MPO Meeting Minutes
Draft Memorandum for the Record
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization Meeting
May 6, 2021 Meeting
10:00 AM–12:15 PM, Zoom Video Conferencing Platform
David Mohler, Chair, representing Jamey Tesler, Acting Secretary of Transportation and Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) agreed to the following:
See attendance on pages 8–10.
There was none.
T. Teich provided an update on recent MPO staff outreach events, including the Transit Working Group meeting and the MPO-funded discrete study Central Business District Part Two. She introduced the new Director of Projects and Partnerships at CTPS, Rebecca Morgan.
Julie DeMauro (City of Revere) provided an update on project #611999 (Revere- Saugus—Roadway Widening on Route 1 North [Phase 2]).
B. Muller stated that the committee will meet directly after the MPO meeting to discuss FFY 2022 studies.
L. Diggins announced that Ariel Patterson and Sandy Johnston (MPO staff) will speak at the next Advisory Council meeting on May 12, 2021. On June 9, 2021, the Advisory Council will host Boston University PhD student Matthew Raifman.
A motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of March 18, 2021, was made by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) (Eric Bourassa) and seconded by the North Suburban Planning Council (City of Woburn) (Tina Cassidy). The motion carried.
1. TIP Amendment Six Simplified Table
Amendment Six makes changes to four projects in FFY 2021, three projects in the Highway Element, and one adds one project in the Transit Element. Detailed information about the TIP changes can be obtained from materials posted to the MPO meeting calendar. M. Genova stated that the 21-day public review period would begin May 10th if approved by the MPO board.
There was none.
A motion to release Amendment Six to the FFYs 2021–25 TIP for 21-day public review period was made by MAPC (E. Bourassa) and seconded by the At-Large Town (Town of Arlington) (Daniel Amstutz). The motion carried.
M. Genova summarized the proposed FFYs 2022–26 TIP, including cost changes, project readiness details, Community Connections projects, regional distribution of target funds, and formation of a TIP policy subcommittee. The proposed programming scenario reflects the board’s decision to allocate nearly all of its available funding in FFYs 2022 through 2025 and to leave approximately $20.5 million in regional target funds unallocated to specific projects, with most of this funding available in FFY 2026. The use of that funding will be discussed in future TIP cycles. The proposed FFYs 2022–26 TIP includes MassDOT’s highway programming and regional transit programming (MBTA, Cape Ann Transportation Authority [CATA], MetroWest Regional Transit Authority [MWRTA]). The full document is posted to the MPO meeting calendar.
There was none.
A motion to release the FFYs 2022–26 TIP for 21-day public review period was made by MAPC (E. Bourassa) and seconded by the City of Boston (Boston Transportation Department) (Tom Kadzis). The motion carried.
1. Work Program—MBTA SFY 2022 National Transit Database (NTD)
B. Putnam stated that the project would develop estimates of passenger-miles traveled and unlinked passenger trips for MBTA’s directly operated transportation modes: bus, rapid bus, trackless trolley, heavy rail, and light rail, and purchased service bus. MPO staff would collect and analyze data about transit ridership for the MBTA to help the agency make their federally required annual submission to the NTD. The duration of the project is 18 months with a total estimated cost of $127,288 using non-MPO funding.
Brian Kane asked about the methodology of passenger counts and requested documentation of the process of how NTD data is collected. B. Putnam said that the work scope for CTPS focuses on one aspect of NTD work and that several other entities contribute to it.
Jillian Linnell (MBTA) stated that she will also document the process of how NTD data is collected.
L. Diggins asked about using camera technology for data collection. B. Putnam stated that there are some difficulties using cameras and it is preferable to count passengers with person counters.
A motion to approve the work program for the MBTA SFY 2022 NTD was made by the MBTA Advisory Board (B. Kane) and seconded by MAPC (E. Bourassa). The motion carried.
E. Torres-Cullinane stated that MAPC staff is drafting policy recommendations to reach the region’s goals outlined in MetroCommon 2050, Greater Boston’s next regional long-range plan. The policy recommendations are composed of a series of strategies and actions. MAPC staff is seeking comments and feedback from the public on the proposed recommendations via a survey located on the MetroCommon 2050 website.
E. Bourassa asked for feedback on the proposed recommendations so MAPC staff can make changes to the draft document over the summer and fall.
A. McGahan stated that MPO staff is coordinating with MAPC as the development of the next Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Destination 2050, is currently underway. MPO staff will review MetroCommon 2050’s goals and if applicable, incorporate them into the LRTP’s goals and objectives. In addition, MetroCommon 2050’s scenarios will be reviewed as MPO staff begins its scenario planning process.
A. McGahan also provided an update on recent MPO staff work for LRTP development, including the completed focus groups conducted as part of the MPO’s Informing the Big Ideas study that will lay the groundwork for the MPO’s scenario planning process, website improvements, and updating the Needs Assessment.
