MPO Meeting Minutes
Memorandum for the Record
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization Meeting
July 1, 2021, Meeting
10:00 AM–11:01 AM, Zoom Video Conferencing Platform
Steve Woelfel, Chair, representing Jamey Tesler, 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 6–8.
There was none.
T. Teich reviewed recent MPO staff outreach events, including two Inner Core Committee transportation meetings, an MPO Pilot Transit Working Group meeting, and a webinar hosted with the American Planning Association (or APA) Massachusetts Transportation Committee. T. Teich noted that the state legislature has extended Governor Baker’s suspension of certain aspects of the Open Meeting Law to continue to allow for virtual public meetings until April 1, 2022. T. Teich stated that staff are operating under the assumption that meetings will continue to be entirely virtual until the extension expires, but that the board should discuss whether, how, and when to shift to allow staff time to plan logistics.
State Representative Christine Barber (34th Middlesex District, Somerville and Medford) advocated for the MPO to program funding for the Green Line Extension (GLX) Phase II. Representative Barber stated that when GLX Phase I was facing financial difficulties, the MPO voted to reprogram funding from Phase II to Phase I. At that time, MassDOT committed by letter to start the environmental review process for Phase II by 2016. Representative Barber stated that this has not been completed and advocated for the MPO to once again program funding for GLX Phase II in the Long-Range Transportation Plan to help ensure the restart of the environmental review process.
Ken Krause (Medford Resident) advocated for the resumption of the environmental review process for GLX Phase II.
Olivia Nichols (GreenRoots) advocated for the MPO to fund a proposed congestion pricing study in the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2022 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). O. Nichols stated that congestion pricing could mitigate the effects of air pollution from congestion on environmental justice (EJ) populations, particularly those in East Boston and Chelsea. O. Nichols advocated for the study to analyze strategies to mitigate impacts of a potential congestion pricing program on low and moderate income drivers, invest revenues in public transportation routes that provide alternatives to driving, and quantify the benefits and burdens to EJ populations.
Sarita Ramakrishna (Conservation Law Foundation) advocated for the MPO to fund a proposed congestion pricing study in the FFY 2022 UPWP. S. Ramakrishna also stated that the fare equity work program on the agenda should consider changes in travel patterns as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
B. Muller stated that the UPWP Committee met prior to the MPO to discuss proposed discrete studies for FFY 2022. B. Muller stated that the discussion largely centered on the proposed congestion pricing study. B. Muller stated that the committee would meet next on July 15, 2021, prior to the MPO meeting, to review the final draft UPWP for potential recommendation to release for public comment.
E. Bourassa stated that the TIP Project Costs Ad-Hoc Committee had met twice to discuss issues driving cost increases for MPO funded projects, focusing on the large increases that occur between Project Review Committee (PRC) approval and the 25 percent design stage. E. Bourassa stated that the committee is narrowing down potential policy recommendations to bring to the board in September, and will meet on July 8, 2021.
L. Diggins stated that the Advisory Council met on June 9, 2021, and heard a presentation on research regarding the benefits of active transportation. L. Diggins stated that Anne McGahan (MPO staff) and Emily Torres-Cullinane (MAPC) would present at the next Advisory Council meeting on the Long-Range Transportation Plan and its relationship to MAPC’s regional plan, MetroCommon.
A motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of April 29, 2021, was made by the At-Large Town (Town of Arlington) (Daniel Amstutz) and seconded by the MetroWest Regional Collaborative (City of Framingham) (Thatcher Kezer III). D. Amstutz suggested the addition of one clarification to Item 9 in the April 29, 2021, minutes. With that change, the motion carried.
A motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of May 6, 2021, was made by the North Shore Task Force (City of Beverly) (Darlene Wynne) and seconded by the Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville) (Tom Bent). The motion carried.
1. Recommendation to Approve the Draft SFY 2022 CTPS Operating Budget
B. Kane presented the recommended draft SFY 2022 CTPS Operating Budget. B. Kane stated that the proposed budget is balanced—with revenue and expenses of $6,679,650, a three percent increase from FFY 2021. B. Kane stated that this budget will support 58 staff positions, supports salary increases, and fully funds a computer plan to support hybrid and remote work.
A motion to approve the SFY 2022 CTPS Operating Budget was made by the MBTA Advisory Board (B. Kane) and seconded by the Advisory Council (L. Diggins). The motion carried.
