Memorandum for the Record
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization Meeting
May 25, 2017 Meeting
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, State Transportation Building, Conference Rooms 2&3, 10 Park Plaza, Boston
David Mohler, Chair, representing Stephanie Pollack, Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)
The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization agreed to the following:
· approve the Federal Fiscal Years (FFYs) 2017–21 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Amendment 3
· endorse the FFYs 2018–22 TIP
· approve Critical Urban and Rural Freight Corridor Designations
See attendance on page 6.
David Knowlton (City of Salem) thanked the MPO for programming TIP project #608352 (Canal St. Rail Trail construction (phase 2)). He reported that recent public meetings have received positive feedback and 75% design plans will be submitted soon, with the project ready to advertise in the fall of 2017 or winter of 2018.
Yvonne Lalyre (Boston Resident) expressed opposition to the current design of project #605789 (Reconstruction of Melnea Cass Boulevard), which is programmed in FFY19. She noted that community members would like minor improvements that protect existing green areas. Y. Lalyre noted that a recent climate report by the City of Boston has indicated the area is a heat island and green space is critical.
Kurt Marden (Association for Public Transportation) asked the MPO to reconsider the programming of Rail Trail projects in suburban areas and questioned the value of project #608164 (Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, Phase 2D) in particular. K. Marden expressed the opinion that paving railroad right-of-ways for recreational trails is not responsive to the future transportation needs of the region.
Len Simon (Vice-Chair, Board of Selectmen, Town of Sudbury) reported that Sudbury has voted to provide an additional $330,000 for the design of project #608164 and thanked the MPO for programming the project for construction. L. Simon added that four legislators, four organizations, the Sudbury Town Manager, and 43 individuals submitted comments supporting the project. Beth Suedmeyer (Environmental Planner, Town of Sudbury) requested that the MPO board consider programming project #607249 (Intersection Improvements at Route 20 & Landham Road) should funds be available.
Arcady Goldmints-Orlov (MBTA Rider Oversight Committee) commented that it is hard for the public to follow the progress of transit projects between their approval with MPO funds and construction, and asked that the MPO and MBTA look into ways to better and more transparently track the progress of project design.
There was none.
There was none.
K. Quackenbush reported that prior to the MPO meeting on June 15, both the Administration & Finance and the UPWP Committees of the MPO will meet. The UPWP Committee will meet in Conference Rooms 2 & 3 and the A&F Committee will meet in Suite 2150.
A motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of April 20 was made by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (E. Bourassa) and seconded by At-Large Town (Town of Lexington) (R. Canale). The motion carried.
A. Kleyman presented the FFYs 2017-21 TIP Amendment 3 for approval.
1. FFYs 2017-21 TIP Draft Amendment Three Tables
2. FFYs 2017-2021 TIP Draft Amendment Three: Summary of Proposed Changes, Highway Element
3. FFYs 2017-2021 TIP Draft Amendment Three: Summary of Proposed Changes, Transit Element
4. MBTA Federally-Funded Projects in FY 2017 CIP with TIP Funding Program and Cost
All proposed changes to the Transit Element occur in the FFY 2017 programming year. There is one adjustment and several amendments to the Highway Element, affecting nine projects. Two of the affected projects are MPO target-funded: #607309 (Hingham) and #604810 (Reconstruction of Route 85, Marlborough).
A motion to approve the FFYs 2017-21 TIP Amendment Three was made by MetroWest Regional Collaborative (Town of Framingham) (Dennis Giombetti) and seconded by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (E. Bourassa). The motion carried.
A. Kleyman presented the FFYs 2018-22 TIP for endorsement, noting that there were no substantive changes to the document from the public review draft. Note: MPO members requested that copies of the Draft FFYs 2018-22 TIP Tables (Chapter 3 in the Public Review Draft) be printed. While these copies were being made the meeting proceeded to agenda item 10.
1. FFYs 2018-22 TIP Public Review Draft
2. MBTA Federal Capital Program (Section 5307, 5337, and 5339 Funding) FFYs 2018‐2022 TIP Programming (Federal Share Only)
3. MBTA Federally‐Funded Projects in FY 2018‐2022 CIP With TIP Federal Funding Program and Cost
4. FFYs 2018-22 TIP Comments
5. FFYs 2018-22 TIP: Summary of Comments and Draft Responses for MPO Review
K. Miller commended staff for the inclusion of project descriptions in the TIP, adding that it would be helpful to see total project cost rather than just TIP funding amounts. K. Miller added that having periodic updates on MPO-funded projects would also be useful.
J. Gillooly took this opportunity to provide brief updates on TIP projects #605789 (Reconstruction of Melnea Cass Boulevard) and #606226 (Reconstruction of Rutherford Avenue). The 25% design plans for Melnea Cass project should be submitted in June. Following this, the City would like to present to the MPO board. J. Gillooly added that quality bike accommodations and protected intersections will require the removal of some trees, but that the City is attempting to accommodate the community’s requests as much as possible. J. Gillooly added that the design for Rutherford Avenue will include underpasses, which had been a subject of discussion with the community. There will be fewer lanes than in earlier designs.
