Our monthly Longwood Happenings newsletter is the perfect way to get important, streamlined information about the LMA sent straight to your inbox. From travel advisories to upcoming Outside// events and everything in between, our newsletter has you covered! We'll keep you up-to-date on all you need to know about the Longwood Medical and Academic area.

Click here for our March edition which highlights transit driver appreciation day, our feature in the Boston Globe, and more.

A Message from the President 

Dear Longwood,

The Longwood Medical & Academic Area (LMA) is a bustling district with thousands of people coming to the area every day to work, study, or receive medical care. Each day in the LMA, patients receive top notch care from doctors, scientists contribute to groundbreaking research, and students study hard.

One fundamental component to the success of the LMA is our transit system, a network of trains, buses, and shuttles, all operated by dedicated transit drivers. This includes the shuttle drivers who provide an invaluable service to our local institutions, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University, and Boston University. In addition, our own fleet of 37 shuttles relies upon experienced drivers who move 2.6 million passengers annually to and from their destinations safely and on time.

That's why, for the second year in a row, we're giving special thanks and recognition to these drivers in celebration of Transit Driver Appreciation Day, recognized on March 18th. They are the unsung heroes of the LMA who keep the community moving and thriving. It is my hope that gestures of gratitude for transit drivers extends beyond the day of recognition, reminding us that in Longwood we depend on each other and our individual contributions to the community.

Sincerely,

David Sweeney

President & CEO

Longwood Collective TMA Weighs in on Commuting 

Dorothy Fennell, Program Manager for the Longwood Collective Transportation Management Association (TMA), authored a piece in the Boston Globe published on March 19th about the critical role that TMAs play in our communities. The article highlights how TMAs help educate and inform employers, employees, and commuters about better alternatives to driving to work alone, and the resources that are available to help make that transition.

Our Longwood Collective TMA is here to support commuters in making the multi-mobility switch to improve public health, reduce emissions, ease traffic congestions, and unlock economic opportunity for all.

Winner: Ice Sculpture Stroll Selfie Challenge 

Congratulations to our winner of the Winter Stroll Raffle, Sydney Rella and friends, who posed by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health sculpture!

We received so many great photo submissions of LMA workers, patients, students, and visitors participating in our Winter Stroll. Some folks even visited every single sculpture! It is placemaking events like this from our Outside// team that keeps the community feeling lively and connected, even in the cold winter months.

Transit Driver Appreciation Day Event 

Our celebration of Transit Driver Appreciation Day was a success as we visited the team of drivers who ensure our 2.6 million annual passengers get to where they need to go. Sharing laughs and stories over pizza, cake, and gift bags, the event recognized and celebrated drivers for all their hard work.

One driver, who will celebrate 30 years of service this year, told a story of his passenger expressing gratitude in honor of the celebration.

He said, “One of my usual passengers noticed the sign hanging in the bus, and gave me a Dunkin gift card. It meant so much to me to know that these people I see day in and day out really care.”

While our gratitude for transit drivers in the LMA extends far beyond March 18th, this annual event has become a much-anticipated tradition that we look forward to continuing for years to come.

Red Sox Season Opener: April 9th

It's that time of year again! The Red Sox will play their first home game of the season on Tuesday, April 9th.

As we look forward to this tradition, it is important to keep in mind the impact of Red Sox games on traffic, parking, public transit, and shuttle services during gamedays in the area. Be sure to check out the channels below for up-to-date information on LMA Shuttle game-day detours.

April 10th: Muddy River Symposium

The Muddy River Restoration Project Maintenance and Management Oversight Committee (the MMOC) and the Muddy River Restoration Project Cabinet invite you to attend their 2024 Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 10th from 6 pm to 8:30 pm at the Simmons University Paresky Center.

The Keynote this year consists of a panel of community activists and participants from the Fenway Victory Gardens. The panel discussion will explore the history of the Gardens, their role in crafting and maintaining a sustainable ecosystem, and how individual gardeners view their roles as stewards of the Fenway community.

MBTA Updates Near the District

Orange Line

• Orange Line service will be suspended between Forest Hills and Ruggles station during the weekends of March 30-31, April 6-7, April 20-21, and April 27-28. Free and accessible shuttle buses will make all stops between Forest Hills and Ruggles.

