Requested by Mayor Wu last summer, the proposal is the result of over six months of collaboration among healthcare providers, community leaders, and law enforcement.

Key Pillars of the recommendations:

• Public Safety & Diversion
• Judicial Initiatives
• Long-term Continuum of Care
• Rapid Re-Engagement

The integrated approach, informed by stakeholder input and a review of past practices, shifts away from fragmented activities toward a “Shared Vision” that connects public safety, judicial initiatives, and a recovery model focused on the long-term continuum of care.

Thank you to our incredible keynote speaker, Chris Herren, for bravely sharing his powerful story of addiction and recovery, and for taking the time to connect personally with our Back2Work crew.

We also thank current and former program participants, Melissa and Crystal, for courageously sharing their experiences and successes with the Back2Work program. Their stories are a powerful reminder of why this work matters and the real impact your support makes every day.

To our sponsors, attendees, and donors — thank you for believing in this mission and helping make this unforgettable night possible.

We listened to General Manager of the MBTA, Phillip Eng, speak about ongoing and upcoming improvements. Most significantly, the historic and groundbreaking move to electrifying the Fairmount Commuter Rail line.

We also heard from former Back2Work Participant, Will, tell his story of success going through our program. His testimony can be found on our Back2Work program page alongside other members who have had their lives changed by their participation.

Finally, we celebrated the Members of the Year, Stan Walczak and Gerry DiPierro. These gentlemen are great pillars of the Newmarket community and have significantly supported the Back2Work program throughout the years.

Not only did we have an impactful night of speakers, but we also had an impactful night of fundraising! We met our goal of raising over $100,000 to benefit the BID’s Back2Work Program and other nonprofit organizations in the Newmarket area.

THANK YOU to everyone who joined us for this great event!

The projects ranged from an idyllic sky-bridge between mixed use shops and apartment buildings to re-imaging the Massachusetts Ave and Melnea Cass Blvd intersection into a roundabout. One project saw the potential in the area behind wholesale loading docks as market-style storefronts open to individual shoppers, while another paid attention to the potential of building near the Newmarket train station.

While most projects ultimately had conflicting constraints with the zoning restrictions, the BID was encouraged to see the ways Newmarket entices innovation. The recent zoning changes in line with PLAN: Newmarket are meant to make the area exciting for developers and businesses to thrive in the district.

Boston, MA 02118

Price available upon request

Urban Retail Space perfect for incubator lab spaces,
tradespeople, last mile delivery, and creative uses.

Property Size: 1,000-1,500 sqft

The Fairmount Line runs through some of Greater Boston’s highest density residential neighborhoods and makes it possible for workers to commute to the city on a quicker and more efficient mode of transportation. Now, after nearly two decades of advocating as a part of the Fairmount Indigo Transit Coalition, the Newmarket BID celebrates the Fairmount commuter rail line’s electrification. 

The Fairmount Line is uniquely positioned to serve historically underserved communities with a fast, reliable, and now, soon-to-be electric public transit system. In the study, “Increasing Ridership on the Fairmount Line” by The Boston Foundation, it was highlighted that the Fairmount Line, “disproportionately serves residents that are more likely to rely on transit for mobility… [it] also serves a disproportionate percentage of residents of low income households and people with disabilities.” (TBF; Increasing ridership on the Fairmount Line 2017, 38). 

The MBTA Board approved the line’s electrification which will remove the diesel-powered trains from the track. Additionally, electrification will help reduce the environmental impact on neighborhoods along the route. The change to electrified train cars will also increase the frequency of the line’s service to approximately 20 minutes between trains to and from South Station. 

For Newmarket residents, the commute into South Station will be a mere 8 minutes and allows for much greater access throughout the city. For those who commute to work in the Newmarket area, the station is conveniently located within walking distance of Suffolk construction, 1010 Mass Ave, and a satellite location for BMC staff. For those looking to visit the South Bay Shopping Center, the Newmarket commuter rail station is a short walk down the block from popular stores and eateries. 

On Monday, August 13th Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits Nutt, MBTA General Manager Phil Eng and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu hosted a press conference to celebrate the history-making development in the electrification of the Fairmount Commuter Rail line. 
You can watch the Press Conference here: https://www.youtube.com/live/FtsWOzXcdmU?si=ZTuu5pzbb7pHsyaJ