Contents

Executive Summary
Chapter 1: Purpose of the Plan
Chapter 2: Overview of Transportation Needs
Chapter 3: Planning and Investment Framework
Chapter 4: Guiding MPO Investments
Chapter 5: Recommended Plan
Chapter 6: Moving Forward/Next Steps

Appendices

Certification of the Boston Region MPO Transportation Planning Process

Prepared by The Central Transportation Planning Staff: Staff to the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization

Directed by the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization, which is composed of the

Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Metropolitan Area Planning Council
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
MBTA Advisory Board
Massachusetts Port Authority
Regional Transportation Advisory Council
City of Boston
City of Beverly
City of Everett
City of Framingham
City of Newton
City of Somerville
Town of Acton
Town of Brookline
Town of Burlington
Town of Hull
Town of Norwood
Federal Highway Administration (nonvoting)
Federal Transit Administration (nonvoting)

This document was funded in part through grants from the US Department of Transportation. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the US Department of Transportation.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS

Meeting locations are accessible to people with disabilities and are near public transportation. Upon request (preferably two weeks in advance of the meeting), every effort will be made to provide accommodations such as assistive listening devices, materials in accessible formats and in languages other than English, and interpreters in American Sign Language and other languages. Please contact the MPO staff at 857.702.3700 (voice), 617.570.9193 (TTY), 617.570.9192 (fax), or eharvey@ctps.org.

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 Boston Region MPO 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150 Boston, MA 02116 civilrights@ctps.org

By telephone: 857.702.3700(voice)

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

Contact MPO staff:

By mail:

Bradley Putnam, LRTP Manager, Central Transportation Planning Staff 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150 Boston, MA 02116

By telephone:

857.702.3703 (voice) 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

By email:

bputnam@ctps.org

[SIGNED CERTIFICATION]

ABBREVIATIONS

Executive Summary

Introduction

Destination 2050 is the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). Updated every four years, it guides decisions about investments in the region’s transportation network to move the system towards the MPO’s vision for its future:

The Boston Region MPO envisions an equitable, pollution-free, and modern regional transportation system that gets people to their destinations safely, easily, and reliably, and that supports an inclusive, resilient, healthy, and economically vibrant Boston region.

To create a plan designed to implement this vision, the LRTP

• defines goals and objectives that guide the MPO’s planning process,
• establishes new investment programs and makes updates to existing programs through which the MPO will invest in transportation projects over the next four years that advance its goals and objectives,
• outlines the transportation needs and challenges the region faces over the next 25 years, and
• identifies strategies to address those needs using financial resources available to the MPO.

The MPO conducted engagement activities throughout the development of the LRTP. Engagement began in fall 2019 with the kick-off development of the Needs Assessment and continued through the 30-day public comment period for the draft LRTP in the summer of 2023. The MPO conducted two public surveys: one on vision, goals, and objectives; and one on investment priorities. The MPO engaged many stakeholders, including the Regional Transportation Advisory Council, municipalities, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), regional transit authorities, community organizations, economic development and business organizations, transportation equity advocates, environmental advocates, and academic institutions.

Transportation Needs

A critical step in developing the LRTP was to collect, analyze, and identify transportation needs for the Boston region. Using results from data analyses and engagement activities, the Needs Assessment documents the transportation needs of the Boston region since the last LRTP was approved in 2019, focusing on the years between 2019 and 2023. It looks at how people travel; the condition of transportation facilities; the interaction of the transportation system with the built and natural environment and how well it serves minority, low-income, and other disadvantaged populations; and possible changes to travel patterns and demand in the future. It supports the LRTP by providing information about the region’s most pressing transportation needs, thereby shaping the MPO’s vision, goals, and objectives; and informing the development of new investment programs.

The Needs Assessment summarizes needs within each of the MPO’s goal areas. Equity is integrated throughout the Needs Assessment—transportation impacts on transportation equity populations are assessed within the context of each goal area. Some of the needs identified are to

• close gaps in the bicycle network, focusing on roads with a high potential for everyday bicycling as identified by MassDOT;
• improve coordination between transit services, including scheduling and route planning, to increase efficiency and expand access to more people and places;
• reduce pollution emissions through, for example, electrification and mode shift to non-automobile transportation, prioritizing improvements for equity communities that bear a disproportionate burden of pollution impacts;
• expand access to and quality of public transit, for example, by addressing corridors with significant bus delay;
• upgrade and modernize public transit facilities, and improve state of good repair for transit facilities, especially tracks;
• improve the resiliency of transportation facilities to climate impacts, especially those that serve disadvantaged populations that are more vulnerable to these impacts;
• invest in safety interventions in areas with the most vulnerable road users, such as equity populations, people who bicycle, and people who walk; and
• invest in preventative countermeasures on roadways that have been identified as high risk before severe crashes happen.

To explore these and other analyses, see the full Needs Assessment, which is compiled into a series of interactive StoryMaps where readers can explore a series of maps, charts, and tables, and is available on the MPO’s website.

Vision, Goals, and Objectives

During each LRTP development cycle, the MPO updates its planning framework, which consists of a vision statement, a set of goals, and a series of objectives associated with each goal (Figure ES-1). These serve as a guide for MPO decision-making for the next four years. The content of this framework—particularly the MPO goals—informs staff proposals and MPO decisions related to creating investment programs for the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Further, studies proposed for funding each year in the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) are assessed for their support of the MPO goals, and the objectives are translated into criteria for use in the TIP project selection process to ensure projects funded by the MPO support the MPO’s goals. Finally, this framework, including its vision, helps communicate the MPO’s values to partners, stakeholders, and the public.

Figure ES-1

Destination 2050 Vision, Goals, and Objectives

Source: Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Funding the Transportation Network

The MPO has approximately $5 billion, called discretionary, or Regional Target, dollars, to spend between federal fiscal years 2024 and 2050. The LRTP only lists specific projects between 2024 and 2033, and funding from 2034 to 2050 is allocated to investment programs. The dollars allocated in the LRTP to major infrastructure projects and investment programs must remain within the limit of available funding. Destination 2050 and the short-term capital plan, the TIP, must demonstrate that projects selected by the MPO can be implemented within fiscal constraints. The financial plan for Destination 2050 reflects how the MPO plans to balance the region’s transportation needs while operating under the fiscal constraint of projected revenues.

Regional Target dollars are only a portion of the dollars available to support the region’s transportation system. MassDOT has other sources of funding that it spends on highway projects in the Boston region, as do the MBTA, the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, and the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority to provide and improve transit service.

The Recommended Plan

The Recommended Plan includes the MPO’s investment programs, as well as the major infrastructure projects that federal guidance requires to be listed in the LRTP. Investment programs prioritize the types of transportation projects that the MPO funds through the TIP. Destination 2050’s investment programs include the following:

• Complete Streets: Funds projects that create continuous sidewalks, construct bicycle lanes, improve roadway geometry and bridges, and fortify storm water drainage systems.
• Major Infrastructure: Funds large-scale projects that expand major roadways and rail lines. Projects on facilities that are important to regional travel, that extend the rail network, or that cost $50 million or more are included in this program.
• Intersection Improvements: Funds projects that improve signals and include geometric improvements to shorten crossings for pedestrians, add turning lanes for vehicles, and improve sidewalks.
• Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections: Funds projects that expand bicycle networks, create new shared-use paths, implement traffic calming measures, and enhance signage.
• Community Connections: Funds first- and last-mile shuttles, updates to transit technology, car and bicycle parking near transit stations, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure (including for people with mobility impairments), and travel instruction and education.
• Transit Transformation: Funds transit-related investments such as multimodal access improvements near or at transit stations, transit system electrification projects, or customer amenities such as bus shelters.
• Bikeshare Support: Funds capital costs associated with expanding the regional bikeshare system and replacing or upgrading existing stations.

