MARCH 2019
Welcome to March's Pioneer Valley Progress Report! It's been another busy month here at the planning commission, where we've been advocating for and helping local communities implement programs and policies that make our quality of life better.

We've been keeping our eye on the prize as the Commonwealth's Task Force on Regional Transit Authority Performance and Funding has recently released a report we believe will ensure Bay Staters will have the ability to get to where they're going regardless of ability to own, maintain, or operate a personal vehicle. 

Likewise, we'll continue to focus on work that benefit our urban, suburban, and rural residents - including helping develop recreational hiking trails that can be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike in our hilltown communities and promoting policies that support our families and farmers. 

We are so excited to present some of our best accomplishments over the last month on behalf of the 43 cities and towns of Hampden and Hampshire counties.
 
-Team Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
A Positive Report for Valley Transit Riders

The state-appointed task force on regional transit authorities in Massachusetts took their draft report to Amherst last Friday and heard firsthand how important PVTA bus service is to the Pioneer Valley.

We were fortunate to have PVTA Administrator Sandra Sheehan represent our cities and towns on this task force and grateful to her and her colleagues who have laid out a strong pathway towards a more reliable transit system across all regions of the Commonwealth. 
Highlighting the Highland Footpath

Several members of the Highlands Footpath group and staff from PVPC and the Nature Conservancy gathered in Chester this week to blaze a new segment of trail.  

This newly inaugurated part of the Highlands Footpath connects Chester center with Gobble Mountain, traversing Water Supply land through a rugged landscape of bedrock outcropping and steeply forested slopes.    

Favorable Funding for Families and Farmers

The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) has been on the PVPC's annual budget request letter to Valley legislators for the past several years. 

This is a great video explaining exactly why funding that supports low income families AND local farmers is just plain and simple good policy. 
Pioneer Valley Data

If you haven't yet heard, the PVPC in partnership with some of our Valley's top foundations has launched PioneerValleyData.org to provide nonprofits, local officials, journalists, academics and the public at large with free, accessible regional information to track trends and make data-driven decisions. 
See what's happening on our social sites