D. Giombetti thanked A. Kleyman and staff for this year’s TIP development process, adding that it was very easy to follow. D. Giombetti also thanked MassDOT and the MPO itself, particularly for keeping projects in the years they were originally programmed.
David Koses (At-Large City) (City of Newton) read the following statement: “We would like to express our appreciation to the Governor and MassDOT for their commitment to the Needham Street/Highland Avenue Reconstruction, and for stating that there will only be a four month delay. We also thank the DOT for promising to hold regular planning meetings jointly with Newton and Needham. However, we still believe that the work necessary to keep this project on track could be done cooperatively and more quickly, which is why we will vote no on the 2018-2022 TIP.”
A motion to approve the FFYs 2018-22 TIP was made by the City of Boston (Boston Transportation Department) (J. Gillooly) and seconded by At-Large City (City of Everett) (J. Monty). At-Large City (City of Newton) (D. Koses) opposed. The motion carried.
B. Kuttner presented Critical Urban and Rural Freight Corridor designations for approval and inclusion in the National Highway Freight Network (NHFN). Roadways comprising the NHFN will be eligible for federal funding that specifically supports the roadway freight system.
Kenneth Miller (Federal Highway Administration) asked whether comments were received from the Town of Weymouth. B. Kuttner responded that he communicated with Robert Luongo, Director of Planning, and Owen MacDonald, Traffic Engineer. K. Miller asked whether B. Kuttner had considered a more strategic approach to designating corridors, given that some roads that were designated are unlikely to need funding for improvements in the near future. K. Miller added that there is nothing that prevents the MPO from changing designations once they are approved.
E. Bourassa asked whether the City of Cambridge had weighed in on the designations. B. Kuttner responded that he had several conversations with Tegin Teich Bennett, Transportation Planner for Cambridge (and MPO Board member).
Jim Gillooly (City of Boston) (Boston Transportation Department) asked how much funding is available for these corridors. K. Miller responded that the funding is $20 million for the entire state, with state matching funds. The State’s Freight Plan must be completed before funds become available; up to 10% of this funding can be used for non-highway projects.
D. Mohler added that the State Freight Plan will be completed in 2017.
A motion to approve the Critical Urban and Rural Freight Corridor Designations was made by North Suburban Planning Council (City of Woburn) (Tina Cassidy) and seconded by the Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville) (Tom Bent). The motion carried.
There were none.
A motion to adjourn was made by North Suburban Planning Council (City of Woburn) (Tina Cassidy) and seconded by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (E. Bourassa). The motion carried.
|
Members |
Representatives
and
Alternates |
|
At-Large City (City of Everett) |
Jay Monty |
|
At-Large City (City of Newton) |
David Koses |
|
At-Large Town (Town of Arlington) |
Laura Wiener |
|
At-Large Town (Town of Lexington) |
Richard Canale |
|
City of Boston (Boston Planning &
Development Agency) |
Jim Fitzgerald |
|
City of Boston (Boston Transportation
Department) |
Jim Gillooly |
|
Federal Highway Administration |
Kenneth Miller |
|
Federal Transit Administration |
|
|
Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville) |
Tom Bent |
|
Massachusetts Department of Transportation |
David Mohler |
|
MassDOT Highway Division |
John Romano Marie Rose |
|
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
(MBTA) |
Eric Waaramaa |
|
Massachusetts Port Authority |
Christopher Grillo |
|
MBTA Advisory Board |
Paul Regan |
|
Metropolitan Area Planning Council |
Eric Bourassa |
|
MetroWest Regional Collaborative (Town of
Framingham) |
Dennis Giombetti |
|
Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal
Coordination (Town of Bedford) |
Richard Reed |
|
North Shore Task Force (City of Beverly) |
|
|
North Suburban Planning Council (City of
Woburn) |
Tina Cassidy |
|
Regional Transportation Advisory Council |
|
|
South Shore Coalition (Town of Braintree) |
Christine Stickney |
|
South West Advisory Planning Committee
(Town of Medway) |
Dennis Crowley |
|
Three Rivers Interlocal Council (Town of
Norwood/NVCC) |
Tom O’Rourke |
|
Other
Attendees |
Affiliation |
|
Constance Raphael Kristen Guichard Brenda Bettez Carl Brown John Gendall Yvonne Lalyre Kurt Marden, DE Len Simon Tom Kadzis Richard Merson David Knowlton Beth Suedmeyer Will Sutton Arcady Goldmints-Orlov Steve Olanoff Wig Zamore Joe Viola |
MassDOT Acton Acton Rep. Ehrlich MassDOT District 6 Boston Resident Association for Public Transportation Sudbury Board of Selectmen City of Boston, BTD Needham Public Works City of Salem Town of Sudbury Rep. Denise Garlick MBTA ROC TRIC Alternate STEP Town of Brookline |
|
MPO
Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff |
|
Karl Quackenbush |
|
Lourenço Dantas Róisín Foley Ali Kleyman Bill Kuttner Anne McGahan Elizabeth Moore |
|
Jen Rowe |