Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District

10/29/2026

November 5th, 6:00 PM!

On 11/5, at 6:00pm, is holding a live virtual public information meeting to discuss the I-195/Route 18 Interchange Rehabilitation Project.

ℹ For more information seek link in comments.

10/27/2026

Happy ! 🚗

October is Pedestrian Safety Month in the US. 🚶Whether walking to work, school, errands, or just for exercise, at some point in the day, everyone is a pedestrian. In 2024, 71,635 pedestrians were injured in traffic crashes in the US, and an additional 7,080 were killed. When it comes to keeping pedestrians safe, we all have a responsibility in protecting all types of road users. 🚸

SRPEDD's SS4A Safety Action Plan highlights region-specific pedestrian data regarding safety, crashes, and fatal or serious injuries. This plan also highlights key countermeasures that local municipalities can adopt in transportation planning to support greater road safety for pedestrians and other road users. 👟 Some of these pedestrian safety examples include:

🚸 Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
🚸 Improved Pedestrian Lighting
🚸 Curb extensions

Scroll through this post to learn more about pedestrian safety data, SRPEDD-specific information, and examples of countermeasures that support pedestrian safety. To read SRPEDD's SS4A Safety Action Plan, click here: https://srpedd.org/transportation/ss4a-safety-action-plan/

10/20/2026

Happy ! 🚲

SRPEDD is now accepting applications for a new Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)! 🚶

The BPAC will bring together people from across the SRPEDD region to help inform regional bicycle and pedestrian planning and support the advancement of recommendations and action items from the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Bicycle Plan and Regional Pedestrian Plan. 🗺️

We’re looking for a diverse group of residents, transportation users, advocates, municipal and agency staff, and other community members who can bring a range of experiences and perspectives to the committee. You do not need to be a transportation professional to apply! Applicants should expect ~4 meetings per year (on a quarterly basis). 🚲🚶‍♀️🚌

Interested in helping shape the future of walking, bicycling, trails, and active transportation in Southeastern Massachusetts? Apply to join the BPAC at the link below (or scan the QR code in this post), and please share this opportunity with others who may be interested! 📋

🔗 https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/PtZjau6UF6
📅 Applications are due November 16th, 2026
📍For more information or questions about BPAC, please contact [email protected]

10/16/2026

Are you ready for the next storm? The Town of Dighton and the Town of Acushnet are updating their Hazard Mitigation Plan and need residents' help to reduce risks from natural hazards like high winds, winter weather, flooding, and extreme heat.

Join us next month and learn how your community can become more resilient before the next storm hits. Can’t make it? Take our 5-minute survey and learn more about the project at: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/31cac8e958114c23b613189e36fa61e9 for Dighton and https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/f0f93666bf2f4f9bba3cb43ff4867c10 for Acushnet.

Dighton:
Monday 11/2
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Dighton Old Town Hall
1111 Somerset Ave
Dighton, MA

Acushnet:
Thursday 11/5
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Acushnet PD
64 Middle Road
Acushnet, MA

10/06/2026

Happy ! 🚗 This week, from October 1st to the 8th, is the yearly Week Without Driving.

What is Week Without Driving? Beginning in 2021, the observance was started by the Disability Rights Washington coalition with an aim to make policymakers and elected officials more aware of the barriers that nondrivers experience in accessing their communities. 🏘️ Five years later, the coalition has grown to include more than 600 cohosting organizations across all 50 states, Canada, and Australia. 🗺️

Here are some nondriver data and facts that highlight why Week Without Driving is so important.
📍73% of drivers say they have no choice but to drive as much as they do, and 53% want more options. Nearly 1 in 3 people in the US cannot drive at all.
📍The lowest-income households with cars spend 40% of their income on transportation compared to 7% for those without a car.
📍About 30% of people in rural and low-density communities (more than 37 million people in the US) live in households with fewer cars than driving age people.

To learn more about Week Without Driving, its importance, and how you can get involved in better understanding the gaps that exist in your community for nondrivers, scroll through this post and visit the following link: https://weekwithoutdriving.org/

09/29/2026

Happy !🚗

Fall in Southeastern Massachusetts provides the perfect opportunity to get out and explore the best of what our communities have to offer. From cultural festivals, to pumpkin picking, costume competitions, and more, there's something for everyone! 🧛🍂 Today's post highlights just some of the many fall events and celebrations happening across the region. Scroll through this post to learn more about upcoming events, and see below for details and links to each! 🍬

📍Wareham Sip and Stroll
🗺️Besse Park, 81 Main Street, Wareham, MA
🗺️Saturday, October 3 from 1-4:00PM
Link: https://wareham.theweektoday.com/article/sip-stroll-returns-wareham-oct-3/159366

📍FABRIC Arts Festival
🗺️Events being held across the region, with Opening Night at the New Bedford Whaling Museum
🗺️October 8-11, at varying times
Link: https://fabricfallriver.com/About/7th_edition