Table ES-1 shows the percentage of funding dedicated to each investment program in each time band and the total funding allocated to each investment program over the entire plan. The allocations in 2029–33 differ from those in the other time bands because of the combined cost of the Major Infrastructure projects that the MPO selected for that time band.

Table ES-1

Funding Allocated to MPO Investment Programs in Destination 2050

Note: Years are federal fiscal years

Source: Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The Recommended Plan also includes major infrastructure projects that will be built in the region by 2050. Major infrastructure projects are either

• roadway projects that improve roadways that are important to regional travel, including interstate highways, principal arterials, freeways, and expressways, and all other arterials with controlled access or cost $50 million or more, or
• transit projects that add new connections to or extend the rail or fixed-guideway network or cost $50 million or more.

Major infrastructure projects listed in LRTP are shown in Table ES-2. The first project in Table ES-2, Allston Multimodal, is included in the plan for illustrative purposes only and is not within the fiscal constraint of the plan. The second project, I-495 and I-90 Interchange, is funded mostly using MassDOT statewide program priority funding and is also not within the fiscal constraint of the plan.

Table ES-2
Recommended Plan Projects

Note: Years are federal fiscal years.

Source: Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Disparate Impact and Disproportionate Burden Analysis Results

The disparate impact and disproportionate burden analysis shows that there would be six instances of disparate impacts and disproportionate burdens if the MPO’s Regional Target projects were built by 2050. There are projected to be three disparate impacts for the minority population associated with access to healthcare by transit, average travel time by highway, and average travel time by transit. There are projected to be three disproportionate burdens for the low-income population associated with access to jobs by transit, access to healthcare by transit, and access to parks by highway. In all instances, the difference between the impact on the minority and nonminority populations and the low-income and non-low-income populations, respectively, is expected to be relatively small. In compliance with federal regulations, the MPO will identify and implement opportunities to mitigate the impacts of these disparate impacts and disproportionate burdens through future planning and project funding decisions.

Conclusion

Destination 2050 continues the MPO’s practice of providing funding to support bicycle, pedestrian, and transit projects, along with major roadway improvements that promote safety, equity, and multimodal connectivity in the region. Continuing along this course will help to achieve its transportation vision for the future, improve the quality of life for Boston region residents, and enhance the environment in the whole region.

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Chapter 1: Purpose of the Plan

Destination 2050, the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), will guide the MPO’s decisions about investments in the Boston region’s transportation network to bring the system from its present state towards the MPO’s vision for the future:

According to federal regulations, every MPO must develop an LRTP every four years. The Boston Region MPO developed Destination 2050 by following federal guidance for metropolitan planning, which involved conducting a planning process that engaged the public. Throughout the process, the MPO and public grappled with this challenge:

How can we improve the transportation network to meet existing needs, adapt and modernize it for future demand, and meet climate and other goals while working within the reality of constrained fiscal resources?

The resulting LRTP defines goals and objectives that the MPO will adhere to when making near-term decisions about project and program funding during the next four years. It also outlines the transportation needs and challenges the region faces over the next 25 years. Finally, it identifies strategies to address those needs using the financial resources available to the MPO.

            The Metropolitan Transportation Planning Process

Decisions about allocating transportation funds in a metropolitan area are guided by information and ideas gathered from a broad group of people, including elected officials, municipal planners and engineers, transportation advocates, and interested residents. Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are responsible for providing a forum for this decision-making process and for deciding how to spend federal transportation funds for capital projects and planning studies for the area.   

Federal legislation requires every metropolitan area in the United States with a population of 50,000 or more (also known as an urbanized area) to establish an MPO. MPOs must carry out a continuing, comprehensive, and cooperative (3C) transportation planning process, resulting in plans and programs consistent with the planning objectives of the metropolitan area, in order to be eligible for federal funds.

More information about the Boston Region MPO, its planning process, and its regulatory framework can be found in Appendices A and B.

            The Role of Public Engagement

The public was consulted throughout the development of the LRTP and its associated Needs Assessment. The Needs Assessment, the vision, goals, and objectives, and the investment programs and projects in the LRTP reflect public engagement during each stage of development. From 2019 to 2023 the MPO received more than 2,000 comments, ideas, and survey responses about the region’s transportation needs, investment priorities, and opportunities for improving the transportation system. This input was gathered through various activities, including the following:

• Big Ideas for Scenario Planning, 2021: A series of focus groups involving over 40 organizations in the Boston region that aimed to identify driving forces that will shape transportation in the region and strategies to respond to future conditions
• Subregional group meetings, 2019–22: Annual meetings with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) subregional groups and quarterly meetings with the Inner Core Committee transportation group to discuss local transportation needs
• Regional Transportation Advisory Council meetings, 2019–23: Monthly meetings of the MPO’s public Advisory Council comprising municipal, community, business, and advocacy representatives
• Transit Working Group meetings and coffee chats, 2020–22: Informal discussions with transit providers and other interested parties on public transit topics, including human services transportation needs, regional coordination needs, and regional transit priorities
• MPO open houses, 2019–22: Public open houses held annually for the draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
• Meetings and interviews with advocacy and community-based organizations, 2019–23: Meetings to discuss transportation issues and needs in the region
• Other workshops, meetings, and forums, 2019–23: Often done in collaboration with partner organizations to reach broader audiences, these gatherings included the following:
• Regional Coordinating Council and Transportation Management Association meetings at which staff discussed MPO work and gathered feedback
• Events that showcased MPO work and where participants discussed transportation topics such as freight planning and transit system mapping
• Workshops for MPO projects and plans, including the Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan
• Events held by advocacy organizations that MPO staff attended to share information about the MPO and build relationships
• Forums held in partnership with MAPC to discuss transportation topics such as travel demand management strategies
• Public meetings held in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to discuss capital planning in the Boston region
• Public surveys for Destination 2050 and other MPO programs and projects, 2019–23 on the following topics:
• Destination 2050 vision, goals, and objectives
• Destination 2050 investment priorities
• Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan
• Annual UPWP study ideas
• TIP criteria update
• Climate resilience in MPO studies
• Corridor and intersection safety and operations

The public comment period for Destination 2050 in June and July of 2023 provided the public a final opportunity to review and comment on the recommended plan and its development process before it wasfinalized. More details about the public input process can be found in Appendix C.

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Chapter 2: Overview of Transportation Needs

A critical step in developing the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) was to collect, analyze, and identify transportation needs for the Boston region. Using results from data analyses and public engagement activities, the Needs Assessment documents the transportation needs of the Boston region since the last LRTP was approved in 2019—focusing on the years between 2019 and 2023. The development of the Needs Assessment took into account how people travel, the condition of transportation facilities, the interaction of the transportation system with the built and natural environment, how well it serves and how it impacts minority, low-income, and other disadvantaged populations, and possible changes to travel patterns and demand in the future.

The Needs Assessment supports the LRTP by providing information about the most pressing transportation needs in the Boston region, thereby shaping the MPO’s vision, goals and objectives, and informing the MPO’s decisions about investment programs to develop and projects to prioritize in the LRTP. It also guides future decision-making about projects to fund in the MPO’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), studies to conduct through the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and work to undertake in the MPO’s programs, such as the Transportation Equity Program and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Support Program.

