of the Latest Massachusetts News:

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End of Session In Sight

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Life continues to be looking up for residents of Massachusetts this week with the three-day average of coronavirus daily deaths dropping from 161 at the start of May to just 13 this past week. And although Mass. still has the highest unemployment roll in the U.S. standing at just over 17 percent, nearly 30,000 more jobs were added in June than in May. 

Check out last week’s news for more details.

Lawmakers Face Pressure to Pass 100% Renewable Bill this Session

With the end of the current legislative session near, “activists, municipal officials, businesses, and civic organizations are urging lawmakers to take action on a bill that would require a 100% renewable electricity transition by 2045,” according to Energy News.

Gov. Charlie Baker has set a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. However, a growing list of stakeholders are saying that at the currently planned pace, the transition to clean energy would take until the turn of the century. 

In response, state Rep. Marjorie Decker and state Rep. Sean Garballey have cosponsored bill H.2836 calling for 100 percent renewable energy sources to meet the state’s electricity demands by 2035 and transportation and heating by 2045. 

Originally, lawmakers were given a deadline of early June 2020 to make a decision on the legislation. However, that date was moved to July 22 due to all the attention required for the state’s coronavirus response. 

A letter signed by 150 municipal officials from across the state, plus Environment Massachusetts and the Sierra Club has implored lawmakers to advance the bill forward before this legislative session ends. Furthermore, another letter signed by more than 80 medical professionals from some of the state’s most prestigious hospitals decries the damages to public health from burning fossil fuels and urges more substantive action. 

A recent report by Environment Massachusetts outlining the steps to achieve 100% renewable energy includes:

  • Expanding energy efficiency efforts and standards

  • Improving public transportation 

  • Making communities more walkable

  • Expanding offshore wind projects

  • Increasing solar power generation 

According to advocates of the 100 percent renewables goal, Mass. needs to catch up with other states, municipalities, and even businesses that have already committed to clean energy. They point to five U.S. states plus Washington, D.C., that have set 100 percent renewable targets plus another 10 states that are aiming for a complete transition to clean energy.

Several large Massachusetts businesses, including Biogen, Iron Mountain, and New Balance have signed onto a global corporate sustainability initiative known as RE100 pledging to transition to 100% renewables by 2050. Many municipalities in the state have also committed to 100% renewables by that date including Cambridge, Lowell, and Northampton. 

Energy News has more on this story.

Eastern Mass Residents See 21% Lower Energy Costs

As of July 1, Eversource Energy customers in Eastern Mass. are enjoying lower energy bills after the Department of Public Utilities approved a 21% lower electricity rate. The new pricing saves customers around 8 percent on average or more than $150 per year. 

Eversource Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Penni Conner had this to say:

“We're pleased to be passing along a summertime price cut to our customers who get their electricity supply through our Basic Service option. This reduction will come just in time to help customers who use air conditioning to cool their homes and businesses during the hottest days of the year. It will also help those customers experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19.”

Eversource attributes the rate reduction to an overall reduction in wholesale energy prices. The current wholesale rate is 9.877 cents per kilowatt-hour. That figure is down from the previous six-month rate of 12.517 cents. 

All of Eversource’s customers have the option of purchasing electricity from its competitors whose prices have recently ranged from 6 cents per kilowatt-hour to 12 cents per kilowatt-hour. 

Read more at MarketScreener.com.

Transportation Bond Bill Passes

Massachusetts legislators passed a $17 billion transportation bond bill aimed at funding improvement to the state's roads, bridges, and railways. 

A large portion of the funds will go to improvements to public transportation and roads. The bill also attempts to benefit communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. 

Included in the measure is $50-million to develop the East-West Rail that will run between Springfield and Boston. 

WWLP has more on this story.

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Moving Forward with Caution

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Amidst an unpredictable recovery, record setting COVID19 infections throughout the country, and residual worry about reopening the Commonwealth’s economy, there was room for some of the biggest transportation news in a generation. Let’s get right to it.

Bourne & Sagamore Bridges To Be Replaced

Plans are underway to replace both the Bourne and Sagamore bridges which connect Cape Cod to the Massachusetts mainland. The project will be funded by the federal government with costs estimated to reach about $1.5 billion.

A memorandum of understanding between the Mass. Dept. of Transportation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after the Corps approved a final report on the project earlier this year.