📍Elliot Farms Harvest Festival
🗺️Elliot Farm, 202 Main Street, Lakeville, MA
🗺️Saturday, October 10th from 1-5:00PM
Link: https://www.elliotfarm.org/harvest-fest

📍Fairhaven Halloween Horribles Parade
🗺️Livesey Park, 25 Morgan Street, Fairhaven, MA
🗺️Saturday, October 24th from 5-7:00PM
Link: https://www.discoverfairhaven.org/event-details-registration/annual-halloween-horribles-parade-presented-by-the-nfia

09/22/2026

Happy ! 🚗This week, from September 20 - 22, the SRPEDD Transportation Department is highlighting Child Passenger Safety Week. 🚸

Did you know?
📍In 2024, 677 children were killed as passengers in a vehicle crash, and an additional 127,000 were injured.
📍NHTSA estimates that since 1975, vehicle child restraints have saved the lives of 11,606 children.

These facts, and others, are vital in understanding why Child Passenger Safety Week is so important. The following safety tips highlight important considerations when children are in vehicles.

📍Before installing a car seat, read both the car seat instructions and the vehicle owner’s manual. Don’t rush children to the next car seat level, and keep children under 13 in the back seat.
📍When a child is ready to use a seat belt, teach proper seat belt safety. Seat belts should never rest on the stomach area. Make sure they lie across the upper thighs and is snug along the shoulder and chest.

To learn more facts on Child Passenger Safety week, read more safety tips, and view campaign materials to highlight this week, scroll through this post to learn more! 🌎

09/15/2026

Happy ! 🚗As Summer closes and Fall begins, Southeastern Massachusetts will approach peak fall foliage over the next few weeks. 🌳Across all of our communities, there are opportunities to get outside, explore, and see nature change!

Today's post highlights four of the many places in the region for our community members to connect with nature. 🌄 Whether you're looking for a challenging hiking route, a place to view wildlife in its natural habitat, or just want to see the colors of the trees change in real time, these four locations have you covered. 🚶‍♀️‍➡️

📍Copicut Woods, Fall River
📍Carvalho Farm, Fairhaven
📍Betty's Neck, Lakeville
📍Aucoot Woods, Marion

For each of these locations, see each individual slide for a brief history, address, hours of operation, and parking information. ✏️Scroll through this post to learn more!

09/15/2026

Southeastern MA Farmland Protection Initiative - Webinar 2 Announcement!
Calling all municipal representatives!
Webinar 2 - Saving the Farm:
Municipalities' Right of First Refusal During Chapter 61A Transfer
Facilitated by Ch. 61 Expert Dennis Murphy

Wednesday, October 14, 2:00-3:30 pm

Register HERE! (https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QzKJBrIbSCyJmurADaU5hg #/registration)

Join us for the second webinar of the SE MA Farmland Protection Initiative's four-part webinar series. The Southeastern Regional Economic Development District (SRPEDD), Wildlands Trust (WT), and Old Colony Planning Councill (OCPC) are partnering to help protect valuable and vulnerable Chapter 61A farmlands in the SRPEDD and OCPC regions of southeastern MA by working directly with municipalities to support the use of farmland protection tools.

The second webinar will focus on municipal response strategies to a Chapter 61A purchase and sale notification and how to assist in saving the farm!

Webinar 2 Content:
What is a municipal Right of First Refusal for Chapter 61 land?
What is a bona fide offer on Chapter 61A lands?
Municipal response strategies for Chapter 61A sale notification.
Takeaways from Chapter 61A court cases.
Funding sources for exercising municipal Right of First Refusal
Chapter 61A Case Study: Picone Farm, Middleborough

Through project offerings municipal representatives and stakeholders can work directly with SRPEDD, OCPC, and Wildlands Trust to identify barriers to farmland protection, learn about farmland protection tools, and support farmland protection initiatives in their community.

Register for Webinar 2! (https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QzKJBrIbSCyJmurADaU5hg #/registration)
To register for the webinar and receive a calendar invite: Meeting Registration - Zoom

Join our Mailing List: To sign up for the SE MA Farmland Protection Initiative project mailing list, please follow this link (https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/iTMhj8x/munifarmprotect) or visit our website (https://srpedd.org/farmland-protection-initiative/) for more information.

09/01/2026

Happy ! 🚗 Across the SRPEDD region, kids are going back to school! This means that more buses will be present on the road, and it's everyone's responsibility to make sure every child gets to school safely. 🏫

Millions of students ride the bus every day, and while school buses are one of the safest vehicles on the road, there were still 119 fatal injuries on a school bus between 2015 and 2024. 🛣️In every state, it is illegal for you to pass a school bus while the stop-arm is extended and the red lights are flashing. 🚍

To learn more about school bus safety, when to stop for school buses, and how to provide bus safety tips for children, scroll through the rest of this post. Please use this resource to help educate children and drivers you know! 🚦