Transportation for Massachusetts has awarded the second round of Transportation Justice/Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) subgrants to 12 organizations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania to support important initiatives promoting equity and environmental justice. T4MA is grateful to the Barr Foundation for their support, and all applicants for their interest. A total of $112,500 was awarded in this funding round. 

Bikes Not Bombs
Jamaica Plain, MA

Bikes Not Bombs will use funding to support their existing Bicyclists Organizing for Community Action (BOCA) program which teaches youth, between the ages of 15-21, about community organizing and advocacy. Bikes Not Bombs also plans to use their award to support critical infrastructure projects, including building a bicycle pump track in Franklin Park.

Coalition for Social Justice
New Bedford, MA

Coalition for Social Justice is continuing their fight for transit justice in Southeastern Massachusetts, with an additional infusion of funding from this round.  They will continue to focus on advocating for RTA funding and are planning to revive the currently defunct organization, Bus Riders United.

Four Corners Main Streets
Dorchester, MA

Four Corners Main Streets plans to use their funding to build a greater community connection between the Four Corners Business District, residents, and the Fairmount/Indigo Line through a placemaking campaign that aims to boost rider engagement.

Green Energy Consumers Alliance
Providence, RI

Green Energy Consumers Alliance is splitting this award with the Latino Policy Institute and the George Wiley Center on two separate, yet interconnected projects relating to TCI in Rhode Island. Green Energy Consumers Alliance and the Latino Policy Institute will focus on legislative advocacy, the Raimondo Administration, and centering equity in TCI. The George Wiley Center and Green Energy Consumers Alliance will work together on the ground to raise awareness about TCI amongst frontline communities, low-income communities, and communities of color.

Madison Park Community Development Corporation
Roxbury, MA

Madison Park Community Development Corporation will use their funding to create a two-part capacity-building workshop for resident leaders. The workshop will start with developing advocacy skills and end with sessions on transportation justice within topics such as active transportation, community benefits, and Complete Streets.

Make It! Springfield
Springfield, MA

Make It! Springfield will be partnering with other area organizations such as Rad Springfield, Jewish Family Services of Western MA, and Pedal Thru Youth to create the Everybody Bikes campaign. This campaign will provide skills relating to advocacy, organizing, and bike mechanics for at-risk youth and refurbished, donated bikes for refugees and low-income residents.

Mattapan Food and Fitness
Mattapan, MA

Mattapan Food and Fitness will create a Transportation Conversation Series that is specific to transportation projects happening within the neighborhoods of Mattapan, Roxbury, and Dorchester. They will be led by Mattapan Food and Fitness, Roxbury Rides, and Powerful Pathways who will weave together the connections between climate change, public health, infrastructure, and ultimately why transportation matters.

Pittsburghers for Public Transit
Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburghers for Public Transit is a grassroots organization who has been active around TCI and involved in multiple regional gatherings. Funding will go to support the hiring of a part-time organizer for their sister organization, the Philly Transit Rider Union, who will focus on TCI and public transit engagement, and creating a statewide transit rider coalition to educate and mobilize riders on TCI.

The Welcome Project
Somerville, MA

The Welcome Project intends to use the funding award to deepen engagement around public health and air quality, particularly given the proximity of the organization and its members to I-93. The organization intends to campaign for better bus service, host community conversations on environmental racism and transportation inequity, and deepen legislative engagement.

Transportation Advocacy Coalition
Worcester, MA

Transportation Advocacy Coalition will continue their post as engaged riders of the WRTA, of which some TAC members sit as Advisory Board Members. They will use their funding to continue monthly meetings, online for the foreseeable future, that include better bus service for the WRTA and paratransit and research on best practices of transit systems similar to Worcester to provide to the RTA.

Way Finders
Springfield, MA

The Way Finders will use their funding to continue their existing Healthy Hill and Climate Change and Health Equity programs and their workshop, Civic Muscle: Empowering Residents for Action. Key issues to be addressed for participants include free fares, green energy, and health and racial equity assessments for large cities. The organization will provide stipends to workshop leaders, who are members of each of the aforementioned workshop and programs.

ZeroFare WRTA Coalition
Worcester, MA

ZeroFare WRTA Coalition is a volunteer-led coalition of bus riders who coalesced around free fares for the WRTA. Their funding will go towards capacity-building, which includes stipends for the two co-chairs and two to-be-identified rider-leaders, meeting expenses, and supporting partner rider-led advocacy groups.