This chapter summarizes the region’s transportation needs. The full Needs Assessment is presented in nine online interactive StoryMaps where readers can explore a series of maps, charts, and tables related to the transportation needs in the Boston region. The StoryMaps are organized by theme, centered around the needs relevant to each Destination 2050 goal area:

• Transportation in the Boston Region Today: Describes the region’s current travel patterns, the existing transportation system, and an overview of the current land use and development patterns.
• Future Conditions and Travel Demand: Describes projected socioeconomic, land use, and travel conditions in 2050.
• Safety: Identifies needs relative to transit, roadway, and nonmotorized transportation safety.
• Mobility and Reliability: Identifies needs relative to the ease of travel and the reliability of the transportation network.
• Access and Connectivity: Identifies needs relative to the ability of people to access destinations and the multimodal transportation network, and how well that network is connected.
• Resiliency: Identifies needs relative to the resilience of the transportation network in the face of climate impacts.
• Clean Air and Healthy Communities: Identifies needs relative to air quality and the environment, and their impacts on the health of Boston area communities.
• Regional Recommendations: Summarizes regional needs and recommendations identified in the Needs Assessment.
• The Boston Region MPO’s Approach to Transportation Equity: Describes how the MPO addresses equity in both the Needs Assessment and throughout other agency work.

The remainder of this chapter provides highlights from the various goal areas of the Needs Assessment; the full analyses can be found online.

Transportation Equity

The MPO’s approach to transportation equity (TE) is rooted in the disparate ways in which the Boston region’s transportation system has and continues to impact different communities. Past transportation decision-making has led to systemic inequities and discriminatory transportation outcomes among TE and other disadvantaged populations, who are often those who can least bear the burdens. The MPO considers six demographic groups TE populations—populations that are protected by federal mandates and that have been disproportionately underserved and overburdened by the Boston region’s transportation system:

• Minority population
• Low-income population
• People with limited English proficiency (LEP)
• People with disabilities
• Youth (ages 17 and younger)
• Older adults (ages 75 and older) 2-1

The Needs Assessment assesses the equity of the transportation system and the impacts on its residents within the context other goal areas in two ways:

• Mapping where TE populations live relative to transportation infrastructure and incidents (such as roadway crashes)
• Analyzing how TE populations are impacted by the transportation system compared to non-TE populations

Transportation needs for TE populations are identified in the context of each analysis, as applicable. In the sections that follow in this chapter, needs for TE populations are identified within each goal area.

Safety Needs Summary

While the Boston region has safer roads than the nation at large, the region has been following nationwide trends of more severe crashes and fatalities, especially for bicyclists and pedestrians. During the COVID-19 pandemic, fatalities and serious injuries from crashes decreased, as residents drove fewer miles. But in 2021 and the beginning of 2022, as pandemic-era restrictions loosened and driving approached previous levels, fatalities and serious injuries surpassed pre-pandemic totals.

The Needs Assessment analyses conducted for the MPO’s safety goal area evaluate fatalities and serious injuries for different modes, factors that contribute to crash risk, and transit safety. Table 2-1 summarizes key findings about safety needs that MPO staff identified through data analysis and public input.

Table 2-1
Safety Needs in the Boston Region

CATA = Cape Ann Transportation Authority. MBTA = Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. MassDOT = Massachusetts Department of Transportation. MPO = metropolitan planning organization. MWRTA = MetroWest Regional Transit Authority. RTA = regional transit authority. TE = transportation equity. TIP = Transportation Improvement Program.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

Mobility and Reliability Needs Summary

Mobility and reliability relate to the seamless and dependable movement of people and freight. This goal focuses on the ability of people in the region to easily travel, regardless of travel mode, as well as the preservation of the region’s transportation assets to enable that ease of travel. Keeping infrastructure in a state of good repair—including bridges, pavement, and fixed rail—ensures that people and freight can travel safely and reliably across the region.

The Needs Assessment analyses conducted for the mobility and reliability goal area evaluates transit and roadway infrastructure condition, and the ease and reliability of travel on roadways, bicycle, and transit. Table 2-2 summarizes key findings about mobility and reliability needs that MPO staff identified through data analysis and public input.

Table 2-2
Mobility and Reliability Needs in the Boston Region

CATA = Cape Ann Transportation Authority. MAPC = Metropolitan Area Planning Council. MBTA = Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. MPO = metropolitan planning organization. MWRTA = MetroWest Regional Transit Authority. TIP = Transportation Improvement Program.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

Access and Connectivity Needs Summary

Access and connectivity are vital aspects of an effective transportation system. People should be able to access the destinations they want, and transportation options should be equally accessible for all groups of people. Similarly, the various components of the transportation system (such as transit, roadways, and the bicycle network) must be connected so that users can access the benefits of the full system.

The Needs Assessment analyses conducted for the access and connectivity goal area evaluate the ability of people to access various forms of transportation, and destinations that are important to quality of life, such as jobs and healthcare. The analyses also measures the connectivity of the transportation network and accessibility for people of all abilities. Table 2-3 summarizes key findings about access and connectivity needs that MPO staff identified through data analysis and public input.

Table 2-3
Access and Connectivity Needs in the Boston Region

MAPC = Metropolitan Area Planning Council. MBTA = Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. MassDOT = Massachusetts Department of Transportation. MPO = metropolitan planning organization. TIP = Transportation Improvement Program.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

Resiliency Needs Summary

Climate change impacts the transportation system in a variety of ways. Extreme air and land surface temperatures can cause asphalt deterioration along roadways, buckling of pavement and rail lines, and health impacts to transportation users. Extreme weather events such as hurricanes and tropical storms have resulted in flooding and inundation of transportation assets along the coastline and are amplified by rising sea levels. Heavy rainfall events and Nor’easters can overwhelm stormwater drainage systems with compounding impacts from sea level rise and high tide cycles. Investments in resilience can enable the region’s transportation system to anticipate extreme events, absorb their impacts, recover in a timely and efficient manner, and adapt to better withstand future disturbances caused by a changing climate.

The Needs Assessment analyses conducted for the resiliency goal area evaluate the vulnerability of transportation assets and people to climate impacts, including sea level rise, flooding due to severe storms, and extreme heat. Table 2-4 summarizes key findings about climate resiliency needs that MPO staff identified through data analysis and public input.

Table 2-4
Resiliency Needs in the Boston Region

MAPC = Metropolitan Area Planning Council. MassDOT = Massachusetts Department of Transportation MPO = metropolitan planning organization. MVP = Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness. TIP = Transportation Improvement Program.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

Clean Air and Healthy Communities Needs Summary

The transportation sector produces the highest share of greenhouse gases of any sector in Massachusetts. Single-occupancy vehicle use accounts for most transportation sector emissions. In addition to greenhouse gases, transportation is a major source of air pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and ground-level ozone that are harmful to human and environmental health. The transportation sector continues to be a source of harmful air pollution resulting from car, truck, bus, and rail emissions. Emissions from fossil fuel-powered vehicles can impact public health, particularly among populations who live near polluting roadways or congested areas, as well as those more susceptible to adverse health impacts. Exposure to PM_2.5, ozone, and other tailpipe pollutants can cause respiratory illnesses, asthma, and cardio-pulmonary disease.

