THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2024 Page 13 Saluting Revere’s Working Men and Women Have a Happy and Safe Labor Day Weekend! Councillor-at-Large State Representative Anthony Zambuto Ward 4ard 4 City CouncillorCity Councillor Paul Argenzio he Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has been awarded a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Aff airs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The grant, totaling $1,001,100, will support the MPO’s innovative project titled “Neutralizing Onerous Heat Eff ects on Active Transportation” (NOHEAT), which aims to enhance climate resilience by addressing dangerous heat exposure faced by people in Bostonarea 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 (MyRWA), 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 eff orts. “This grant will allow us to take an innovative approach to address one of the pressing climate challenges facing our most vulnerable communities,” said Boston Region MPO Central Transportation Planning Staff Executive Director Tegin Teich. “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.” www.advocatenews.net Boston Region MPO awarded $1M to lead urban heat relief project Interdisciplinary project to focus on reducing heat exposure for people who walk and bike in the Boston area T “As a pedestrian advocacy organization, we recognize the signifi cance of understanding the impact of heat exposure on individuals who walk and bike in our communities,” said WalkMassachusetts Co-Executive Director Brendan Kearney. “Identifying high-priority pedestrian network segments and implementing mitigation measures strongly aligns with our mission to create safer and more accessible walking environ“Heat island eff ect is particularly pronounced in Everett,” said Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria. “The City of Everett is engaged in numerous eff orts to mitigate these challenges, and this project will provide better data and information to inform future projects and develop and construct those projects.” ments 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 MyRWA Executive Director Patrick Herron. “The data from this project will help bridge intersections between transit jus Turco & Family tice 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 at https://resilient.mass. gov/mvp/ 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. Learn more at www.bostonmpo.org.
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