Red Line

• Red Line service will be suspended between Broadway and Ashmont stations on the Ashmont Branch and between Broadway and North Quincy stations on the Braintree Branch during the weekend of March 30-31 as well as the weekend of April 6-7. Free and accessible shuttle buses will make all stops between Broadway and Ashmont/North Quincy.

Shuttle Advisory 

The Red Sox home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9th at 2:10 p.m.

For home games, LMA shuttles on the Fenway route will operate detours with shuttles servicing Brookline Avenue and Boylston Street (Lansdowne Street & Jersey Street will be closed to traffic before, during, and after games).

We recommend all commuters plan some extra time for their trip on Tuesday, April 9th, and whenever a home game or Fenway event is scheduled.

Please check the TransLoc app for up-to-date shuttle information.

Bike Longwood Returns April 11th 

Longwood Collective is excited to announce that Bike Longwood is coming back for a second season!

Running from April 11th through September 26th, the Longwood Collective TMA will be offering free, 15-minute bike tune-ups for member institutions, together with Landry’s Bicycles.

The first event will take place on April 11th at the plaza in front of Longwood Center (360 Longwood Avenue). Keep an eye on our Linktree to book your time slot!

Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure (BERDO) Upcoming Deadlines & Resources for Building Owners

May 15th

Reporting Deadline for 2023 energy and water usage

July 1*

Hardship Compliance Plan application deadline

*After 2024, long-term Hardship Compliance Plan applications are due 12 months in advance. Short-term Hardship Compliance Plan applications are due6 months in advance.

September 1

Individual Compliance Schedule application deadline

The City's Environment Department is offering resources and info sessions for building owners who need assistance, including:

• Weekly office hours on Fridays at 10am via Zoom (register here), or one-on-one building emissions consultations available (register here).
• Webinars on flexibility measures and emissions compliance (upcoming sessions listed here).

Longwood in the News

Longwood Medical Area chills out

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health News

An ice sculpture depicting two hands holding up the globe was Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s contribution to the first-ever Longwood Winter Stroll. The event, held February 15, featured ice sculptures from 15 institutions across the Longwood Medical and Academic Area (LMA), including hospitals, colleges, cultural institutions, biotech companies, and developers. It was sponsored by the Longwood Collective, a nonprofit that provides programs and services in the LMA.

Mother Caroline Students explore health careers at Boston Children's Hospital

Dorchester Reporter

Mother Caroline Academy in Grove Hall has launched an immersive career development program for middle school students at Boston Children’s Hospital. The week-long Science, Technology, Education, and Healthcare Career (STEHC) Camp took place from March 4 to March 8, offering seventh- and eighth-grade students exposure to future careers in medicine. The program follows a successful pilot program completed last March. Mother Caroline Academy serves students who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch programs. 

Wentworth announces a 10-year plan that includes several building projects

Boston.com

Wentworth Institute of Technology announced a 10-year construction plan Wednesday that will "dramatically transform" its 31-acre Boston campus. The plan includes three new dormitories, as well as new academic buildings and outdoor green spaces. According to a release, the new residence halls will add about 1,400 beds for students, allowing the university to provide housing for every first-year student.

Shifting focus: Investigators describe changes to pancreatic cells at onset of type 1 diabetes

Medical XPress

"In the field of type 1 diabetes, research has largely focused on understanding the immune component, but our study argues that the β-cell is a significant player," said Rohit N. Kulkarni, M.D., Ph.D., Margaret A. Congleton Chair and Co-Head of the Section on Islet & Regenerative Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center. "Our findings suggest that the β-cell could be initiating key events which then promote the autoimmune mechanism to go awry. It's a paradigm shifting approach."

High levels of exercise before the pandemic linked to decreased risk of contracting COVID-19, Brigham and Women's study finds

Boston Globe

High levels of physical activity before the pandemic are associated with a decreased risk of contracting or being hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a recent study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “The results are very exciting because they suggest an association between levels of physical activity and odds of infection and severity, in this case for COVID-19,” said Dennis Muñoz-Vergara, first author of the study.

'Sort of Surreal': Harvard Medical School Students and Families Celebrate Match Day

The Crimson

Fourth-year Harvard Medical School students crowded anxiously Friday morning with friends and family to open their Match Day letters and learn where they will complete their clinical training.