Memorandum for the Record

Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
Unified Planning Work Program Committee Meeting Summary

April 20, 2023, Meeting

1:15 PM–2:20 PM, Zoom Video Conferencing Platform

Derek Krevat, Chair, representing Gina Fiandaca, Secretary of Transportation and Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)

Decisions

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Committee agreed to the following:

• Approve the meeting summary of March 30, 2023

Materials

Materials for this meeting included the following:

1.    March 30, 2023, meeting summary (pdf) (html)

2.    Universe of Proposed Studies Ranking Survey Results (pdf) (html)

Meeting Agenda and Summary of Discussion

1.    Introductions

See the full attendance list on page 6.

2.    Public Comments

There were none.

3.    Meeting Summary of March 30, 2023—Approval of this summary

A motion to approve the summary of the meeting of March 20, 2023, was made by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) (Eric Bourassa) and seconded by the Three Rivers Interlocal Council, Town of Westwood (Steve Olanoff). The motion carried.

4.    Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024 Universe of Proposed Studies—Srilekha Murthy, MPO Staff

S. Murthy stated that discrete studies are one part of the work that is outlined in the UPWP, and the majority of the work is program work. The discrete studies are intended to enhance program work.

S. Murthy shared results on a ranking survey of discrete studies of interest to the committee. Five committee members and six staff members participated. Results displayed a range of priorities across both groups. Subsequently, various funding scenarios were developed where studies can be funded at a range of levels and in a variety of combinations. Committee members were asked to determine which studies to fund and at what amount. The staff recommended list includes the following studies:

·       TE-1: Applying Conveyal to Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Project Scoring

·       M-2: Exploring Roadway Pricing: Engagement with Local Stakeholders

·       L-2: Opportunities for the MPO to Support Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

·       M-1: Lap and Municipal Parking Phase II

·       R-2: Strategies for Environmental Outreach and Engagement

·       A-1: Parking in Bike Lanes: Strategies for Safety and Prevention

Staff have prepared six scenarios of discrete studies, found in Table 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 1
Discrete Studies Funding Scenarios

Scenario	Discrete Studies
Scenario 1	·       R-2: $35,000 ·       M-2: $55,000 ·       TE-1: $60,000
Scenario 2	·       R-2: $35,000 ·       TE-1: $70,000 ·       A-1: $45,000
Scenario 3	·       R-2: $20,000 ·       M-2: $30,000 ·       TE-1: $60,000 ·       L-1: $40,000
Scenario 4	·       R-2: $30,000 ·       TE-1: $65,000 ·       L-1: $55,000
Scenario 5	·       A-1: $20,000 ·       L-1: $40,000 ·       M-1: $70,000 ·       R-2: $20,000
Scenario 6	·       TE-1: $55,000 ·       M-2: $35,000 ·       L-1: $35,000 ·       R-2: $25,000

 

Discussion

David Koses, City of Newton, spoke in support of study T-1, Effective Ways to Reduce School-related Vehicle Trips, and stated the study’s relevance to his work. Rebecca Morgan, MPO staff, responded that the congestion aspect of the study can be addressed in Congestion Management Process work and the safety aspect can be addressed in the Safe Streets and Roads for All action plan.

Lenard Diggins, Regional Transportation Advisory Council, noted that there is little overlap between the highest ranked studies from staff and committee members and suggested funding the studies with the smallest discrepancy between both groups: A-1, M-1, and L-1. L. Diggins spoke in support of Scenario 5.

Sandy Johnston, MBTA, spoke in support of choosing a scenario that includes study
L-1.

S. Olanoff asked why study budgets vary between different scenarios. Stella Jordan, MPO staff, stated that the different funding levels would allow a different extent of the study to be completed, depending on what is ultimately chosen.

Tom Bent, Inner Core Committee, City of Somerville, expressed hesitation about study A-1.

S. Olanoff requested additional information about study M-1. Rose McCarron, MPO staff, spoke about Phase I of the Lab and Municipal Parking Study and stated that the result of the study is a methodology to examine lab and municipal parking challenges. In Phase II staff propose to use the methodology in the context of lab and life science facilities. R. McCarron stated that the study could be completed relatively robustly for $45,000.

S. Johnston asked how decisions are made to determine if it is more efficient to include a study in an ongoing program or to fund it as a discrete study. Tegin Teich, Executive Director, answered that the decision is based on the amount of available funding in the relevant program and if the deliverable is distinct enough to merit its own budget. Judy Taylor, MPO staff, stated that study R-2 arose when staff began collecting information on environmental organizations that resilience and mitigation work could include, but the scale of this outreach and engagement would necessitate additional resources.

L. Diggins stated that the Regional Transportation Advisory Council is supportive of study T-3, Toward Regional Transit Fare and Service Integration.

S. Murthy shared a draft scenario, incorporating committee feedback. The scenario is as follows:

·       R-2: Strategies for Environmental Outreach and Engagement for $20,000

·       M-1: Lab and Municipal Parking Phase II for $45,000

·       TE-1: Applying Conveyal to TIP Project Scoring for $60,000

·       L-1: Opportunities for the MPO to Support TOD for $25,000

T. Bent spoke in support of the above scenario.

L. Diggins advocated to include study A-1 in the final scenario.

Amira Patterson, MBTA Advisory Board, spoke in support of the draft final scenario and in support of study A-1. A. Patterson asked which study would be replaced to accommodate A-1.

S. Murthy shared Draft Final Scenarios A and B, seen below:

·       Draft Final Scenario A

o   R-2: Strategies for Environmental Outreach and Engagement for $20,000

o   M-1: Lab and Municipal Parking Phase II for $45,000

o   TE-1: Applying Conveyal to TIP Project Scoring for $60,000

o   L-1: Opportunities for the MPO to Support TOD for $25,000

·       Draft Final Scenario B

o   R-2: Strategies for Environmental Outreach and Engagement for $20,000

o   M-1: Lab and Municipal Parking Phase II for $45,000

o   TE-1: Applying Conveyal to TIP Project Scoring for $60,000

o   A-1: Parking in Bike Lanes: Strategies for Safety and Prevention

The committee decided to distribute a survey to tally support for the Draft Final Scenarios A and B and will review results at the next committee meeting.

5.    Members Items

There were none.

6.    Next Meeting

To be determined.

7.    Adjourn

A motion to adjourn was made by the Regional Transportation Advisory Council (L. Diggins) and seconded by the Inner Core Committee, City of Somerville (T. Bent). The motion carried.

Attendance

Members	Representatives and Alternates
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Office of Transportation Planning)	Derek Krevat
Metropolitan Area Planning Council	Eric Bourassa
Regional Transportation Advisory Council	Lenard Diggins
At-Large City (City of Newton)	David Koses
Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville)	Tom Bent
Three Rivers Interlocal Council (Town of Norwood/Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce)	Steve Olanoff

 

Other Attendees	Affiliation
Miranda Briseño	MassDOT
Sandy Johnston	MBTA
Amira Patterson	MBTA Advisory Board

 

MPO Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff
Tegin Teich, Executive Director
Seth Asante
Logan Casey
Annette Demchur
Betsy Harvey
Stella Jordan
Erin Maguire
Rose McCarron
Rebecca Morgan
Srilekha Murthy
Sean Rourke
Judy Taylor