The Stoneham Transportation Advisory Committee (STAC), formed from the 2015 Stoneham Square Action Plan, is an all-volunteer advocacy group that works to improve and increase transportation options for all stakeholders in Stoneham. Meeting monthly, and coordinating their efforts with Stoneham Director of Planning Erin Wortman and MA State Representative Michael S. Day, STAC has worked to rack up an impressive list of accomplishments in expanding and enhancing transportation services for all.
Wortman notes that although STAC has no “true” authority in the municipality, their strong advocacy efforts have been instrumental in the Town extending the hours for the MBTA Bus Route 132, approving a Complete Streets policy, supporting a Northern Suburban Planning Council Mobility Study, completing a Zip Code Study with MassRides, starting construction on the Tri-Community Greenway, and most recently, funding for the new Council of Aging van which will support seniors with their connectivity for medical appointments. “These accomplishments simply could not have happened without STAC and their commitment to the public process”, adds Wortman.
Capitalizing on these successes, STAC looks to three important priorities for 2018. First are plans for further extension of MBTA’s #99 and #131 bus services in connecting to Malden and Melrose rail hubs. Second is filling connectivity gaps in East/West transportation where predominantly North/South connectivity exists today. Third is the execution of “Complete Streets” - specifically in the downtown - now that all steps in the grant application process are complete, including Stoneham signing off on a Complete Streets Compliance Policy and its filing of an approved Prioritization Plan. Further strengthening this plan, the new Stoneham CDC (Community Development Corporation) has recently committed to these three priorities.