The Needs Assessment analyses conducted for the mobility and reliability goal area evaluate emissions from transportation and their impacts on human and environmental health, including greenhouse gases, carbon monoxide, PM_2.5, and ozone. Table 2-5 summarizes key findings about clean air and healthy communities needs that staff identified through data analysis and public input.

Table 2-5
Clean Air and Healthy Communities Needs in the Boston Region

CECP = Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2025 and 2030. EV = electric vehicle. MassDOT = Massachusetts Department of Transportation. MPO = metropolitan planning organization. NEVI = National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure. SOV = single-occupancy vehicle. TE = transportation equity. TIP = Transportation Improvement Program. VMT = vehicle-miles traveled.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

Conclusion

As the Needs Assessment has shown, the Boston region has extensive transportation needs, and the MPO is invested in addressing these needs through various studies, capital investments, ongoing programs, and technical assistance. The MPO also collaborates extensively with its partners in the region, including the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, MBTA, and the other regional transit authorities in the region on its own work as well as to support partner initiatives. The Needs Assessment guided the development of Destination 2050’s investment programs and will continue to support the prioritization of the kinds of transportation projects and studies the MPO will fund over the coming years, as noted in the summary tables. It will also help staff develop the work undertaken through the MPO’s ongoing programs. By examining recent and existing conditions, the MPO can better understand the region's needs and prioritize future investment to improve the transportation system for everyone.

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Chapter 3: Planning and Investment Framework

Vision, Goals, and Objectives

During each Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) development cycle, the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) updates its planning framework, which is made up of a vision statement, a set of goals, and a series of objectives associated with each goal. This planning framework serves as a foundational guide for the MPO’s decision-making. The content of this framework informs staff proposals and MPO decisions related to creating investment programs for the LRTP and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the development of criteria used to evaluate and select TIP projects for funding. This framework also helps to communicate the MPO’s values to partners, stakeholders, and the general public.

The MPO’s previous planning framework was adopted in 2019 as part of the Destination 2040 development process. While developing Destination 2050, the MPO explored ways to refresh this planning framework. Activities to support this update included the following:

• A July 2022 MPO member workshop and an October 2022 Regional Transportation Advisory Council workshop to collect feedback about updating the MPO’s planning framework. MPO staff released surveys to these groups following these events to gather additional comments.
• A review of plans and policies from partner agencies, and the visions, goals, and factors that these documents describe.
• A review of recent MPO studies and preliminary analysis products from the Destination 2050 Needs Assessment process and an assessment of staff’s impressions.
• A review of public input and feedback from recent MPO studies and certification document development processes.
• Collection of new input through MPO engagement activities, including participation in the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s (MAPC) subregional meetings and stakeholder organization events and a public survey on a vision for transportation and MPO priorities.

The resulting vision statement in this framework offers a succinct picture of the MPO’s hopes for the Boston region’s transportation system and the way it will support quality of life in the region overall. The goal areas and statements provide more detail about what the MPO aspires to achieve for different aspects of the region’s transportation system. The objectives reflect specific actions the MPO can take through its investments, research, and policies to improve the transportation system. Some objectives reflect outcomes, while others reflect where the MPO will focus attention or resources. These objectives are meant to be monitored using quantitative and qualitative information, although neither the goals nor the objectives are time-bound or include specific targets. These elements can be addressed as part of the MPO’s ongoing performance-based planning and programming activities.

The MPO also reviewed responses to its public LRTP Vision and Priorities Survey, which was open from November 21, 2022, until January 20, 2023. This survey included questions asking respondents to rank their transportation priorities, identify words and phrases that describe their ideal transportation system, and describe aspects of the Boston region’s transportation system that need to be improved. Overall, 982 people answered some or all of the survey questions. Staff incorporated details from these responses into both the initial and revised Destination 2050 planning frameworks and continued to refer to these results when working on other aspects of the Destination 2050 process, such as when proposing updates to the MPO’s investment programs. More information on the survey can be found in Appendix C.

This planning framework will help to guide future updates to Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) project selection processes and the MPO’s performance-based planning and programming process.

The MPO’s vision, goals, and objectives are shown in Figure 3-1.

Figure 3-1
Destination 2050 Vision, Goals, and Objectives

Source: Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The MPO’s vision, goals, and objectives inform how it invests federal funding in regional transportation improvements. The following section summarizes the federal funding programs that are available to the MPO and its partner agencies.

            Federal Funding Programs

            Highway Programs

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) receives funding from the federal government for statewide and regional priorities. After accounting for debt service payments and recurring funding line items (e.g. Metropolitan Planning, State Planning and Research, extra work order, etc.), MassDOT allocates roughly two-thirds of its funding across the following funding categories:

• Reliability Investments: These programs include the Bridge Program— comprising inspections, systematic maintenance, and National Highway System (NHS) and non-NHS improvements—the Pavement Program, the Roadway Improvements Program, and the Safety Improvements Program.
• Modernization Investments: These programs include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Retrofit Program, the Intersection Improvement Program, the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program, and the Roadway Reconstruction Program.
• Expansion Investments: These programs include the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program and transit network expansions.

MassDOT allocates the remaining third of funding among the state’s 13 MPOs for programming. This discretionary funding for MPOs is suballocated by formula to determine the Regional Target amounts. The Boston Region MPO receives the largest portion of MPO funding in the state, with approximately 43 percent of Massachusetts’ Regional Target funds allocated to the region. These targets were previously set according to a formula developed by the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA).

Each MPO may decide how to prioritize its Regional Target funding. Given that

the Regional Target funding is a subset of the Highway Program, the MPO

typically programs the majority of funding for roadway projects; however, the MPO has flexed portions of its highway funding to the Transit Program for transit

expansion projects and through its Transit Modernization and Community

Connections Programs.

            Transit Programs

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) allocates the funds programmed in the

TIP Transit Program according to formula. The three transit authorities in

the Boston Region MPO area that are recipients of these funds are the MBTA,

Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA), and MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA). The MBTA, with its extensive transit program and

infrastructure, is the recipient of the preponderance of the region’s federal transit

funds.

The current federal transportation legislation, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates funding to transit projects through the following formula programs:

• Section 5307 (Urbanized Area Formula Grants): Provides grants to urbanized areas to support public transportation based on levels of transit service, population, and other factors
• Section 5337 (Fixed Guideway/Bus): Seeks to maintain public transportation systems in a state of good repair through replacement and rehabilitation capital projects
• Section 5309 (Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants): Provides grants for new and expanded rail, bus rapid transit, and ferry systems that reflect local priorities to improve transportation options in key corridors
• Section 5339 (Bus and Bus Facilities): Provides funding to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment, and to construct bus-related facilities
• Section 5310 (Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities): Provides funding to support transportation to meet the special needs of older adults and persons with disabilities. MassDOT’s Rail and Transit Division manages the distribution of these funds through a competitive process known as the Community Transit Grant Program.

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Chapter 4: Guiding MPO Investments

Available Funding

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and its partner transportation agencies anticipate the resources that will be available for transportation capital investment, maintenance, and operations when preparing the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). For Destination 2050, the MPO has approximately $5 billion in discretionary dollars, known as Regional Target funds, to spend between federal fiscal years (FFYs) 2024 and 2050. The LRTP only lists projects between FFYs 2024 and 2033. For FFYs 2034 to 2050, the MPO allocates percentages of its available funding to investment programs in order to help guide the investments it will make in projects through its five-year capital plan, the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

The dollars allocated in the LRTP to projects and investment programs must remain within the limit of available funding. As such, Destination 2050 and the TIP must demonstrate that projects selected by the MPO can be implemented within fiscal constraints. The financial plan for Destination 2050 reflects how the MPO plans to balance the region’s transportation needs while operating under the fiscal constraint of projected revenues. Table 4-1 shows the Regional Target funding the MPO anticipates having available between FFYs 2024 and 2050.

