Published On: October 6, 20260.7 min read

Full and original article posted on WCCA TV 194’s Chandler Chat.

On this episode of the Chandler Chat, host Harriette Chandler welcomes Paul Matthews, Executive Director of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, to discuss their recent report “The Promises of the Worcester/Framingham Line” on how the MBTA commuter rail is serving Worcester and the surrounding area after the Covid pandemic. They reflect on how rising gas prices is pushing many towards public transit, and how upcoming construction projects on the Pike will lead to more traffic and congestion which will also contribute to an increased ridership on the Worcester Line. They examine the ridership data that their study has gathered, speak on what the service could look like, and what ongoing and future work could unlock its potential.

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Electric Vehicles require chargers. In Worcester County, there are approximately 1,100 charging ports across 366 different locations. Most of these are "Level 2" which means it would take 4-10 hours to charge from empty to 80%. While this is great and this number continues to grow, the density of public charging stations, especially DC Fast chargers, must increase in order to support the increasing adoption of zero emissions vehicles. For more on Charging Infrastructure across Worcester County, read "On Track for Zero Emissions?" Link in bio. #WorcPoli
Here's a quick breakdown/introduction of WRRB's recent report "On Track for Zero Emissions" from WRRB Researcher, Josh. This report is a close analysis of electric vehicles adoption in Worcester County and includes some key recommendations. 1) The Commonwealth must commit to spending on EV charging stations across the state’s highways, including money that has already been granted. 2) The density of fully public charging stations locally must increase, including more DC fast chargers. 3) Getting municipal feedback on where to put chargers, especially curb-side, is crucial, and we must encourage all municipalities to do so. 4) Municipalities should offer zoning incentives to encourage EV charging infrastructure construction. For our full analysis, use the link in our bio.
Worcester Almanac: 2026 compiles data from a variety of sources to inform decision-makers and the general public on important areas of interest for the City of Worcester, surrounding communities, and Worcester County. WRRB has established dashboards for each section in the Worcester Almanac and will be released weekly with a our usual publication later in the fall. This week, Worcester Regional Research Bureau is pleased to release its Transportation & Infrastructure Data Dashboard. This interactive data tool includes charts and tables on Commuting, Motor Vehicles, Worcester Regional Airport, Parking, Rideshare, WRTA and the Commuter Rail, Street and Water Infrastructure, Trash, Recycling, and much more. For all of WRRB's Almanac Dashboards: link in bio. #WorcPoli
WRRB recently released "On Track for Zero Emissions?" - a close analysis of electric vehicle (EV) adoption within Worcester County's sixty municipalities! Here are some of the key takeaways, for our full analysis and recommendations, read the report at the link in our bio. #WorcPoli
Worcester Almanac: 2026 compiles data from a variety of sources to inform decision-makers and the general public on important areas of interest for the City of Worcester, surrounding communities, and Worcester County. The Worcester Almanac: 2026 is an important tool for public officials, business leadership, and members of the public covering a wide array of public policy issues in the region. For the first time, the Worcester Regional Research Bureau has established dashboards for each section in the Worcester Almanac: Government, Transportation & Infrastructure, Demographics & the Economy, Education, Public Safety, Health, Weather, and Sports. Dashboards will be released weekly with the WRRB's annual Worcester Almanac will still be released as our PDF compendium of data later in the fall. This week, Worcester Regional Research Bureau is pleased to release its Government Data Dashboard. This interactive data tool includes charts and tables on the Population, Voter Turnout and Registration, Tax Rates, Property Values, Municipal Finance, Bond Ratings, Public Employee Counts, Library System, and much more, including a separate map function for some of the data. Click the link in our bio for Worcester Almanac: 2026.
New Report Release! On Track for Zero Emissions? is a close analysis of electric vehicle (EV) adoption within Worcester County's sixty municipalities! In 2025, according to the International Energy Agency, 25% of all vehicles sold worldwide were either battery electric or plug-in hybrids. In Worcester County, the number of battery electric and plug-in hybrid registrations (“zero-emissions vehicles”) grew from 0.44% of all vehicles in January 2021 to 2.21% of all vehicles in January 2026. While the number of registered zero-emissions vehicles remains low in Worcester County, it is growing. For our full analysis and recommendations use the link in our bio. #WorcPoli
In Paying for a Public Education, The Research Bureau continues its annual practice of explaining how Worcester Public Schools' budget works, highlighting revenues and expenditures, how Massachusetts determines what it costs for an “adequate education,” how WPS compares to other Gateway Cities, and what to watch out for in future years. Read Paying for a Public Education: FY27 at the link in our bio #WorcPoli
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In Paying for a Public Education, The Research Bureau continues its annual practice of breaking down WPS' 2026-2027 budget of $623.8 million, an increase of 5.8% from last year. The report explains how WPS' budget works, highlights revenues and expenditures, how Massachusetts determines what it costs for an “adequate education,” how WPS compares to other Gateway Cities, and what to watch out for in future years. Read Paying for a Public Education: FY27: link in bio. #WorcPoli
Breaking Down the Budget is WRRB's annual examination of the City of Worcester's approved budget. The report reviews the budget process and governance structure, and dives into how the City funds services, allocates resources, and prepares for future challenges. The report highlights revenues for FY27 which totals $1.001 billion, crossing the billion-dollar threshold for the first time, as well as expenditures, which are divided across three main categories, Education (61% of the budget), City Services (21.6%), and Fixed Costs (17.2%). The report also explores the Capital Budget, which totals $172.8 million, $159.4M in FY27 borrowing and $13.4M in grants & other funding. Read Breaking Down the Budget: FY27: link in bio! #WorcPoli

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