B. Kane asked how all documents (TIP, Capital Investment Plan, State Transportation Improvement Program, MetroCommon 2050, LRTP) relate to each other. A. McGahan stated that all documents are reviewed when developing the LRTP. E. Bourassa stated that MAPC’s policy recommendations are distinct from the MPO’s, but the demographic work completed for land use assumptions are used in the LRTP. He commented on the challenge of making predictions 25 years into the future and the importance of making good 10 year predictions. A. McGahan said the demographic work will begin this summer using new census data and working with other entities, including MAPC, other MPOs in the Commonwealth, and MassDOT.
1. Memo: FFY 2020 Safety and Operations Analyses at Selected Intersections—Medfield
2. Memo: FFY 2020 Safety and Operations Analyses at Selected Intersections—Quincy
C. Wang explained the purpose of the study and described the location of the first study area in Medfield. It is the four-way signalized intersection on Route 27 (North Meadows Road) at West Street in Medfield. There are safety and operational issues at the intersection and many crashes have been recorded there. C. Wang proposed several short-term improvements for the study area. He proposed three alternatives for long-term improvements in the study area, providing conceptual plans for all of them. He conducted an intersection capacity analysis of the three long-term proposed alternatives. Details can be found in materials posted to the MPO meeting calendar. C. Wang presented the recommendations to MassDOT and the Town of Medfield in September. The Town recently began the design process and is seeking funding to reconstruct the intersection.
C. Wang described the second study location of the two intersections of Adams Street at Furnace Brook Parkway and at Common Street in Quincy, stating the two intersections are both high-crash locations with safety and operational problems. C. Wang proposed short-term, low-cost improvements for the study area, including improved signage and signal upgrades, among others. He proposed four alternatives for long-term improvements along with conceptual plans and intersection capacity analysis results. The study findings were presented to MassDOT and the City of Quincy staff in February 2021. The City favors Alternatives 2 and 4 and plans to work with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to advance the proposed improvements.
L. Diggins asked if MPO staff followed up with the Town of Medfield and requested that police reports and pedestrian crashes be reflected in the appendices showing demographic information. L. Diggins said that there may be an equity issue depicted in the reports that may give municipalities more reasons to make changes to the intersections. C. Wang said that detailed information on each crash (the when, how, and under what conditions) is available in the appendices.
L. Diggins asked what feedback is important or helpful for when staff present memorandums.
Mark Abbott (MPO Staff) replied that personal information in crash reports is protected by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and staff does not receive all information. He said that the feedback on appendices and new study locations is helpful.
C. Wang added information about bicycle and pedestrian crashes at both intersections.
T. Kadzis (City of Boston) suggested adding videos in TIP project evaluations as videos could be effective in providing greater context of the study areas.
Ken Miller (Federal Highway Administration) asked about DCR’s ownership of roads and signals at the Quincy intersection, commenting that some sidewalks were already redone as shown in Google Maps. He asked who is responsible for implementing the proposed short-term improvements. C. Wang said he was unfamiliar with the sidewalk improvements but the city is working with DCR who can share the report. He said the city is active in obtaining ownership of some of these DCR-owned assets.
K. Miller made a recommendation for a specific short-term roadway improvement. C. Wang said he will share the recommendation with the City.
1. Memo: Locations with High Bicycle and Pedestrian Crash Rates in Chelsea
2. Memo: Locations with High Bicycle and Pedestrian Crash Rates in Lynn
3. Memo: Locations with High Bicycle and Pedestrian Crash Rates in Malden
C. Claude provided a summary of the project conducted to study bicycle and pedestrian high crash locations. Its purpose is to examine safety, mobility, and comfort issues for bicycle and pedestrians at three locations in the Boston Region MPO. She explained how data was gathered and analyzed for the selected intersections in Chelsea, Lynn, and Malden. All locations have safety and operational issues and crashes have been recorded there. Common issues shared among all intersections include safety issues, faded or missing markings, lacking bicycle facilities, pedestrian accommodations, accessibility, and roadway geometry. C. Claude proposed improvements for each of the three intersections. Details can be found in materials posted to the MPO meeting calendar.
D. Amstutz commended her and C. Wang’s work. He suggested the word “accident” be changed to “crash” on diagram maps that were presented. He asked about the proposed improvements to bike facilities in Malden and the flexible bollards in Chelsea. C. Claude explained the reasoning behind the proposed recommendations and will make modifications if need be.
K. Miller asked if the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plans were brought up in discussions with the three selected cities. C. Claude said it did not come up, explaining that their work was to identify issues to present to the City and then the City can incorporate the results if they wish.
T. Kadzis announced his resignation effective May 31st and retirement from the City of Boston after 43 years. He served on the MPO board for more than 20 years.
Jim Fitzgerald (City of Boston [Boston Planning & Development Agency]) expressed appreciation for T. Kadzis’s mentorship and guidance. He, along with Tom Bent, Marie Rose (MassDOT Highway Division), K. Miller, and D. Mohler congratulated him.