Table 4-1
Anticipated MPO Regional Target Funding

Source: Massachusetts Department of Transportation

Regional Target dollars are only a portion of the funding available to support the region’s transportation system. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has other sources of funding that it spends on highway projects in the Boston region, as does the MBTA, the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, and the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority to provide and improve transit service.

More information about sources and uses of transportation funding in Massachusetts can be found in Appendix F.

Regional Target dollars are only a portion of the funding available to support the region’s transportation system. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has other sources of funding that it spends on highway projects in the Boston region, as does the MBTA, the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, and the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority to provide and improve transit service.

More information about sources and uses of transportation funding in Massachusetts can be found in Appendix F.

            Decision Process

The MPO engaged in a series of interrelated activities to develop Destination 2050, which are illustrated in Figure 4-1 and described below:

• Data were gathered and analyzed for the Needs Assessment in order to identify current and future needs facing the region. A summary of the Needs Assessment can be found in Chapter 2.
• The MPO established its vision and goals for transportation in the region. More information about the vision and goals can be found in Chapter 3.
• The MPO sought feedback on its investment programs. It considered potential new investment programs and changes to existing programs, and then the MPO voted to approve a structure of investment programs. More information on investment programs can be found in Chapter 5.
• The MPO developed a universe of projects that had the potential to be relevant to the LRTP. The MPO reviewed and refined the universe by seeking information about projects from MassDOT, municipalities, and other partner agencies. The universe can be found in Appendix D.
• The MPO selected eight projects from the universe to include in Destination 2050, with six projects being listed within fiscal constraint and two being listed as recommended projects either still in need of additional funding or with funding from other sources (see Chapter 5 for additional details). The MPO made this selection by considering which projects were required to be listed in the LRTP based on their characteristics and which projects were regional priorities. Project selection was guided by the MPO’s policy to list projects only in the first ten years of the LRTP, from FFY 2024 to 2033. Between FFY 2034 and 2050, the MPO allocated funding to its investment programs on a percentage basis.
• The MPO documented its decisions and related information in Destination 2050.
• The MPO engaged stakeholders and the public in every stage of the development of Destination 2050. More information about engagement can be found in Appendix C.

Figure 4-1
Destination 2050 Activities

Source: Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization

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Chapter 5: Recommended Plan

A major component in the development of the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) is the Recommended Plan. The Recommended Plan contains the regionally significant projects that are expected to be built in the region in the next 25 years and the investment programs that will guide Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) investments in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). This chapter describes these projects and programs: the investment programs cover those that will be funded with MPO discretionary funds, also called Regional Target funds, while the projects include both those that could be funded with Regional Target funds as well as those prioritized for Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) funding.

This chapter begins with descriptions of the MPO’s investment programs and the expected funding amounts for each program by time band. It then describes the projects that were selected for inclusion in the plan. Finally, it summarizes the results of air quality conformity analyses and greenhouse gas analyses, anticipated performance impacts, and equity impacts for the Recommended Plan.

Investment Program Structure

The Boston Region MPO is responsible for deciding how Regional Target funds are spent in the region. Generally, these investments come in the form of specific transportation projects, such as the reconstruction of a roadway, the conversion of a former railbed into a shared-use path, or providing shuttle service. The MPO uses investment programs to prioritize the types of transportation projects that it funds through the TIP.

The MPO’s investment programs direct funding to priority areas over the 25-year LRTP planning timeframe. The projects that are funded through each program may vary by type (such as intersection improvements versus shared-use path construction), scale, transportation mode (such as the roadway network or transit network), funding source, or other factors. These programs are developed to help the MPO achieve the vision and goals outlined in its LRTP. They also communicate to potential project proponents—such as municipalities or regional transit authorities (RTA)—the types of projects that the MPO is interested in funding.

MPO staff undertook several activities to review and update the investment programs. Staff reviewed laws, plans, policies, and regional transportation needs; consulted MPO members; collected stakeholder input; and consulted project proponents and implementing agencies. Staff then presented their recommendations to the board, which voted to adopt the following investment programs:

• Complete Streets
• Major Infrastructure
• Intersection Improvements
• Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections
• Transit Transformation
• Community Connections
• Bikeshare Support

In addition, in FFY 2025, the MPO will launch a project design support pilot. The objectives of this pilot program are to provide additional resources for projects to achieve MassDOT’s 25 percent design threshold so that they may be eligible for construction funding through the TIP, to lay a foundation for expanded funding opportunities in later TIP cycles if successful, and to encourage and incentivize the development of transformative projects for the Boston region's transportation network. The pilot will provide financial support to municipalities for the development of capital transportation projects consistent with the MPO’s vision, goals, and objectives. MPO staff will solicit applications from municipalities and engage in a competitive selection process to identify projects approved by MassDOT’s Project Review Committee that require additional resources to reach a state ready for construction. Projects included in the pilot will be funded under the relevant investment programs.

Complete Streets

The MPO established its Complete Streets investment program as part of the Charting Progress to 2040 LRTP adopted in 2015 and continued it as part of the Destination 2040 LRTP adopted in 2019. This federally funded MPO program is distinct from MassDOT’s state-funded Complete Streets program, although the two programs fund similar types of projects.

This program modernizes roadway corridors to achieve a variety of MPO goals, such as improving safety, infrastructure condition, and multimodal mobility and access. The projects are initiated through the MassDOT Highway Division Project Development Process and designs are reviewed by MassDOT staff. Complete Streets project elements can include the following:

• new or improved sidewalks and other pedestrian accessibility improvements
• bicycle lanes, cycle tracks, and other bicycle facilities on or adjacent to the roadway corridor
• upgrades to roadway geometry and cross sections, which can include road diets
• dedicated bus lanes within a corridor improvement project
• new or improved signals, including those that support transit signal priority
• pavement, bridge, drainage, and streetscape improvements that support active transportation infrastructure

This investment program is in effect from federal fiscal years (FFY) 2024 through 2050.

Major Infrastructure

The MPO first established its Major Infrastructure program in 2015 as part of Charting Progress to 2040. The program invests in roadway projects that improve expressways and major arterials to reduce congestion and improve safety or transit projects that expand the fixed-guideway network. Since 2015, the MPO has chosen to prioritize lower-cost, smaller-scale projects, limiting larger projects to the Major Infrastructure Program.

The Major Infrastructure program includes projects are regionally significant, as defined in Title 23 of the code of federal regulations, section 450.104:

Regionally significant project means a transportation project (other than projects that may be grouped in the TIP and/or STIP or exempt projects as defined in EPA's transportation conformity regulations (40 CFR part 93, subpart A) that is on a facility that serves regional transportation needs (such as access to and from the area outside the region; major activity centers in the region; major planned developments such as new retail malls, sports complexes, or employment centers; or transportation terminals) and would normally be included in the modeling of the metropolitan area's transportation network. At a minimum, this includes all principal arterial highways and all fixed guideway transit facilities that offer an alternative to regional highway travel.

The MPO voted in October 2020 to define Major Infrastructure projects as those that are regionally significant as defined above, or those that cost $50 million or more. All regionally significant projects must be listed in the LRTP. However, not all projects that cost $50 million or more are required to be listed in the LRTP because not all such projects are regionally significant.

