Draft Memorandum for the Record
Regional Transportation Advisory Council—Special 3C Meeting
April 24, 2024, Meeting Minutes
2:30 PM–3:00 PM, Zoom
Lenard Diggins, Chair, representing the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Ridership Oversight Committee (ROC)
Meeting Agenda
1. Introductions
L. Diggins called the meeting to order at 2:30 PM. Members and guests attending the meeting introduced themselves. (For attendance list, see page 3.)
2. Public Comment
Joel Paul (Somerville resident) stated an interest in advocating for a safer and more reliable transportation system. L. Diggins provided an overview of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Regional Transportation Advisory Council and how the public can participate in Advisory Council meetings.
J. Paul discussed how the theoretical circumferential transit line known as the Urban Ring could help improve mobility options for transit users outside of the inner core. L. Diggins discussed that while a circumferential rail option may not be feasible, other transit options such as express buses can serve as an alternative for serving communities.
3. Regional Transportation Advisory Council’s Comment Letter on the Federal Fiscal Years (FFYs) 2025–29 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)—Lenard Diggins, Chair
L. Diggins facilitated a discussion about the Advisory Council’s comment letter on the draft FFYs 2025-29 TIP document.
Discussion
L. Diggins said that as the chair of the Advisory Council he wanted members to decide if he should be part of the writing process. L. Diggins and AnaCristina Fragoso (Boston Society of Civil Engineers) discussed elements to include in the comment letter, such as improving processes and the performance measurements. They stated that writing a general letter, as opposed to focusing comments on specific projects, would be a better approach.
Dan Jaffe (Charlestown resident) raised safety concerns about the Gilmore Bridge and asked if it would be funded in the FFYs 2025-29 TIP. He discussed a rail guard that was recently removed resulting in a less secure pathway across the bridge for Charlestown residents. L. Diggins stated that there has not been any mention of funding related to the bridge in the FFYs 2025-29 TIP, but he recommended writing a letter to the MPO. A.C. Fragoso also suggested that, since the state owns the bridge, D. Jaffe could write a public comment letter to the state.
4. Adjourn
L. Diggins adjourned the meeting.
Attendees
|
Citizen Advocacy Groups |
Attendees |
|
Boston Society of Civil Engineers (BSCES) |
AnaCristina Fragoso |
|
MBTA Ridership Oversight Committee (ROC) |
Lenard Diggins |
|
Other Attendees |
Affiliation |
|
Dan Jaffe |
Charlestown resident |
|
Joel Paul |
Somerville resident |
|
MPO Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff |
|
Jia Huang Ethan Lapointe Sean Rourke |
|
CIVIL RIGHTS NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Welcome. Bem Vinda. Bienvenido. Akeyi. 欢迎. 歡迎.
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