The new bridges will be built next to the existing bridges. Drivers will enjoy four wider lanes under the new plans plus lanes for pedestrians and bicyclists.

As part of the agreement, the Army Corps “will maintain control of the existing bridges until the new bridges are completed at which point control of the new structures will be transferred to the state,” according to the report in the Boston Globe.

Gov. Baker said Tuesday that the current bridges “will be maintained as we look toward their successors.”

According to state Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack, the next step in the process is to finalize the design and construction plans. 

“The sooner the better,” says Sen. Elizabeth Warren, in order to avoid sinking hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs into the existing bridges.

Congressman Bill Keating had this to say:

”These are more than bridges. These are lifelines. We need modern bridges that will deal with modern vehicles, modern commercial transport and open up passageways for bicycles and pedestrian traffic. This is indeed a milestone of significance. It’s a new chapter in Cape Cod’s history.”

Once construction is complete and the new bridges enter service, MassDOT will take over their ownership and operation. State and federal officials described the switch as a more natural fit that allows the department to align its work on surrounding roadways with the highly traveled canal crossings themselves.

The bridges are more than 80 years old.

Boston.com has more on this story. 

Mass. Unemployment Claims Drop For Second Straight Week

For the second week in a row, unemployment claims have fallen in Mass. 

Here are some quick unemployment statistics for the state according to the Boston Herald:

  • From June 14 to June 20, 9,541 people filed an initial claim for regular unemployment insurance.

  • Over the same period, 558,269 people in Massachusetts filed continued unemployment insurance claims.

  • From March 15 to June 20, a total of 1,028,424 Massachusetts people filed initial claims, or about one-quarter of the state’s workforce.

  • In March, the number of people filing an initial unemployment claim was around 180,000.

  • The number has dropped to less than 30,000. 

  • More than 1.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week.

Read more at the Boston Herald.

Coronavirus Data Shows Positive Trend

Although the U.S. is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases with ICUs at capacity in many cities, positive test rates remained low this week in Mass. According to health, 15 more people died pushing the total up over 8,200 and 140 new cases were reported on the second day of Phase 3 reopening. 

So far more than 110,000 cases have been reported in Mass., however, more than 93,000 people have fully recovered.

Here are some current Mass. COVID-19 statistics from the Boston Herald:

  • The state’s current total COVID-19 hospitalizations is above 600. 

  • 104 patients are in ICU, 50 are currently intubated.

  • Hospitalizations declined by 2,941 since May 5.

  • The peak of hospitalizations was 3,965 on April 21.

  • The three-day average of hospitalizations has dropped from 3,707 on May 1 to 620 now.

  • The seven-day weighted average of positive tests declined from 16.6% on May 1 to 1.9% now.

  • So far the state has tested more than 1,144,000 residents.

  • Middlesex County has the most confirmed cases at 24,243 cases

  • Suffolk County is second with 20,048 reported cases.

  • 23,595 residents and health care workers at long-term care facilities have contracted

  • Of 8,213 total deaths, more than 5,000 are connected to long-term care facilities.

During Phase 3 of the state’s reopening, many gyms, fitness studios, movie theaters, museums, and outdoor venues reopened Monday with limited capacity and added restrictions. The maximum number of people allowed to gather increased to 25 people indoors, and 100 people outside. 

More details are available at the Boston Herald’s website. 

Hospitals Saw More Than $2 Billion In Losses Due To Pandemic

Massachusetts hospital lost more than $2 billion for the period ending March 31, 2020 as a result of the initial spread of coronavirus. That is according to data compiled by the state Center for Health Information and Analysis.

According to the data, the median margin for acute hospitals was at -2.7% during that period, a 6.9% decrease from the same period in 2019. 

Seventeen of the 21 hospital health systems that reported data to CHIA had negative total margins while all 21 reported negative operating margins.

Here are some statistics on Mass. hospital losses for Q1:

  • Baystate Health lost $87.9 million.

  • Boston Children’s Hospital and its subsidiaries lost $383.5 million. 

  • Mass General Brigham, the state’s largest private employer lost more than $1 billion. 

  • UMass Memorial Health Care reported $81 million in net losses. 

  • UMass Memorial Medical Group reported a $36.4 million loss. 

  • The HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital lost $6.4 million.

  • Marlborough Hospital lost $3.1 million

  • UMass Memorial Medical Center reported a $1.5 million loss.

Read more on this story at Mass Live. 

