A Better City
A Better City is a Boston-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) that convenes nearly 130 business leaders to conduct policy research and advocacy on transportation, climate, and land use across Greater Boston, while operating two Transportation Management Associations and the Greenway Business Improvement District.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What A Better City does
A Better City, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) policy research and advocacy organization headquartered at 14 Beacon Street, Suite 402 in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1989 as the Artery Business Committee to support the Big Dig and rebranded in 2006, the organization represents a multi-sector coalition of nearly 130 business leaders in Greater Boston and convenes research and policy work across transportation, climate, and land use issues. Core programs include two Transportation Management Associations (A Better City TMA and Allston Brighton TMA) that administer commuter programs and transportation demand management for employer and property-manager members, operation of the Greenway Business Improvement District funding 17 acres of downtown public space, the GoMassCommute mobility benefits administration platform, the MassDOT-funded Guided Ride Series, and the PowerCorpsBOS building-operations workforce development partnership with the City of Boston.
The business model rests on three recurring revenue streams: membership dues from approximately 130 enterprise member institutions, foundation grants from funders including the Barr Foundation, The Boston Foundation, the Linde Family Foundation, and the Paul and Edith Babson Foundation, and service contracts through the TMAs and Greenway BID. The go-to-market is sales-led direct engagement with senior executives at Greater Boston institutions; member acquisition occurs through Executive Committee meetings, board meetings, member briefings, and specialized committees. The organization is governed by a board of directors and employs a lean staff of approximately 11, supplemented by senior advisors and an affiliated subsidiary, A Better City Initiative, a separate 501(c)(3) established to facilitate private investment in transportation, land development, and environmental projects.
A Better City firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- A Better City
- Legal name
- A Better City, Inc.
- Website
- https://abettercity.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- A Better City is a Boston-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) that convenes nearly 130 business leaders to conduct policy research and advocacy on transportation, climate, and land use across Greater Boston, while operating two Transportation Management Associations and the Greenway Business Improvement District.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
A Better City industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Policy Advocacy and Transportation Management
- NAICS
- Other Urban Transit Systems (485119)
- SIC
- Transportation Services (4700), Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities) (BPAIANAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL), Local Transportation, Parking & Mobility Administration (BPAIACAM)
Keywords
Where A Better City is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
A Better City business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: A Better City generates revenue through membership dues from nearly 130 business leader member companies and institutions across Greater Boston's business community.
- Foundation Grants: The organization receives grant funding from foundations including The Paul and Edith Babson Foundation, Barr Foundation, The Boston Foundation, the Green Ribbon Commission, the Linde Family Foundation, and the Forest Foundation to support specific programs and initiatives.
- Transportation Management Association Services: The two TMAs (A Better City TMA and Allston Brighton TMA) provide commuter services to member employers and properties, including mobility programs, data analysis, and transportation demand management services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
A Better City product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A Better City is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) policy research and advocacy organization that convenes nearly 130 Greater Boston business leaders to influence transportation, climate, and land use policy. It sells business memberships and runs two Transportation Management Associations providing commuter programs and incentives, while operating the Greenway Business Improvement District and administering the GoMassCommute mobility benefits platform.
Product overview
A Better City operates a portfolio of transportation management and mobility services primarily focused on the Greater Boston area. The core offerings include GoMassCommute, an online mobility benefits administration platform; two Transportation Management Associations (A Better City TMA and Allston Brighton TMA) that provide commuting programs, incentives, and advocacy for sustainable commuting; and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) services including customized mobility support, bike benefits, Guaranteed Ride Home programs, and data analysis tools. The organization also runs the MassDOT-funded Guided Ride Series and partners on the PowerCorpsBOS workforce development program. These programs work together to help employers, developers, and property managers reduce drive-alone commuters, minimize vehicle emissions, and improve access to transportation options across Boston neighborhoods.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- A Better City TMA: Transportation Management Association established in 1996 serving neighborhoods of Charlestown, West End, North End, South End, Downtown, Chinatown, Back Bay, and Fenway Kenmore
- Allston Brighton TMA
- GoMassCommute
Products and services
- GoMassCommute Online platform administered by A Better City's TMAs to provide mobility benefits and programs. Allows commuters to sign up for commuter programs, log trips (MBTA, bicycle, walking, driving, telecommute), access incentives and promotions, and participate in raffles. Provides network management dashboards for partners to view trip data including mode, distance, time, and estimated GHG emissions saved. For TMA partner employers, property managers, and commuters in Greater Boston.
- A Better City TMA Transportation Management Association established in 1996 serving Charlestown, West End, North End, South End, Downtown, Chinatown, Back Bay, and Fenway Kenmore neighborhoods. Provides commuting programs, incentives, and advocacy for sustainable commuting, and assists members with compliance with Massachusetts DEP Rideshare Regulation and City of Boston Transportation Access Plan Agreements. For employers and property managers in the service area.
- Allston Brighton TMA Transportation Management Association established in 2014 serving Allston and Brighton neighborhoods. Oversees the Consolidated Shuttle Service, providing shuttle services and increasing mobility throughout the neighborhood. Offers TDM programming and commuter services. For employers and property managers in Allston and Brighton.
- Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Services Data-driven mobility services including customized mobility support, bike benefits (stipends, repair clinics, roadside repair), Guaranteed Ride Home program, express bus support, ferry support, car/van pooling tools, and data analysis using ZIP Analysis Tools and trip loggers. For TMA member employers, property managers, and commuters across Greater Boston.