A motion to adjourn was made by the City of Boston (Boston Transportation Department) (T. Kadzis) and seconded by the Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville) (T. Bent). 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) |
Daniel Amstutz |
|
At-Large Town (Town of Brookline) |
Todd Kirrane |
|
City of Boston (Boston Planning &
Development Agency) |
Jim Fitzgerald |
|
City of Boston (Boston Transportation
Department) |
Bill Conroy Tom Kadzis |
|
Federal Highway Administration |
Ken 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) |
Jillian Linnell |
|
Massachusetts Port Authority |
Laura Gilmore |
|
MBTA Advisory Board |
Brian Kane |
|
Metropolitan Area Planning Council |
Eric Bourassa |
|
MetroWest Regional Collaborative (City of
Framingham) |
Thatcher Kezer III |
|
Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal
Coordination (Town of Acton) |
Austin Cyganiewicz |
|
North Shore Task Force (City of Beverly) |
Darlene Wynne |
|
North Suburban Planning Council (City of
Woburn) |
Tina Cassidy |
|
Regional Transportation Advisory Council |
Lenard Diggins |
|
South Shore Coalition (Town of Rockland) |
Jennifer Constable |
|
South West Advisory Planning Committee
(Town of Medway) |
Peter Pelletier |
|
Three Rivers Interlocal Council (Town of
Norwood/Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce) |
Tom O’Rourke |
|
Other Attendees |
Affiliation |
|
Aleida Leza |
Belmont Resident |
|
Benjamin N.W. Muller |
MassDOT |
|
C Senior |
MassDOT |
|
Charlie Russo |
Town of Sudbury Select Board |
|
Connie Raphael |
MassDOT |
|
Emily Torres-Cullinane |
MAPC |
|
Eric Johnson |
City of Framingham |
|
Frank Tramontozzi |
City of Quincy |
|
James Fitzgerald |
|
|
Joe Blankenship |
Boston Planning & Development Agency |
|
Johannes Epke |
Conservation Law Foundation |
|
John Gonzalez |
DHK Architects |
|
Josh Klingenstein |
MBTA |
|
Joy Glynn |
MWRTA |
|
JR Frey |
Hingham |
|
Judy Lehrer Jacobs |
Friends of the Blue Hills |
|
Julie DeMauro |
City of Revere |
|
Matthew Petersen |
TransitMatters |
|
Mike Garrity |
MassDOT |
|
Owen MacDonald |
Town of Weymouth |
|
Paula Doucette |
|
|
Sarah Bradbury |
MassDOT |
|
Steven Olanoff |
TRIC Alternate |
|
Timothy Paris, P.E. |
MassDOT |
|
Todd Baldwin |
Town of Saugus |
|
Todd Blake |
City of Medford |
|
|
|
MPO
Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff |
|
Tegin Teich, Executive Director |
|
Anne McGahan |
|
Annette Demchur |
|
Ariel Patterson |
|
Barbara Rutman |
|
Betsy Harvey |
|
Bradley Putnam |
|
Casey Claude |
|
Chen-Yuan Wang |
|
Gina Perille |
|
Hiral Gandhi |
|
Jonathan Church |
|
Kate White |
|
Mark Abbott |
|
Martin Milkovits |
|
Matt Archer |
|
Matt Genova |
|
Michelle Scott |
|
Paul Christner |
|
Rebecca Morgan |
|
Róisín Foley |
|
Sandy Johnston |
|
Seth Asante |
|
The Boston Region
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) operates its programs, services, and
activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws including Title
VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Civil Rights Restoration
Act of 1987, and related statutes and regulations. Title VI prohibits
discrimination in federally assisted programs and requires that no person in
the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, or
national origin (including limited English proficiency), be excluded from
participation in, denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to
discrimination under any program or activity that receives federal
assistance. Related federal nondiscrimination laws administered by the
Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, or both, prohibit
discrimination on the basis of age, sex, and disability. The Boston Region
MPO considers these protected populations in its Title VI Programs,
consistent with federal interpretation and administration. In addition, the
Boston Region MPO provides meaningful access to its programs, services, and
activities to individuals with limited English proficiency, in compliance
with U.S. Department of Transportation policy and guidance on federal
Executive Order 13166. The Boston Region MPO also
complies with the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law, M.G.L. c 272
sections 92a, 98, 98a, which prohibits making any distinction,
discrimination, or restriction in admission to, or treatment in a place of
public accommodation based on race, color, religious creed, national origin,
sex, sexual orientation, disability, or ancestry. Likewise, the Boston Region
MPO complies with the Governor's Executive Order 526, section 4, which
requires that all programs, activities, and services provided, performed,
licensed, chartered, funded, regulated, or contracted for by the state shall
be conducted without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, age,
gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,
religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, veteran's status
(including Vietnam-era veterans), or background. A complaint form and
additional information can be obtained by contacting the MPO or at http://www.bostonmpo.org/mpo_non_discrimination. To request this
information in a different language or in an accessible format, please
contact Title VI Specialist By Telephone: For people with hearing or speaking difficulties,
connect through the state MassRelay service: ·
Relay Using
TTY or Hearing Carry-over:
800.439.2370 ·
Relay Using
Voice Carry-over: 866.887.6619 ·
Relay Using
Text to Speech: 866.645.9870 For more information, including numbers for Spanish
speakers, visit https://www.mass.gov/massrelay |