Draft Memorandum for the Record

Regional Transportation Advisory Council Meeting

November 10, 2021, Meeting Minutes

2:30 PM–4:15 PM, Zoom

Lenard Diggins, Chair, representing the MBTA Ridership Oversight Committee (ROC)

Meeting Agenda

1.    Introductions

Lenard Diggins called the meeting to order at 2:30 PM. Members and guests attending the meeting introduced themselves. (For attendance list, see page four.)

2.    The City of Quincy’s Role on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Board of Directors—Frank Tramontozzi

Frank Tramontozzi, City of Quincy Engineering Manager, presented on Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch’s vision for the MBTA Board of Directors. F. Tramontozzi explained that Quincy has hosted all forms of public transit serviced by the MBTA. He said Mayor Koch recognizes the attention and investment Governor Baker’s administration has spent on the MBTA, in contrast to past administrations. F. Tramontozzi said the MBTA’s first electric bus station will be built in Quincy with completion and full bus service in about five years. He said Mayor Koch has set a goal to visit all 176 member communities to hear their concerns about the MBTA services they receive.

Discussion

John McQueen, WalkBoston, Franny Osman, Acton Transportation Advisory Committee, Jon Seward, MoveMassachusetts, L. Diggins, and F. Tramontozzi discussed Mayor Koch’s positions on South Coast rail, North–South rail link, fare payment methods, the Quincy electric bus station, and facilitating access to MBTA properties by bike path riders.

Laura Wiener, City of Watertown, requested that periodic updates from the MBTA Advisory Board to the Advisory Council be presented as a regular agenda item.

3.    Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Kickoff—Anne McGahan, MPO Staff

Anne McGahan, MPO Staff, presented an overview of the current Boston region Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Destination 2040, and the next LRTP being developed, Destination 2050; these federally required documents shape and certify MPO decisions about funding of projects and studies.

Discussion

Andy Reker, City of Cambridge, and Michelle Scott, MPO Staff, discussed how focus groups from other organizations were used in Destination 2050 planning.

J. Seward, L. Diggins, M. Scott, F. Osman, and A. McGahan discussed whether the Destination 2050 plan being developed was sufficiently aggressive in addressing climate change issues.

J. McQueen and A. McGahan discussed the priority and funding levels of dedicated bus lane projects and the Complete Streets goals.

Jen Rowe, City of Boston, and A. McGahan discussed the appropriate outreach touch points for people to provide input to and follow the progress of Destination 2050 planning; these will be listed on the website www.bostonmpo.org/destination2050/.

4.    Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) in the Boston Region—Lenard Diggins, Chair, and Matt Genova, MPO Staff

L. Diggins and Matt Genova, MPO Staff, summarized discussions at recent Boston Region MPO board meetings about the MPO’s Community Connections funding program. M. Genova said the MPO board voted to approve moving to a collective purchasing model. He also said concerns about staff resources at the MBTA and the MassDOT resulted in the board deciding that projects need to be administered under RTAs other than the MBTA or face uncertainty over funding.

Discussion

F. Osman, A. Reker, L. Diggins, and M. Genova discussed the need to simplify the funding selection process and add some certainty about where the funded projects will be administered.

5. Chair’s Report—Lenard Diggins, Chair

L. Diggins recommended reading the “Big Ideas: Summary of Forces and Strategies” report from the prior Boston Region MPO meeting.

6.    Advisory Council Election— Matt Archer, MPO Staff

Matt Archer introduced the candidates for Chair (Lenard Diggins) and Vice-Chair (Scott Zadakis) and said the election would be conducted by Zoom poll.

Discussion

Candidate for Chair L. Diggins discussed items he would focus on if elected:

·       improve his understanding of RTAs

·       develop a transformational vision for regional transportation, which can be used to inform the Advisory Council’s input into the next LRTP

·       increase Advisory Council membership

Candidate for Vice-Chair S. Zadakis discussed items he would focus on if elected:

·       bringing in new members and presenters to broaden the diversity of topics and perspectives

·       building on the ideas generated in the recent needs assessment review

M. Archer then conducted the election poll and announced the results: L. Diggins received 9 of 9 votes to remain Advisory Council Chair for the upcoming term; S. Zadakis received 9 of 9 votes to remain as Vice-Chair.

7.    Old Business, New Business, and Member Announcements

AnaCristina Fragoso, Boston Society of Civil Engineers (BSCES), updated the council with her new email address.

8.    Adjourn 

A motion to adjourn was made by the Acton Transportation Advisory Committee (F. Osman) and seconded by the Boston Society of Civil Engineers (A.C. Fragoso). The motion carried.

 

 

Attendees

Member Municipalities	Representatives and Alternates
City of Cambridge	Andy Reker
Town of Weymouth	Owen MacDonald

 

Member Citizen Advocacy Groups	Representatives and Alternates
MBTA Ridership Oversight Committee (ROC)	Lenard Diggins
National Rural Transit Assistance Program	Scott Zadakis
Acton Transportation Advisory Committee	Franny Osman
American Council of Engineering Companies	Fred Moseley
Association for Public Transportation	Barry Steinberg
Boston Society of Civil Engineers (BSCES)	AnaCristina Fragoso
MoveMassachusetts	Jon Seward
WalkBoston	John McQueen
Boston Society of Architects	Schuyler Larrabee

 

Agencies (Non-Voting)	Attendees
MBTA	Vanessa White
Metropolitan Area Planning Council	Kasia Hart

 

Other Attendees	Affiliation
Todd Kirrane	Town of Brookline
Eda Matchak	City of Lynn
Jen Rowe	City of Boston
Steve Olanoff	Town of Westwood
Laura Wiener	City of Watertown
Frank Tramontozzi	City of Quincy
Aleida Leza	Resident
Alexis Walls	Massachusetts Public Health Association
Bill Deignan	City of Cambridge

 

MPO Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff
Jonathan Church
Matt Genova
Sandy Johnston
Anne McGahan
Michelle Scott