E. Domanico stated that this analysis will forecast ridership revenue and equity impacts for MBTA fare structure and tariff changes for SFY 2023. E. Domanico stated that the work is expected to take seven months, with an additional five months in the schedule for ongoing technical support. The project budget is $52,000, and will be funded by the MBTA.
D. Amstutz asked whether this work would include any analyses related to possible alternative fare structures for telecommuting. E. Domanico stated that this work would focus primarily on scenarios and fare changes that the MBTA currently plans to implement.
E. Bourassa asked whether the MBTA is considering fare
changes for increasing revenue or about fare changes designed to increase
ridership, expressing concerns about a general fare increase for revenue. There was no MBTA representative available
to comment on this.
B. Kane stated that public MBTA documents currently indicate that the MBTA is not seeking a fare increase prior to 2025.
Paul Christner (MPO Staff) stated that staff will have a number of conversations with the MBTA. There are any number of fare changes that could happen, including reductions, but no option is currently final.
S. Ramakrishna asked what the data source would be for conducting the equity analysis. E. Domanico stated that the primary data source will be the most recent systemwide ridership survey, but staff may use the MBTA’s ongoing customer survey panels and other sources.
A motion to approve the work program for Equity Analysis for MBTA SFY 2023 Fare Changes was made by the At-Large Town (Town of Arlington) (D. Amstutz) and seconded by MAPC (E. Bourassa). The motion carried.
There were none.
A motion to adjourn was made by the MBTA Advisory Board (B. Kane) and seconded by MAPC (E. Bourassa). The motion carried.
|
Members |
Representatives
and
Alternates |
|
At-Large City (City of Everett) |
|
|
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 |
|
Federal Highway Administration |
Ken Miller Cassie Ostrander |
|
Federal Transit Administration |
|
|
Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville) |
Tom Bent |
|
Massachusetts Department of Transportation |
Steve Woelfel |
|
MassDOT Highway Division |
John Bechard John Romano |
|
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
(MBTA) |
|
|
Massachusetts Port Authority |
|
|
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) |
|
|
North Shore Task Force (City of Beverly) |
Darlene Wynne |
|
North Suburban Planning Council (City of
Woburn) |
|
|
Regional Transportation Advisory Council |
Lenard Diggins |
|
South Shore Coalition (Town of Rockland) |
|
|
South West Advisory Planning Committee
(Town of Medway) |
|
|
Three Rivers Interlocal Council (Town of
Norwood/Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce) |
Tom O’Rourke |
|
Other
Attendees |
Affiliation |
|
Benjamin N.W. Muller |
MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning |
|
Cheryll-Ann Senior |
MassDOT Highway District 5 |
|
Colette Aufranc |
Wellesley Select Board |
|
Derek Krevat |
MassDOT OTP |
|
Gus Norrbom |
MassDOT OTP |
|
Louise Baxter |
MBTA Riders’ Union |
|
Michael Garrity |
MassDOT Highway District 6 |
|
Michelle Ho |
MassDOT OTP |
|
Olivia Nichols |
GreenRoots |
|
Representative Christine Barber |
34th Middlesex District, Somerville and Medford |
|
Saritha Ramakrishna |
Conservation Law Foundation |
|
Schuyler Larrabee |
Advisory Council |
|
Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken |
City of Gloucester |
|
Steve Rawding |
MassDOT Aeronautics |
|
Todd Baldwin |
Town of Saugus |
|
Eric Johnson |
City of Framingham |
|
Joe Blankenship |
Boston Planning & Development Agency |
|
Joe Collins |
Town of Norwood |
|
Ken Krause |
Medford resident |
|
Matt Moran |
Boston Transportation Department |
|
Steven Olanoff |
TRIC Alternate |
|
MPO
Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff |
|
Tegin Teich, Executive Director |
|
Mark Abbott |
|
Matt Archer |
|
Paul Christner |
|
Jonathan Church |
|
Annette Demchur |
|
Emily Domanico |
|
Róisín Foley |
|
Hiral Gandhi |
|
Matt Genova |
|
Betsy Harvey |
|
Sandy Johnston |
|
Anne McGahan |
|
Marty Milkovits |
|
Rebecca Morgan |
|
Ariel Patterson |
|
Gina Perille |
|
Michelle Scott |
|
Kate White |
|
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 |