Roadway-oriented projects funded by the Major Infrastructure program are initiated through the MassDOT Highway Division Project Development Process and designs are reviewed by MassDOT personnel. Transit projects, such as the Green Line Extension that opened in 2022, are initiated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The criteria for including projects in the Major Infrastructure program have evolved over time in response to changes in federal guidance and MPO board deliberations.

This investment program is in effect from FFY 2024 through 2050.

Intersection Improvements

The MPO established its Intersection Improvements program as part of Charting Progress to 2040 and continued it as part of Destination 2040. This program supports projects that enhance intersections in ways that improve safety and mobility for pedestrians, bicyclists, buses, and cars. Projects funded by this program are initiated through the MassDOT Highway Division Project Development Process and designs are reviewed by MassDOT personnel. They are distinct from Complete Streets projects in that they are focused on one intersection, or several intersections spread out in an area (as opposed to those aligned in the corridor), but they often include elements similar to those in Complete Streets projects:

• Upgrades to existing signals or new signals
• Changes to roadway geometry, such as new turn lanes
• Striping and lighting, including for bicycle lanes
• Shortened crossing distances for pedestrians
• Improved curb cuts

This investment program is in effect from FFY 2024 through 2050.

Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections

The MPO’s Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections program was established in Charting Progress to 2040 and continued in Destination 2040. Projects funded through this program expand the region’s bicycle and pedestrian network and support safe bicycle and pedestrian access to key destinations. Like roadway projects in other investment programs, these projects are initiated through the MassDOT Highway Division Project Development Process and designs are reviewed by MassDOT personnel. This program supports the creation of new off-road bicycle and multiuse paths. It can also fund upgrades to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, such as

• improved bicycle and pedestrian crossings;
• new or expanded sidewalks;
• enhanced signage and lighting;
• traffic calming features; and
• upgrades for bicyclists and pedestrians such as those in a Complete Streets or Intersection Improvements project.

This investment program is in effect from FFY 2024 through 2050.

Transit Transformation

In Destination 2050, the MPO is establishing a new Transit Transformation program. This program is a modified version of the Transit Modernization program included in Destination 2040. Transit Transformation expands beyond the state-of-good-repair and transit infrastructure upgrades of the former Transit Modernization program to incorporate multimodal access and other goals. The Transit Transformation program will fund transit-related investments with higher costs than those typically included in the Community Connections program (typically less than $500,000) but that do not meet the criteria for the Major Infrastructure Program ($50 million or more). Examples of potential projects include

• station or facility investments costing less than $50 million;
• multimodal access improvements near or at transit stations;
• transit system electrification projects costing less than $50 million; and
• transit customer amenities (such as bus shelters) implemented at multiple locations.

The MPO will continue to direct FFYs 2024–28 funding set-asides for the Transit Modernization program in consultation with the MPO board, the MBTA, the Cape Ann Transportation Authority, MetroWest Regional Transit Authority, MassDOT, and other stakeholders prior to more detailed program guidelines being available. The Transit Transformation program will take effect from FFY 2029 through 2050.

Community Connections

The Community Connections program is the MPO’s funding program for first- and last-mile solutions, community transportation, and other small, nontraditional transportation projects. It evolved out of the Community Transportation/Parking/Clean Air and Mobility Program established through Charting Progress to 2040 and appeared as the Community Connections program in Destination 2040. The goals of this program are to

• create first- and last-mile connections between transit and other modes;
• incentivize collaboration between entities; and
• promote mode shift by filling gaps in the transportation system.

The Community Connections program differs from the other MPO programs in that project proponents apply solely to the MPO, as opposed to initiating the project through the MassDOT Highway Division or the MBTA. The MPO developed the features and guidelines for this program over time, first through an MPO study designed to create a program framework, then through a pilot-funding round through the TIP. The MPO continues to refine the program’s features and guidelines as they learn from experiences funding different types of projects. Under the current framework, municipalities and RTAs in or overlapping the Boston region may apply for Community Connections funding, while other entities, such as transportation management associations and nonprofit organizations, may apply in partnership with a municipality or RTA that has agreed to serve as a project proponent and fiscal manager.

This investment program is in effect from FFY 2024 through 2050.

Bikeshare Support

In Destination 2040, bikeshare projects were funded through the Community Connections program. In Destination 2050, the MPO is establishing a separate Bikeshare Support program to support capital costs associated with expanding the bikeshare system and replacing or upgrading existing stations. Municipalities that currently participate in the Bluebikes bikeshare system include Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Newton, Revere, Salem, Somerville, and Watertown, and other municipalities have requested to join the Bluebikes system. While this program will focus on supporting the Bluebikes system, it could also support other bikeshare initiatives in the region.

MPO communities can continue to apply for funding for bikeshare capital projects through the Community Connections program from FFY 2024 to 2028. The Bikeshare Support investment program will begin in FFY 2029 and be in effect through 2050.

Investment Program Funding by Time Band

The Recommended Plan allocates funding to investment programs as a percentage of total available funds. These funding allocations reflect the MPO’s priorities for the types of projects it wishes to fund. Funding percentages by investment program for all time bands except FFY 2029 to 2033 are as follows:

• Complete Streets: 45 percent
• Major Infrastructure: 30 percent
• Intersection Improvements: 12 percent
• Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections: 5 percent
• Transit Transformation: 5 percent
• Community Connections: 2 percent
• Bikeshare Support: 1 percent

Between 2029 and 2033, funding percentages by investment program are as follows:

• Complete Streets: 30 percent
• Major Infrastructure: 47 percent
• Intersection Improvements: 10 percent
• Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections: 5 percent
• Transit Transformation: 5 percent
• Community Connections: 2 percent
• Bikeshare Support: 1 percent

The FFYs 2029–33 funding allocations differ from other time bands because of the combined cost of the Major Infrastructure projects that the MPO selected for that time band. All projects that the MPO selected for 2029–33 exceed $50 million and are classified as Major Infrastructure. However, the projects include elements of other MPO investment programs. For example, the McGrath Boulevard project in Somerville has Complete Streets elements, and the project at Route 126, Route 135, and the MBTA and CSX railroads in Framingham has Intersection Improvement elements.

As shown in Chapter 4, the MPO anticipates having slightly more than $5 billion available in total discretionary funding between 2024 and 2050. Table 5-1 applies the percentage funding allocations shown above to each five-year time band in the Recommended Plan to show the total funding that the MPO anticipates allocating to each investment program in each time band.

Table 5-1
Investment Program Funding Allocations

Notes: Years are federal fiscal years. The amounts shown in this table are applications of the MPO’s investment program allocation percentages to anticipated Regional Target funding and could differ from the amounts shown in the TIP.

Source: Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Recommended Projects

Federal regulations require that regionally significant projects be listed in the Recommended Plan; the MPO’s Major Infrastructure program contains these projects. Following the process described in Chapter 4, the MPO selected eight Major Infrastructure projects to list in the Recommended Plan. Those projects are listed in Table 5-2 and mapped in Figure 5-1. The fnal two projects in Table 5-2, Allston Multimodal and I-495/I-90 Interchange, are statewide priority projects that are outside the fiscally constrained portion of the LRTP.

Being listed in the Recommended Plan does not guarantee MPO funding for a project, as projects are listed based on federal requirements for LRTPs. To receive MPO funding, projects must be submitted to the TIP for funding and evaluated through that process.

Table 5-2
Recommended Projects

Note: Years are federal fiscal years.