Mass. Expands Electric Vehicle Initiatives

Under an expansion of electric vehicle incentives, nonprofits and businesses with fleets will have new incentives to purchase electric vehicles. The move “is intended to maximize the environmental impact of the program at a time when a slumping economy has slowed vehicle sales across the state — and progress toward the state’s carbon emissions goals,” according to a report in Energy News. 

Gov. Charlie Baker has said that the state plans to be completely carbon-neutral by 2050. The Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles program (MOR-EV), launched back in 2014, is part of the strategy to achieve that goal. 

The program currently provides rebates to consumers who purchase electric vehicles of up to $2,500. More than 1,500 rebates were handed out in December of 2018. That number was more than four times the count the previous year. However, rebates were lowered to $1,500 in 2019 due to budget constraints and by mid-year had been suspended entirely. 

This past December, the state revived MOR-EV for the next two years with $27 million in funding annually, or enough to provide more than 20,000 rebates. 

However, so far in 2020 only 727 rebates have been requested totaling $1.5 million. The drop is being pinned on the massive reduction in traffic as a result of coronavirus restrictions. 

Energy News has more on this story. 

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Positive COVID Recovery Signs Mixed with Dire Housing News

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Some qualified good news this week for Massachusetts as hospitalizations for COVID-19 continue to decline. While the U.S. surpassed the rest of the world with more than 2.5 million cases and more than 125,000 deaths, the three-day average of coronavirus daily deaths in Mass. dropped from 161 at the start of May to only 23 last week.

According to research data from COVID Act Now, Massachusetts is one of four states on track to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Other Northeastern states, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey are also among the top four. New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island have been classified as “controlled disease growth.” 

The fact that 1,295 of the state’s roughly 2,000 ICU beds are currently available is a very positive development.

According to the report, the state’s 2,500 contact tracers have been a major contributor in the fight against the virus. “When this level of tracing is coupled with widely available testing, COVID can be contained without restoring lockdowns,” researchers wrote.

Researchers looked at factors including infection rate, positive test rate, available ICU capacity, and contact tracing. 

Governor Charlie Baker had this to say on Tuesday: 

“We’re obviously encouraged by the continued progress we’ve made on many of those public health metrics and we’re going to continue to monitor them. We do believe part of the reason we’ve been successful so far with our reopening strategy is due to the work and the efforts of everybody here in the Commonwealth… Please continue to wear face coverings, practice social distancing, and good hygiene.”

Here are some quick statistics on coronavirus in Mass. according to a report by the Boston Herald:

  • There have so far been 108,667 confirmed cases.

  • More than 90,000 patients have recovered.

  • Coronavirus hospitalizations went down by 21 patients, bringing the state’s COVID-19 hospitalization total to 748. 

  • Statewide hospitalization total has declined by 2,814 since May 5.

  • As of Sunday, there were 134 patients in the ICU.

  • The peak of Massachusetts hospitalizations was 3,965 on April 21. 

  • The three-day average of hospitalizations fell from 3,707 on May 1 to 769.

  • So far the state has tested more than one million residents. 

  • The seven-day weighted average of positive tests has declined from 16.6 percent on May 1 to 2 percent last week.

  • Middlesex County has the most confirmed cases in Massachusetts with 23,915 cases.

  • Suffolk County has the second-highest number of cases with 19,795 cases.

  • 23,399 residents and health care workers at long-term care facilities have contracted the virus.

  • 5,086 of the state’s 8,060 total coronavirus deaths are connected to long-term care facilities.

  • More than 62 percent of COVID-19 victims have been people over 80 years of age, with about 32 percent being in their 60's and 70's, and just over five percent under 60 years of age.

Thousands of Residents Face Potential Evictions

While the coronavirus data in Mass continue to build enthusiasm, not all of the state’s residents are feeling so optimistic. Many communities are facing a surge of evictions. 

Enhanced unemployment benefits and a ban on evictions during the pandemic have helped many renters keep up with payments, however, unless they are renewed those protections will be ending soon putting more than 120,000 households in the state at risk of eviction.

Lisa Owens, executive director of tenants’ rights group City Life/Vida Urbana, says the “situation is looking really dire” and that the state is facing what could be “dramatic levels of homelessness, and neighborhood and citywide instability.”

