Working Port Recommendations

Recommendations for the Future of Boston's Working Waterfront

The 2018 report Innovation in Boston’s Working Port: Planning a 21s t -Century Harbor set the stage for an overdue discussion of Boston Harbor’s working waterfront and the significance of its contribution to the city and the region’s economy and way of life. In early 2018, Boston Harbor Now convened national and local experts to discuss the working waterfront issues highlighted in the report and explore solutions employed by other national and international port cities. Our year-long research revealed that there is a large body of academic literature on ports (see Appendix, in general). However, literature that specifically deals with and responds to the challenges of an evolving working waterfront and its relationship to cities is still rare. The second installment of Innovation in Boston’s Working Port focuses on developing recommendations that respond to the needs of Boston’s working waterfront and the four themes that emerged from our discussions with stakeholders, industry experts, advocates, and city and state officials: Growth, Flexibility, Synergy, and Change .

Planning a 21st Century Harbor – 2019