- Guided Ride Series MassDOT-funded program launched in April 2025 to give people knowledge and confidence to navigate Greater Boston by bicycle and transit. Focuses on five main pathways feeding into separated bike infrastructure downtown. For commuters and residents of Greater Boston.
- PowerCorpsBOS Partnership Equitable workforce development program in building operations. A Better City partners with the City of Boston to develop and implement a building operations program track for 18-30 year old Boston residents to train, intern, and gain employment in large buildings. For Boston residents ages 18-30 seeking building operations careers.
- Greenway Business Improvement District (BID) Operations Business Improvement District operations for the Rose Kennedy Greenway, providing long-term funding and management of 17 acres of public space in downtown Boston through contributions from abutters. Coordinated by A Better City in partnership with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, City of Boston, Greenway Conservancy, and abutters. For property owners in the BID service area and the public.
Quantifiable outcome
- Bluebikes reached 4.7 million annual trips in 2024 with e-bike introduction
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use A Better City
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
A Better City technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
A Better City partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Greenway ConservancycoreA Better City led the process to establish the Greenway Business Improvement District and continues to play a central role in BID operations. The partnership includes the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, City of Boston, Greenway Conservancy, and abutters to fund the Rose Kennedy Greenway, 17 acres of public space created after the Big Dig.
- Boston University School of Public HealthcorePartner in B-COOL Temperature Sensor Project and the Community Adaptations to City Heat (CATCH) project researching heat interventions and policy impacts.
- Civic Space CollaborativeminorCollaborated on the Greening the Blue Line report investigating nature-based solutions along the Blue Line corridor in East Boston.
- Weston & SampsonminorConsulting partner on the Greening the Blue Line report for nature-based solutions design concepts.
- Stone Living LabminorProvided generous support for the Greening the Blue Line report on nature-based solutions along the Blue Line corridor.
- TransSComm TMAminorIn May 2021, A Better City TMA's service area expanded to include members formerly served by TranSComm TMA (established 1993).
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
A Better City competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TransitCenter: National foundation-funded nonprofit focused on urban transit research, advocacy, and equitable mobility. Comparable as a transportation-focused advocacy nonprofit that publishes influential research and engages public agencies on transit funding and policy.
- SPUR (San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association): San Francisco Bay Area-based nonprofit that combines research, education, and advocacy on land use, transportation, housing, and climate. Directly comparable as a membership-supported urban research and policy organization shaping regional infrastructure decisions.
- MassINC: Massachusetts-based independent nonprofit producing research and policy analysis on economic, housing, transportation, and civic issues. Closely comparable as a Boston-area research/advocacy nonprofit that influences state policy and serves as a thought partner to civic and business leaders.
- Smart Growth America: National nonprofit advocacy organization promoting walkable, inclusive, and transit-oriented development. Comparable as a coalition-driven urban planning and transportation advocacy nonprofit working at the intersection of land use, climate, and infrastructure policy.
- Pioneer Institute: Boston-based independent public policy think tank producing research on education, healthcare, transportation, and economic opportunity. Comparable as a Massachusetts-rooted policy research organization that shapes state and local public-policy debate.
- Regional Plan Association: Independent nonprofit research, planning, and advocacy organization covering the New York–New Jersey–Connecticut region. Directly comparable to A Better City as a regional business-and-civic coalition conducting transportation, land use, and climate research to influence major infrastructure and policy outcomes.
Emerging players
- Center for Planning Excellence: Louisiana-based nonprofit focused on integrated planning, design, and development to create more equitable, sustainable communities. Comparable as a regional nonprofit using research and convening to influence urban planning, climate resilience, and transportation outcomes.
- Conservation Law Foundation: New England-based environmental advocacy organization that uses legal, policy, and scientific work to advance climate and environmental priorities. Comparable as a regional advocacy nonprofit whose climate, transportation, and land-use focus overlaps with A Better City's resilience and decarbonization agenda.
- WalkBoston: Boston-area nonprofit advocating for walkable, pedestrian-friendly streets and transit-oriented development. Comparable as a regional advocacy nonprofit focused on mobility, streetscape design, and equitable transportation access in Greater Boston.
Regional players
- goDCgo: Washington, D.C.-area Transportation Management Association providing commuter programs, incentives, and TDM services to employers and property managers. Comparable as a TMA operating a digital commuter benefits platform analogous to GoMassCommute, though in a different geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
A Better City social profiles
Digital presenceA Better City financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
A Better City leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
A Better City subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
A Better City funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
A Better City M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about A Better City
What does A Better City do?
A Better City is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) policy research and advocacy organization that convenes nearly 130 Greater Boston business leaders to influence transportation, climate, and land use policy. It sells business memberships and runs two Transportation Management Associations providing commuter programs and incentives, while operating the Greenway Business Improvement District and administering the GoMassCommute mobility benefits platform.
Is A Better City a public or private company?
A Better City is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was A Better City founded?
A Better City was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is A Better City based?
A Better City is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does A Better City make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants and transportation Management Association Services.
Who are A Better City's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TransitCenter, SPUR (San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association), MassINC, Smart Growth America, Pioneer Institute and Regional Plan Association. Emerging players are Center for Planning Excellence, Conservation Law Foundation and WalkBoston. goDCgo is listed as a regional player.
Does A Better City have an API?
No public API is recorded for A Better City.
What industry is A Better City in?
A Better City's product category is Urban Policy Advocacy and Transportation Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAJ, Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities), with a secondary code of BPADALAL, Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure. Its NAICS code is 485119 and its SIC code is 4700.