A disproportionate number of those facing eviction are in black or Latino communities according to a study by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council which claims that the rate of eviction filings in non-subsidized apartments in Roxbury is seven times greater than in Allston/Brighton. “Nearly 90 percent of Roxbury residents are people of color, while Allston/Brighton is 62 percent white,” according to a report in the Boston Globe. 

The Globe’s extensive report includes this ominous statistic:

“Boston infamously has a racial wealth gap that can almost seem like a typo: a median net worth of $247,500 for white households and $8 for Black ones.” 

Rep. Pressley & Sen. Markey Seek to Eliminate Public Transit Fares

The two Massachusetts Democrats, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Ed Markey introduced a bill Friday that could eliminate public transportation fees in the Bay State and across the country.

If passed, the bill would create a $5 billion grant program that would not only eliminate fares, but also invest in increased transit access in historically underserved communities. 

Rep. Pressley had this to say in a statement last week:

“Our public transit systems are meant to provide communities with the mobility and freedom to access critical services, but far too many in the Massachusetts 7th and across the country lack reliable, safe, and affordable transit service. By supporting state and local efforts to implement fare-free public transit systems, we can provide low-income workers and families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities with improved access to jobs, education, and medical care, all while simultaneously reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.” 

Pressley and two-dozen other Democrats also recently sent a letter to House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi calling for a $250 billion fund to support hard-hit public transportation agencies.

The proposed legislation calls for five-year grants to be awarded to municipal, county, and state governments based on their plans to implement fare-free transit. 

Gov. Baker Unveils $275 Million COVID-19 Economic Relief Package 

Mass. Governor Charlie Baker’s administration has announced a $275 million COVID-19 economic recovery package designed to stimulate economic growth in Massachusetts, particularly among underserved communities. The move updates legislation originally filed on March 4, 2020, titled the Act Enabling Partnerships for Growth developed prior to the pandemic.

The package covers three core areas: housing, community development, and business competitiveness, according to the report in Boston Real Estate Times. 

Gov. Baker had this to say in a statement:

“By funding more affordable housing, implementing critical zoning reform, stabilizing neighborhoods, and supporting minority-owned businesses with record levels of funding, these proposed changes will bring critical relief and promote equity across Massachusetts amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to working with our partners in the Legislature to advance this legislation and give communities, especially those most in need, the tools and support they require to move forward.”

The package proposes to:

  • Amend the scope of several proposed programs, to target funding towards specific communities including those hardest hit by COVID-19

  • Reallocate funding among proposed authorizations, to better address the significant economic impacts of COVID-19 and to help provide a path for recovery, particularly for those most devastated by the pandemic

  • Establish new tools to promote equity and drive economic growth in communities and among businesses facing barriers to entry in areas like state contracting

Cannabis Sales “Lukewarm” in First Week of Reopening

MJBizDaily reports that sales during the first week of reopening of cannabis shops in the Bay State have been “lukewarm” with dispensaries in the state generating $13.6 million for the week of May 25. 

However, the report also states that the figure is up about 60 percent from the same week in 2019. And through the first 12 weeks of 2020, adult-use sales were up by an average of 200% from the previous year.

According to the cannabis industry news source, Massachusetts is “the only state on the East Coast with an operational adult-use industry, which means it generates a significant portion of revenue from out-of-state visitors and tourists,” and “the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic fallout have put a stop to most recreational travel, likely a key driver of why sales are softer than what would typically be expected.”

More of the Latest Massachusetts News:

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Unemployment Still on the Rise

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Although the job market is doing better than expected at the national level, unemployment in Massachusetts is rising with 44,732 residents filed for unemployment last week.

According to projections from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, the Commonwealth will lose more than half a million jobs from April through June. Including the March layoffs during the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, that pushes the state unemployment rate close to 18%.

The foundation also estimates that the total number of unemployed will reach 677,000. Earlier this month, the Pioneer Institute projected that the unemployment rate could rise to 25.4% by June.

Energy jobs have been especially hard hit dropping more than 20,000 jobs by the end of May and things might get worse for the industry. 

The International Energy Agency has projected that energy demand could fall by 6 percent in 2020. That’s seven times the decline after the global financial crisis in 2008. 

According to a report in the Boston Globe: “The unprecedented decline is equivalent to all the energy demand of India, the world’s third-largest energy consumer.”

And to make matters worse, according to a report in Solar Industry Magazine, experts at the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) believe proposed new clean energy regulations in Mass. could have the unintended consequence and result in the cancellation of nearly 80 solar energy projects.

