Varieties of Regionalism in Greater Boston: Which Model Fits, For What Purposes?

Like other regions across the nation, Greater Boston faces a number of challenges that extend beyond the borders of cities and towns that serve as the primary government entities. Issues such as housing, the environment, transportation, water and sewer service, economic development, and education are regional in scope – and therefore require regional solutions. Or do they?

A collection of civic organizations convened a major forum to explore what kinds of political structures might best enable people of the region to address the challenges of the 21st century.

Panelists included:

• Jay Wickersham, former Director of Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act
• Marc Draisen, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council
• David Dixon, President of Boston Society of Architects
• Valerie Burns, President of the Boston Natural Areas Network
• Steve Adams, President and CEO of the Pioneer Institute for Public Policy
• Stephanie Pollack, Director of the Conservation Law Foundation

The Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston released two major papers on two of the models of regionalism explored at the conference:

Mark Lecesse, "Enhancing Regional Greensfrastructure: The Metropolitan District Commission and the Future of Open Space in Massachusetts"
Charles C. Euchner and Anthony Flint, "Coming Around: The Urban Ring and the Future of Transit in Greater Boston"

Cosponsors included the Boston GreenSpace Alliance, Boston Natural Areas Network, Boston Society of Architects, The Citistates Group, Conservation Law Foundation, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Pioneer Institute for Public Policy, Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, Suffolk Law School.