MassDOT Online Vehicle Census Dashboard

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BOSTON?— The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced the launch of a new online dashboard, the Massachusetts Vehicle Census (MVC),?the first public dataset that joins information about how much vehicles are being driven with information about the vehicles themselves, including vehicle type, vehicle use, fuel classification, and the municipality the vehicle is garaged in. 

The Massachusetts Vehicle Census is a resource for the public providing information regarding vehicle usage, baseline data on the total number of vehicles available, and mileage accrual.  The  data now available to the public will support conversations regarding how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

"Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll have said the climate crisis is our biggest challenge, and they want us to meet this moment with innovation and urgency.  This new dashboard is going to be a significant resource to increase the public conversation about steps we should be taking,"?said Transportation Secretary and CEO Gina Fiandaca. "Data is a powerful tool, and the new Massachusetts Vehicle Census has accurate and timely information on the types of vehicles registered in Massachusetts, whether they are gas, electric or hybrid, and where the vehicles are town by town.? We are grateful to the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission for helping us develop the dashboard and believe the information on it will help increase the public conversation around ways to achieve our climate goals." 

The Massachusetts Vehicle Census, with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) regarding the state’s vehicle fleet, fulfills the legislative requirements established in the 2022 climate and clean energy bill (Chapter 170 of the Acts of 2022). MassDOT worked in collaboration with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) in the development of this resource. 

The public can view the dataset and then filter data geographically by municipality and metropolitan planning organization (MPO), as well as by selected characteristics about vehicles. The dashboard is available at?this link, and the data is available for download. 

The new dashboard supports the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s commitment to taking steps to combat climate change.? The Administration recently created the position of Climate Chief, a new cabinet-level position responsible for driving climate policy across every agency and ensuring that climate change is considered in all relevant decision-making. Massachusetts is the first state in the nation to establish such a position at the cabinet level.? 

Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer will be monitoring the progress of the administration’s cross-agency climate work to ensure that municipal leaders, labor, and those disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis have a seat at the table. She will play an integral role in putting Massachusetts on track to meet the administration’s ambitious climate goals.? 


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Crane Drops Challenge to Dalton Land Sale

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The sale of the land known as the Bardin property is no longer being challenged. 
 
Dicken Crane of Holiday Farm, the highest bidder on the property, withdrew his lawsuit and a citizen petition requesting the board award him the sale, recognizing that a reversal was unlikely after the deed had already been signed.
 
The Select Board's decision in December to sell the last 9.15 acres of land to Thomas and Esther Balardini, the third highest bidder, sparked outrage from several residents resulting in a heated meeting to sign the quitclaim deed. Crane was the highest bidder by $20,000.
 
The board swiftly had the deed signed on Dec. 22, following its initial vote on Nov. 10 to award the parcel to the Balardinis, despite citizen outcry against the decision during a meeting on Nov. 23.  
 
Crane claimed he wrote a letter to the board of his intention to appeal its decision. However, once the deed was signed a month later, it was too late for him to do anything. 
 
"My question is, why were they in such a hurry to push this through, even though there were many people asking, 'explain to us why this is in the best interest in the town,' when they really had no explanation," Crane said on Wednesday.
 
Litigation is expensive and the likelihood of success to get it changed once the deed was signed is minimal, he said. 
 
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