Although the size of the program is doubling under the new regulations as much as 90% of land in Massachusetts will become unavailable for solar panel arrays. The rules are expected to be finalized by July 15.

Some of those jobs are expected to return, but many Mass. businesses are closing their doors indefinitely. 

In an effort to expedite the reopening of the state’s economy, the City of Boston has established a Reopen Boston Fund. The fund is intended to assists businesses in purchasing personal protective equipment and so far, the City has received over 1,000 applications from small business owners.

Boston Real Estate COVID Consortium Launches

A group of Boston-based real estate professionals has formed the Boston Real Estate COVID Consortiumro to promote the sharing of current best practices for adapting to regulatory amendments established to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The Consortium was co-founded by STV|DPM Vice President and Project Executive Denise Pied and Director of Business Development Sandra Gucciardi. 

According to a report in Nerej.com, the multidisciplinary industry team includes “experts from the project management, construction, commercial real estate brokerage, commissioning, code review, design, environmental engineering, technology, and furniture sectors.”

The group has issued the following statement:

“We believe innovative project strategies and checklists around these disciplines will assist our active clients and other real estate leaders in assessing new in-office and remote work requirements as they bring their employees back to work and going forward. The ultimate goal is to develop a ‘toolkit’ of best practice resources that could be rolled out as part of ongoing and new project work. Boston’s Real Estate and A/E/C COVID Consortium is committed to providing relevant, reliable and user-friendly insights on a weekly basis.”

Cannabis Regulators Compiling Legal Cannabis Products Catalog

Mass. cannabis regulators have begun compiling a catalog of the marijuana products being sold at dispensaries in the state. 

Manufacturers and retailers will be asked to provide detailed information on all cannabis products such as THC or CBD levels, serving size, ingredients, and description, plus a photo. The CCC sent out an e-mail to inform all license holders of new fields in the state’s cannabis tracking system. 

The purpose of the project is to give regulators, consumers, parents, and law enforcement a resource they can use to discern between legal and illegal products.

According to Shawn Collins, Executive Director of the Mass. Cannabis Control Commission: “This information is optional, currently, for the licensee for them to assist us in developing this product catalog ... We do anticipate that some of these fields could at some point become a requirement.”

Read more here: Mass. marijuana regulators developing product catalog

Officials say Boston-Springfield Rail Service would Require Federal Assistance 

State officials said Wednesday that a proposed high-speed “east-west” rail service between Boston and Springfield could draw far more riders than previously estimated. 

Prior projections estimated ridership to be anywhere from 36 to 800-plus per day. On Wednesday, Mass. Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack said, based on new estimates, ridership could be four to five times higher than originally projected. 

However, Pollack added that “even those ridership levels may not be enough for the multi-billion dollar project to qualify for federal funding, said state,” and that the project might never see the light of day without federal assistance.

Advocates for the future rail service argue that it would “allow workers to live further out in more affordable regions and still commute into Boston, while also boosting the economies of Western Massachusetts,” according to the report.

MassDOT estimates that improving rail service along existing tracks will cost $2 billion, while an electric high-speed line will cost upwards of $25 billion.

The Baker administration is now studying the feasibility of the project.

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Getting Back to Business

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Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is watching coronavirus metrics closely as offices in Boston are being permitted to reopen this third week of Phase 1 reopening plan. 

Mayor Walsh said this week at a press conference, “The data tells us that we continue to move in the right direction, and we have met the initial benchmarks that we set moving forward in the gradual reopening.” 

At the peak of the outbreak, according to the press release, local intensive care units were operating at 120% capacity but that the number of live cases has dropped to 81 percent — four points lower than target.

Most offices in the state were permitted to open at 25 percent capacity last week. However, according to the Boston Globe, “the city’s central business district still looked more like a ghost town than a boomtown.”

Part of the reason for the slow return is that reopening offices safely “requires fairly extensive measures, from deep cleaning and reconfiguring office traffic patterns to ordering personal protective equipment for employees.”

Business Insider has more on this story as does WCVB News.

Phase 2 of reopening plans could begin next week. Meanwhile, Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration has said the decision will be made over the weekend, and that Phase 2 could conceivably begin on Monday, June 8. 

Massachusetts Post-COVID-19 Transportation Outlook

Data in a new survey published this week by MassINC Polling suggests that residents are planning to travel less than they did before the coronavirus crisis began. 

