Press Release  MassDOT Releases People and Transportation Project Report

SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has announced the release of the People and Transportation Project Report, a groundbreaking community-based participatory study that offers new insights into the lived experiences of residents using the transportation system in the Springfield region. 

“We are proud to release the People and Transportation Project Report, created through the partnership of MassDOT, Way Finders, and The MassINC Polling Group,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “This report is about more than data. It is about listening to the voices of our neighbors, understanding the challenges they face, and acting on what we learn. By uncovering both the barriers and the opportunities, we can build a transportation system that is more affordable, reliable, and accessible. This work is about creating a system that truly supports low-income families and people with disabilities in western Massachusetts so they can connect to the opportunities and experiences they deserve.” 

“The People and Transportation Project report makes clear that the high cost of getting around is holding too many Western Massachusetts folks back," said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. "One of the most effective solutions is to build more homes where people can easily reach public transportation, and specifically the future West-East Rail. Transit-oriented housing lowers household transportation costs, supports a stronger transit network, and cuts emissions. It’s good housing policy, good transportation policy, and good environmental policy." 

“Transportation has been an ongoing challenge for our clients in Western Mass for a long time,” said Keith Fairey, President and CEO of Way Finders, “This study is important because it includes direct input from our clients. Their voices were critical to the study’s findings.” 

"This survey brings to life the views and experiences of people we often do not hear from in enough detail in most surveys,” said Steve Koczela, President of The MassINC Polling Group. "The very large sample sizes means we can explore transportation needs even down to the neighborhood level." 

To carry out the project, MassDOT worked with The MassINC Polling Group (MPG), a public opinion research firm based in Boston and Northampton, and Way Finders, a non-profit community development corporation headquartered in Springfield. Together, they surveyed over 1,600 Way Finders clients and held eight focus groups. MPG also ran a separate survey of 600 residents of Hampden and Hampshire counties making less than $75,000 per year. Way Finders staff played a key role in every step of the project, from helping to design and lead focus groups through writing the survey, sharing it with clients, and analyzing the results.   

Perhaps the most striking finding of the research is how much the cost transportation is weighing on these lower-income residents. About half (49%) of low-income residents in Hampden and Hampshire counties in Western Massachusetts report that their monthly transportation expenses are a burden. Among those getting help from Way Finders, that number rises to 80%. Nearly half (49%) of Way Finders clients say their transportation costs are a “very big burden.” A majority (62%) of Way Finders clients say they have missed paying other bills due to the cost of transportation, and 75% have been unable to afford to get where they needed to be. 

The report also found:

• Driving is the dominant travel mode in both surveys. Way Finders clients are much more likely to have only one car, and most say they could not afford a major repair or borrow another car if needed.
• More than 80% of Way Finders clients have been negatively affected by problems with transportation, including being late for or missing appointments (54%), being late for work or school (36%), skipping medical care (31%), and being stranded somewhere (25%).
• Getting to Boston is a particular challenge for people in both surveys, especially for medical appointments. Most people in both surveys say they would be likely to ride West-East Rail to Boston.
• Most people in both surveys support continuing fare free service on the PVTA, and most Way Finders clients say that fare-free buses would make them likely to ride more than they do now. 

MassDOT will use the findings to help plan transportation projects that better meet community needs. Way Finders will use the data to better understand the transportation challenges its clients face and improve its services to help them overcome barriers to economic opportunity.  

The Healey-Driscoll Administration and MassDOT continue to address transportation accessibility and affordability in Western Massachusetts. Through the FY26 budget, fare free regional transit service will be extended at all 15 Regional Transit Authorities, including the PVTA. MassDOT is working to advance Compass Rail, a vision for intercity passenger rail connections utilizing existing services and new connections between the western and eastern Massachusetts, including West-East Rail.  

The Healey-Driscoll administration also delivered an all time high of $300 million in Chapter 90 funding for cities and towns to make repairs and improvements to local roads, bridges, sidewalks and culverts. This funding includes a new formula that will allow for $100 million of the total investment to be allocated based exclusively on road miles, which will benefit small and rural communities statewide. 

To view the report, visit https://www.mass.gov/the-people-and-transportation-project.  

About Way Finders

Way Finders is a nonprofit community development corporation, headquartered in Springfield, MA, working to strengthen housing stability and economic mobility and build thriving neighborhoods throughout Western Massachusetts. Way Finders is the largest nonprofit housing developer in the region and has created over 800 units of affordable housing in Hampden and Hampshire Counties. Way Finders also offers first time homebuyer classes, resident leadership training, family homeless shelters, fair housing counseling, and much more. Visit www.wayfinders.org to learn more.

About The MassINC Polling Group

The MassINC Polling Group (MPG) is a nonpartisan public opinion research firm serving public, private, and social-sector clients. MPG elevates the public’s voice with cutting-edge methods and rigorous analysis. Based in Boston, MPG serves a nationwide client base. Learn more at massincpolling.com. 

###