Sen. Lewis Will Host Forum on the Region’s Transportation and Commuting Challenges

BOSTON – Continuing his “Community Conversations” discussion series, Senator Jason Lewis is pleased to host an upcoming conversation on policy strategies to address the Commonwealth’s transportation and commuting challenges. Community Conversations are issue discussions delving into a different timely topic at each forum, with ample opportunity for residents to share feedback and have their questions answered by experts on the given topic.

This upcoming event — Community Conversations: What Will It Take to Fix Transportation in Greater Boston? — will take place on Wednesday, March 11, at 6:30pm. The event will occur at the Malden High School Gallery, 77 Salem Street, Malden, MA and is free and open to the public. Malden High School is easily reached by public transportation on the MBTA Orange Line and local public bus lines.

The program will begin with a presentation from Senator Lewis, the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education and the Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, discussing the results of a survey his office recently conducted to learn more about attitudes towards transportation systems and commuting from residents of the Fifth Middlesex District. Senator Lewis will also discuss pending transportation proposals in the Legislature.

Attendees will also hear from Chris Dempsey, the Director of the Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA) advocacy coalition, and Erin Wortman, President of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and Director of Planning & Community Development for the Town of Stoneham. There will be ample time for audience questions and community feedback.

With questions about the event, please contact Senator Lewis’s office at (617) 722-1206 or Jason.Lewis@masenate.gov. You can also RSVP to the Facebook event. All are welcome to attend.

The forum is co-sponsored by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Transportation for Massachusetts, Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, Melrose Mayor Paul Brodeur, State Representative Paul Donato, State Representative Steve Ultrino, the Melrose Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee, Walkable Reading, and the Stoneham Transportation Advisory Committee.

Previous “Community Conversations” forums have addressed topics including: public education; public transportation; small business and entrepreneurship; challenges facing senior citizens and caregivers; veterans’ issues; mental health; housing; sustainability and environmental priorities; and efforts to combat substance abuse and opioid addiction in our region.