The communities of Amherst, Holyoke, Northampton, South Hadley and Springfield, the University of Massachusetts, and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission have been working for nearly two years to bring this 21st century amenity here.
Our Next Future

“Our Next Future” was created to chart a course for a more vibrant, competitive, sustainable and equitable region. This is a regional plan, designed to achieve success through promoting collaboration of communities on a regional basis. With this plan, we are seeking to build a sustainable prosperity in the Pioneer Valley. This involves creating more livable communities, with opportunities for rewarding work and business growth, affordable and available housing, a clean environment, safe and walkable neighborhoods, options for healthy exercise and play, and viable transportation alternatives. The plan contains place-based strategies to enhance and support our region’s vibrant sense of place. This plan also seeks to promote sustainability of the world at large, through reducing our reliance on foreign oil, increasing our energy efficiency, cutting our greenhouse gas emissions and preventing water and air pollution.
“Our Next Future” is designed to meet the many challenges in the region’s growth, development and economic prosperity. The plan is organized around the following issues and goals:
- Climate Action and Clean Energy Plan: Moving toward a carbon neutral future. Adapting to create resilient communities.
- Food Security Plan: No one goes hungry. We grow our own food.
- Housing Plan: Expanding housing choice. Creating communities of opportunity.
- Environment Plan: Protecting greenways and blueways. Growing vibrant communities in our watershed.
- Green Infrastructure Plan: Promoting clean water. Greening our streets and neighborhoods.
- Sustainable Transportation Plan: Improving Mobility. Promoting alternative modes of transportation.
- Regional Brownfields Plan: Cleaning up our industrial legacy. Building stronger neighborhoods and communities.
- Valley Vision 4 , The Pioneer Valley Land Use Plan: Growing smarter to reduce sprawl. Revitalizing our community centers.
The 43 cities and towns of the Pioneer Valley are part of the Sustainable Knowledge Corridor, which links the Springfield and Hartford metropolitan regions. The Knowledge Corridor is stitched together by several large regional systems such as the Connecticut River, the Interstate 91 corridor and the Northeast Rail Corridor. Together, the region has over 80 communities and 1.6 million residents. The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the Capitol Region Council of Governments, acknowledging the links that tie their regions together, applied jointly for a Sustainable Communities grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Additional Documents
FHEA 10-30-14 Final Report with cover.pdf

PV_ACTION_PLAN_TZ_Edit_01_14_2014 web.pdf

PV_ACTION_PLAN_intro-chapter 4.pdf

PV_ACTION_PLAN_chapter5_Chapter8.pdf

PV_ACTION_PLAN_chapter9.pdf

PV_ACTION_PLAN_chapter10_checklist.pdf

Our Next Future Articles
ValleyBike Share, which plans to put up rent-a-bike stations across the Pioneer Valley including Springfield Union Station and the Amherst town green, has a federal funding contract in hand just in time for Bay State Bike Week.
East Longmeadow residents, business owners, and all interested persons from surrounding communities are invited to learn about and provide input for the Town of East Longmeadow's Hazard Mitigation Plan on Monday, January 25th at 6:00 p.m. at the East Longmeadow Fire Department, 150 Somers Road.
PVPC has completed a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of the City of Northampton’s proposed improvements to Pleasant Street. The results of the HIA show that the proposed Pleasant Street Improvements would have an overwhelmingly positive health impact with local and regional significance.