^a The City of Boston has committed to contributing $25 million to the cost of this project.

^b These cost estimates assume a four percent annual increase between 2023 and 2029.

^c The total cost of this project is approximately $2 billion. Of that amount, approximately $1.191 billion is being sought through federal discretionary grants.

MassDOT = Massachusetts Department of Transportation. MBTA = Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. MPO = Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Source: Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Figure 5-1
Recommended Projects

MPO = Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Project Descriptions

The following are descriptions of the projects listed in Table 5-2. A description of how the projects were scored can be found in Appendix D.

Boston: Allston Multimodal

The Allston Viaduct, which carries the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) from the Allston Interchange to the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, is nearing the end of its useful lifespan, and must be replaced. I-90 is the primary east-west route between Western Massachusetts, Worcester, and Boston, and it carries heavy vacation traffic on weekends. With the change to all electronic tolling, toll booths have been removed from the interchange. This allows for the straightening of the Turnpike in Allston and improvements to multimodal connections.

The interchange is crucial to the Commonwealth's roadway network. Improvement to I-90 as part of this project will ensure its efficient operation. Improvements include the following:

• Improved livability, connectivity, and open space for residents of the Allston neighborhood
• Improved regional mobility and roadway safety with the straightening of I-90, including shrinking the Allston interchange
• Replacing the aging Allston Viaduct, decreasing the need for traffic-impacting maintenance
• Creating a new open space along the Charles River
• Complete Streets improvements to Cambridge Street
• Enhanced bicycle and pedestrian connections
• Significant transit enhancements with the new West Station and commuter rail layover facility, providing greater access and improvements to the commuter rail and local bus service
• Removing elevated bridge structure allows for an improved gateway into the city and enhanced neighborhood views
• Allowing for an attractive and highly desired pedestrian/bicycle connection from Agganis Way to Charles River

Score: This is a MassDOT-prioritized project and is therefore not directly evaluated using the MPO’s scoring criteria.

Hopkinton: I-495 and I-90 Interchange

For years, the I-495 and I-90 interchange has experienced traffic demands exceeding its capacity. On an average day, more than 100,000 vehicles travel on both I-90 and I-495, with approximately 75,000 vehicles traveling through the interchange, including approximately one-half of all trucks entering eastern Massachusetts. The deficient geometry concentrates movements through the former toll plaza area, resulting in queuing onto the interstate mainlines and crash rates twice the statewide average. The project is meant to improve the movement of people and goods through the area.

Score: This is a MassDOT-prioritized project and is therefore not directly evaluated using the MPO’s scoring criteria.

Boston: Rutherford Avenue

The Rutherford Avenue project seeks to transform the corridor into a multimodal urban boulevard. Rutherford Avenue in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston extends about 1.5 miles from the North Washington Street Bridge to the Sullivan Square MBTA Orange Line station and then to the Alford Street Bridge at the Mystic River. The existing corridor consists of eight to 10 lanes of median-divided highway that facilitate high-speed automobile travel. Although this roadway layout served high volumes of traffic during construction of the Central Artery/Tunnel project, it now acts as a barrier to the neighborhood. The existing roadway creates significant challenges and safety issues for pedestrians and bicyclists seeking to reach various destinations, including Bunker Hill Community College, Paul Revere Park, the Hood Business Park and Schrafft’s Center employment areas, and MBTA rapid transit stations.

Available project evaluation data were insufficient to score this project.

Framingham: Route 126/Route 135 Grade Separation

This project would provide a grade-separated crossing at the intersection of Route 135 and Route 126. Route 135 would be depressed under Route 126 with Route 126 approximately maintaining its existing alignment. The depressed section of Route 135 would extend from approximately 500 feet to the west and east of Route 126. Route 126 would continue to cross the Worcester commuter rail line at grade, but traffic on both Routes 135 and 126 would be significantly less affected by rail operations with this grade separation.

Lexington: Routes 4/225 and Hartwell Avenue

This project proposes to improve safety and capacity management by reconstructing portions of Bedford Street (Routes 4 and 225), Hartwell Avenue, and Wood Street to accommodate people walking, people on bicycles, and people taking transit. It would facilitate traffic flow between I-95 and employment centers along the corridor such as Lincoln Labs and Hanscom Airforce Base. It would improve pedestrian and bicycle needs in the corridor and provide a direct connection to the Minuteman Bikeway. The project would also reconstruct the I-95 ramps.

Score: 10 out of 12.

Norwood: Intersection Improvements at Route 1 and University Avenue/Everett Street

This project proposes reconstruction of the traffic signals and associated geometric improvements at the intersection of Route 1 with University Avenue and Everett Street. The geometric improvements include constructing an additional travel lane in each direction on Route 1, a second left-turn lane on both Route 1 approaches with median separation from the travel lanes, an additional left-turn lane on the University Avenue and Everett Street approaches, and an additional receiving lane on Everett Street and University Avenue departing the intersection. The project includes construction of bicycle facilities on each of the intersecting roadways: buffered bike lanes are proposed on Route 1 approaches to the intersection, shared use paths are proposed on both sides of Route 1 at the intersection, a shared-use path is proposed on the north side of University Avenue, and buffered bike lanes are proposed on Everett Street. New sidewalks are proposed on the west side of Route 1 and on the east side of Route 1 north of University Avenue. The existing sidewalks will be reconstructed on University Avenue and Everett Street. In addition, the project includes replacement of the two Purgatory Brook culverts under Route 1, reconstruction of the median with concrete barrier, drainage improvements, and installation of curbing, signage and guardrail.

Score: 5 out of 12.

Somerville: McGrath Boulevard Construction

This project will remove the existing McCarthy Viaduct along McGrath Boulevard in Somerville and replace it with an at-grade urban boulevard, approximately 1.5 miles long, from Broadway in the north to Third Street in the south. The project will result in more conventional intersection configurations at Washington Street and Somerville Avenue, which are currently under or next to the viaduct. Removing the viaduct will physically reconnect the neighborhoods of Somerville with more direct vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle, and transit networks. The project will enhance transit access along the corridor, improving bus operations and the bus rider experience with the installation of floating/in-lane bus stops, transit signal priority, and bus queue-jump lanes at key intersections. New sidewalks and bicycle facilities will be provided for the length of the proposed McGrath Boulevard and will connect with the extended Somerville Community Path, creating access to the regional bicycle network. The proposed facilities will provide direct intermodal connections to existing bus routes and the new Green Line station in East Somerville.

Score: 8 out of 12.

Wrentham: I-495/Route 1A Ramps

This project consists of the construction of ramps at the interchange of Route 1A and Interstate 495 to accommodate increased volumes resulting from development at the interchange. The design may proceed by developers and, depending on cost and scale of development proposals, MassDOT may incorporate ramp construction into a highway project. Future mitigation packages for developers may involve a median island to meet MassDOT’s and the Town of Wrentham’s long-range plan for the interchange.

Score: 4 out of 12.

Recommended Plan Analyses

Air Quality Conformity

The Determination of Air Quality Conformity in Appendix E documents the latest air quality conformity status and requirements for the Boston Region MPO area in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ latest conformity regulations and guidance. This includes conformity determination for the 1997 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and carbon monoxide NAAQS, as well as the Boston Region’s designation status, legal background and considerations, and federal guidance. The analyses demonstrate that Destination 2050 meets the Clean Air Act and Transportation Conformity Rule requirements for the 1997 Ozone NAAQS and is consistent with the air quality goals of, and in conformity with, the Massachusetts State Implementation Plan.