Nearly 1,500 Mass. residents participated in the poll between May 5 and May 13. Overall, the poll suggests that commuters are shifting away from group modes of transportation such as shuttles and carpooling, and toward driving, biking, or walking. 

According to the report, more than one-third of Mass. residents said they will ride the MBTA subway, commuter rail, and buses less than before the outbreak — even after the pandemic has subsided. 

Here are some quick stats from the poll’s findings:

  • 38% of participants said they will walk more.

  • 28% said they will drive alone in their car.

  • 19% said they will ride a bike more.

  • 8% said they will use Uber or Lyft.

  • 36% said they would ride buses less.

  • 35% said they would ride the MBTA subway less often.

  • 33% said they would ride the MBTA Commuter Rail less often.

  • 44% said they would take fewer trips than before.

  • 41% said they would take roughly the same number of trips.

  • 43% of 18-to-29-year-olds said they planned to drive alone more often and take the MBTA subway less often.

  • 60% said they have been able to work from home during the outbreak.

  • 41% percent said they would prefer to keep working from home.

  • 77% said they were either “not too comfortable” or “not comfortable at all” taking public transportation during rush hour.

Nearly 60% of participants said that the state needs to make “big changes to the transportation system coming out of the crisis,” such as more social distancing and less overcrowding. And half of subway and bus riders said they will walk more often. The poll also suggests that people will be making fewer trips in general. 

The MBTA has already reduced the number of passengers allowed on buses and trains. Buses that previously allowed up to 58 people are now considered “crowded” with only 20 passengers. However, at these levels, as more people get back to business, in the state more services would be required. 

The project was sponsored by The Barr Foundation.

The Boston Globe has more on this story.

Tech CU Expands $2 Billion Solar Power Deal with Fintech

San Jose, Calif.-based Tech Credit Union, and New York City-based Sunlight Financial have announced they will loan more than $2 billion to install solar power systems in more than 80,000 homes.

The two companies have so far financed more than 50,000 home solar projects since the partnership began in September 2015 and had funded more than $1 billion in residential solar loans. Furthermore, nationwide, one in five residential solar loans written in 2019 is with Sunlight Financial.

President and CEO of Tech CU, Todd Harris, had this to say in a prepared statement Tuesday:

“We’re excited to expand our partnership with Sunlight Financial, our first and longest-standing strategic relationship. Over the years, Tech CU and Sunlight Financial have built a strong partnership and we look forward to continuing that tradition while accelerating America’s transition to renewable energy.”

Tech CU also recently announced plans to invest $1 billion in financing for residential solar loans in a completely separate partnership with solar solutions company SunPower.

Attorney General Calls for Plan to Transition Away from Natural Gas

Attorney General Maura Healey has petitioned the Department of Public Utilities to investigate ways that the state’s power utilities might transition away from natural gas to net-zero carbon technologies in order to meet the state’s goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050.

According to the petition:

“As electrification and decarbonization of heating increases, the Commonwealth’s natural gas demand and usage from thermal heating requirements will decline substantially and could be near zero by 2050. As the Commonwealth reduces its fossil fuel consumption, the Department should establish a consistent regulatory framework that protects customers and maintains reliability and safety during the transition.”

According to a post by Commonwealth Magazine, president and CEO of the Northeast Gas Association, Tom Kiley downplayed concerns saying he was aware of the petition but hadn’t seen it while claiming that the industry is “on the upswing.”

According to Kiley, whose association represents the industry in nine states in the region, the Northeast added 1,200 megawatts of natural gas-fired power plants last year. Furthermore, 52 percent of homes in the region heat their homes with natural gas and that which currently costs $1.61 per million BTUs, compared to $13.65 in mid-June 2008.

According to the petition, California and New York have already launched similar investigations.

Read more at Reuters.

Boston’s Marijuana Shop Loses $100,000 Worth of Inventory During Protests

About $100,000 worth of marijuana was stolen from Pure Oasis, a recreational cannabis shop in Dorchester, on Sunday night, according to WBZ and MassLive.com. Although the crime has been deemed to be the result of “looting,” protests in response to the death of George Floyd, were largely peaceful (although there were 53 arrests) suggesting the thieves were using demonstrations as cover.

Security footage obtained by the Globe shows a steady stream of the thieves running through the dispensary with armfuls of product. The video can be viewed here.

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