North Suburban Planning Council Subregional Priority Mapping Project Final Report, January 2014 Prepared for eight North Suburban Planning Council municipalities: Burlington, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Wilmington, Winchester, and Woburn Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) 60 Temple Place Boston, MA 02110 www.mapc.org Funded by the 2012 District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) Program, the 2012 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and the Metro Boston Consortium for Sustainable Communities Acknowledgments This document is produced with lead input from the North Suburban Planning Council with data supplied by the following municipalities: Town of Burlington Town of North Reading Town of Reading Town of Stoneham Town of Wakefield Town of Wilmington Town of Winchester City of Woburn FY13 NSPC co-chairs: Elizabeth Ware, Winchester Town Planner and Kristin Kassner, Burlington Planning Director Project Team The North Suburban Planning Council Priority Mapping Project was undertaken with technical assistance provided by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). Jennifer Sien Erickson, Regional Planner and NSPC Subregional Coordinator - Project Manager Armin Akhavan, Data Services Intern Eric Bourassa, Transportation Director Julie Conroy, Senior Environmental Planner Alison Felix, Transportation Planner Barry Fradkin, GIS Analyst Ray Gabriele, Smart Growth Intern Eric Halvorsen, Transit Planner Barry Keppard, Senior Regional Planner Jeanette Lin, Smart Growth Intern David Loutzenheiser, Transportation Planner Amanda Linehan, Communications Manager Allentza Michel, Community Liaison Christine Madore, Associate Planner Martin Pillsbury, Environmental Division Director Tim Reardon, Manager of Planning Research Mark Racicot, Land Use Division Director Holly St. Clair, Data Services Director Bill Wang, GIS Analyst MetroFuture MetroFuture is MAPC's 30-year plan to create a sustainable, equitable, and economically competitive Boston Region. This project advances goals in the MetroFuture Regional Plan, including: NSPC Priority Mapping Project Report – January 2014 1 #1. Population and job growth will be concentrated in developed areas already served by infrastructure, with slower growth in less developed areas where infrastructure is more limited. #2. Most new growth will occur through reuse of previously developed land and buildings. #4. In suburban municipalities, most new growth will occur near town and village centers. #5: Most new homes and jobs will be near transit stops and bus routes, and new growth will be designed to promote transit use #10. Growth in the region will be guided by informed, inclusive, and proactive planning. # 25: Most residents will build regular physical activity into their daily lives. #44: An expanded transit system will provide better service to both urban and suburban areas, linking more homes and jobs. #51: Regional transportation planning will be linked with sustainable land use planning. #45: More people will use transit for work and personal trips. #46: Commuters will have more options to avoid congestion. #47: Most people will choose to walk or bike for short trips. #48: The average person will drive fewer miles every day. #49: Outlying areas will see little increase in traffic congestion. #50: People with disabilities will find it easier to get around the region. #51: Regional transportation planning will be linked with sustainable land use planning. #53: Transportation projects will be designed and built cost-effectively. #65. A robust network of protected open spaces, farms, parks, and greenways will provide wildlife habitat, ecological benefits, recreational opportunities, and scenic beauty. Funding This project was made possible with funding from the 2012 District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) program, the FY13 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and by funding under an award with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government. We also thank the Metro Boston Consortium for Sustainable Communities for making this work possible. Cover Photo Credits: MAPC, Town of Reading, City of Woburn NSPC Priority Mapping Project Report – January 2014 2 NSPC Priority Mapping Project Report – January 2014 3 Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 PROJECT TEAM................................................................................................................................................................... 1 METROFUTURE ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 FUNDING ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................... 10 PROJECT PROCESS .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 PROJECT SCOPE ............................................................................................................................................................. 12 THE NORTH SUBURBAN PLANNING COUNCIL REGION ........................................................................................ 14 POPULATION................................................................................................................................................................... 14 MEDIAN INCOME ............................................................................................................................................................ 16 HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS ...................................................................................................................................... 17 HOUSING UNITS ............................................................................................................................................................. 17 HOUSING COST BURDEN ............................................................................................................................................... 17 TRANSPORTATION .......................................................................................................................................................... 19 HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS ..................................................................................................................... 21 ECONOMY ...................................................................................................................................................................... 22 DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION, 1999-2005 ........................................................................................................ 23 HISTORIC ASSETS ............................................................................................................................................................ 24 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES......................................................................................................................................... 25 WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE ........................................................................................................................... 27 LOCALLY-IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES ................................................................................................................................. 33 REGIONAL PRIORITIES IN THE NSPC SUBREGION .................................................................................................. 43 REGIONAL PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT AREAS (REGIONAL PDAS) ......................................................................... 45 REGIONAL PRIORITY PRESERVATION AREAS (REGIONAL PPAS) ......................................................................... 50 TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS SUPPORTIVE OF REGIONAL PDAS AND PPAS .......................................... 53 CATEGORY 1: MBTA COMMUTER RAIL ......................................................................................................................... 54 CATEGORY 2: MBTA BUS ROUTES AND SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE .................................................................................... 54 CATEGORY 3: REGIONAL BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS ............................................................................ 54 CATEGORY 4: BRIDGES .................................................................................................................................................. 54 CATEGORY 5: REGIONAL ROADWAYS AND INTERSECTIONS ......................................................................................... 55 I-93/I-95 INTERCHANGE PROJECT ..............................................................................................................................