Greenhouse Gases

The Greenhouse Gas Analysis section of Appendix E explains the legislation and regulations that establish the MPO’s responsibilities to contribute to emissions reduction and statewide goals. The MPO’s relationship with MassDOT and strategies for reducing emissions are also explained. It documents modeled greenhouse gas emissions that would be produced from the implementation of projects in this LRTP and other MPOs’ LRTPs in the Commonwealth in order to demonstrate progress toward reducing regional and statewide emissions.

Anticipated Performance Impacts

Analysis drives the implementation of Destination 2050. The Boston Region MPO continues to transition to a performance-based approach to making investments in the region’s transportation system. Appendix G describes the MPO’s current set of performance measures and targets and provides information about the current state of the region’s transportation system with respect to relevant measures. In addition, Appendix G explains how the Recommended Plan will help the Boston Region MPO make progress toward its performance goals.

Transportation Equity Performance

Appendix H contains the federally required Title VI and environmental justice analyses—collectively referred to as a Disparate Impact and Disproportionate Burden (DI/DB) analysis—completed for the MPO-funded projects in the Recommended Plan. The DI/DB analyses determine whether minority and low-income populations may be disproportionately affected by the projects, in the aggregate, in the Recommended Plan. A more detailed description of this analysis can be found in Appendix H. The MPO’s DI/DB policy can be found in Appendix I.

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Chapter 6: Moving Forward/Next Steps

The Destination 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) provides a 25-year vision for transportation in the Boston region and creates the framework that the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will use to set its priorities for federally funded transportation planning studies and transportation projects. Upon adoption by the MPO and approval by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, Destination 2050 will guide the MPO in its decision-making over the next four years. Each year, the MPO will select studies and transportation projects that support Destination 2050’s goals and objectives and program those studies and projects in the MPO’s Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), respectively.

IMPLEMENTING DESTINATION 2050

Destination 2050 is the culmination of a four-year planning process that began with the Needs Assessment in 2019. The Needs Assessment supports the LRTP by providing information about the region’s most pressing transportation needs, thereby shaping the MPO’s vision, goals, and objectives; informing the development of new investment programs; and informing the selection of projects listed in the LRTP. The Needs Assessment will continue to be an important resource for the MPO as it implements Destination 2050 through the UPWP, the TIP, the ongoing performance-based planning and programming (PBPP) process, and other MPO programs.

Figure 6-1 illustrates this feedback relationship between the MPO’s planning, investment decisions, and performance monitoring.

Figure 6-1
MPO Planning Process

LRTP = Long-Range Transportation Plan. MPO = Metropolitan Planning Organization. TIP = Transportation Improvement Program. UPWP = Unified Planning Work Program.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

The implementation of Destination 2050 will include several primary activities:

• Undertaking data analyses and public engagement activities to update the Needs Assessment to reflect the changing travel patterns, demographics, land use, and transportation system
• Implementing policies and undertaking work activities to accomplish the MPO’s vision and goals, such as aligning work in ongoing programs with the goals, revising TIP criteria to align with the new goals, and by funding projects through the TIP that reflect the priorities expressed in the vision and goals
• Monitoring the MPO’s performance measures and assessing the equity implications of MPO-funded projects to inform MPO investment decisions in the TIP
• Guiding the development of the TIP, through which the MPO can make near-term investments that align with LRTP goals and objectives
• Maintaining compliance with federal regulations and requirements

Other activities will be coordinated with other MPO programs (noted in parentheses in this list):

• Updating project selection criteria used to evaluate projects for programming in the TIP so that they align with the goals and objectives set in Destination 2050 and establishing criteria for new investment programs. (TIP)
• Updating criteria used to select studies that are funded in the UPWP and shaping the activities undertaken within MPO programs, both of which are guided by the vision, goals, and objectives established in the LRTP. The results of this work in turn will shape the subsequent LRTP. (UPWP)
• Exploring the MPO’s roles and responsibilities in building climate resilience in the Boston region through studies conducted as part of the UPWP, project selection criteria revisions. Additionally, the MPO’s Climate Resilience Program supports analyses of climate vulnerabilities in the region and explores ways to incorporate climate resilience considerations into the planning process. The MPO will coordinate efforts with other entities, including municipalities and state and regional agencies. (Climate Resilience Program, UPWP, TIP, and LRTP)
• Developing scenarios that will help the MPO in the decision-making process for the next LRTP. These scenarios could include examining different allocations of demographic projections or exploring the effects of climate change on the transportation system. (LRTP)
• Engaging with stakeholders and the public through the Public Engagement Program (PEP), with a focus on transportation equity (TE) populations, to identify evolving transportation needs and challenges for communities throughout the Boston region. These activities will also help communicate the MPO’s vision and goals for the region, and transportation priorities established through the investment programs. (PEP and TE Program)
• Analyzing the existing transportation system’s impacts on TE populations and tracking changes over time to assess the MPO’s progress in meeting its TE goal. (TE Program)
• Developing performance measures and targets—both those that are federally required and that are MPO-developed and region-specific—tracking progress, and reporting results through the MPO’s PBPP efforts. The current performance measures are described each year in the TIP, as well as how projects support progress on the performance measures and MPO goals and objectives. (PBPP)

Amendments to Destination 2050

If, following the adoption of Destination 2050, the MPO decides to make a major policy change, such as new programming, the removal of an existing major infrastructure project, or the addition of a new investment program, an amendment will be required. When the MPO considers amending the LRTP, the MPO board votes to do so at an MPO meeting. After voting to release the amendment for public comment, MPO staff posts the amendment and begins a comment period that lasts 30 days.

Coordinating with Planning Partners

To achieve Destination 2050’s vision for the Boston region, the MPO will continue working with its partner agencies and stakeholders on an ongoing basis. The MPO will continue to work with MassDOT, MBTA, and the regional transit authorities to implement a comprehensive set of investments that address the region’s transportation needs in equity, safety, mobility, reliability, access, connectivity, resiliency, and clean air and health. The MPO will also continue to build and maintain relationships with the region’s municipalities, other transit providers, and other stakeholders to find solutions and take advantage of opportunities that support an inclusive, resilient, healthy, and economically vibrant region.  

ONGOING ENGAGEMENT

The MPO updates the LRTP every four years, but opportunities to provide information on transportation needs and to participate in the MPO’s planning process are ongoing. There are a variety of ways to stay informed about the MPO transportation planning process:

• Attend MPO or MPO committee meetings, an MPO-sponsored event, or Regional Transportation Advisory Council meetings.
• Subscribe to the MPO’s mailing lists to receive MPO notices and meeting reminders, Regional Transportation Advisory Council notices, and updates on MPO work at https://www.ctps.org/subscribe.
• Follow the MPO on Twitter @BostonRegionMPO.
• Visit www.ctps.org/public-engagement.

The following are ways for members of the public to get involved in the MPO transportation planning process:

• Identify a transportation need by visiting the LRTP Needs Assessment online at https://www.bostonmpo.org/destination2050 or send an email to publicinfo@ctps.org.
• Suggest a UPWP study idea or location by sending an email to publicinfo@ctps.org or contact MPO staff at 857.702.3700.
• Follow the TIP development process and work with your municipality’s TIP contact. (See www.bostonmpo.org/tip.)
• Initiate a new TIP highway project—learn more about the MassDOT’s Project Review Committee at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massdot-highway-initiating-a-project.

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Appendices