Draft Memorandum for the Record
Regional Transportation Advisory Council Meeting
November 4, 2020, Meeting Minutes
2:30 PM–4:15 PM, Zoom
Lenard Diggins, Chair, representing the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Ridership Oversight Committee
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 three.)
2. Project Cost Determinations—Michael Bolduc, Project Delivery Specialist, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)
Michael Bolduc, MassDOT, explained that all project initiation through MassDOT now uses the Massachusetts Project Intake Tool (MaPIT); he said the tool is part of a formal three-step process that enables proponents to initiate and scope projects and facilitates internal MassDOT project scoring. M. Bolduc explained that most of the methods for scoring various aspects of projects have been modified and improved; however, the average daily travel (ADT) method used to measure cost effectiveness has not changed since the Project Selection Advisory Council was established in 2015. M. Bolduc said that MassDOT has now changed how the cost effectiveness score is weighted in the final score.
Carrie Lavallee, MassDOT Highway Division, advised project proponents and their consultants to understand weighted average bid prices and how to derive an estimated project cost. She said if municipalities need help with this, they should reach out to the Highway District 6 Office.
Discussion
John McQueen, WalkBoston, asked about the accuracy of ADT data in light of the changes in travel patterns over time and due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also asked about the use of civilian flaggers versus uniformed police to reduce costs.
Daniel Amstutz, Town of Arlington, and M. Bolduc discussed whether the new method of weighting cost-effectiveness scores had resulted in any projects getting approved because the overall score had changed.
David Montgomery, Town of Needham, asked how a municipality decides whether to apply for project funding directly to MassDOT or through the MPO process. C. Lavallee said that typically municipalities would first go through the MassDOT scoring process and get approval by the Project Review Committee; then the municipality would work with the MPO through the design phase to get the design funded during a particular fiscal year.
Franny Osman, Acton Transportation Advisory Committee, L. Diggins, M. Bolduc, and C. Lavallee discussed how effectively MassDOT scoring takes into account types of benefits provided by a project for which ADT is not an adequate measure. C. Lavallee and M. Bolduc said that though the ADT-derived cost-effectiveness score is not a perfect method, MassDOT does need a cost-effectiveness score early in the process as a way to detect and rein in scope expansion and cost increases during design.
L. Diggins and C. Lavallee discussed how some projects end up costing more than originally scored and what MPOs can do to avoid unanticipated cost overruns.
L. Diggins and M. Bolduc discussed whether the cost–benefit analysis used in other states, such as Virginia, would be a useful measure of cost effectiveness in Massachusetts.
3. Chair’s Report—Lenard Diggins, Chair
Lenard Diggins said that, at a recent MPO board meeting, MBTA staff explained that they are planning service changes to deal with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes might be permanent, but the agency is unsure what the service needs will be during the recovery.
L. Diggins also discussed guest presenters that are scheduled for the next two Regional Transportation Advisory Council meetings:
- December: Sandy Johnston, Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Manager, MPO Staff, will present on the UPWP study ideas process.
- January: Kate Fichter, Assistant Secretary for Policy Coordination, MassDOT, will present on MassDOT’s Shared Winter Streets and Spaces Grant Program.
4. Adjourn
A motion to adjourn was made by the Acton Transportation
Advisory Committee (Franny Osman) and seconded. The motion carried.
Attendees
|
Member Municipalities |
Representatives and Alternates |
|
City of Cambridge |
Andy Reker |
|
Town of Needham |
David Montgomery |
|
City of Watertown |
Laura Weiner |
|
City of Weymouth |
Owen MacDonald |
|
Member Citizen Advocacy Groups |
Representatives and Alternates |
|
MBTA Ridership Oversight Committee |
Lenard Diggins |
|
CrossTown Connect |
Scott Zadakis |
|
American Council of Engineering Companies |
Fred Moseley |
|
Acton Transportation Advisory Committee |
Franny Osman |
|
MassBike |
Chris Porter |
|
MoveMassachusetts |
Jon Seward |
|
WalkBoston |
John McQueen |
|
Agencies (Non-Voting) |
Attendees |
|
MassDOT |
Michael Bolduc |
|
MassDOT |
Elizabeth Torres |
|
MassDOT Highway Division |
Carrie Lavallee |
|
Other Attendees |
Affiliation |
|
Daniel Amstutz |
Town of Arlington |
|
Stefanie Beaver |
Vanesse Hangen Brustlin |
|
Todd Kirrane |
Town of Brookline |
|
MPO Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff |
|
Matt Archer |
|
Matt Genova |
|
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. |