Draft Memorandum for the Record
Regional Transportation Advisory Council Meeting—Special 3C Meeting
May 29, 2024, Meeting Minutes
10:00 AM–11:00 AM, 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 10:00 AM. Members and guests attending the meeting introduced themselves. (For attendance list, see page three.)
2. Advisory Council Comment Letter on the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2025 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)—L. Diggins, Chair
L. Diggins shared a draft comment letter on the FFY 2025 UPWP and solicited feedback from the Advisory Council.
Discussion
L. Diggins discussed the proposed “The Future of the Curb Phase 4” study in the draft UPWP Universe appendix and noted the study was not presented to the UPWP Committee. Srilekha Murthy (MPO Staff) stated the appendix contains a draft version of the universe with staff notes whereas the final version was presented to the UPWP Committee. L. Diggins discussed procedural concerns, noting that the committee should have seen the draft universe. S. Murthy stated the final version was presented to the committee to efficiently facilitate conversation between committee members to consider projects that staff knew were already feasible. L. Diggins suggested staff should clarify if members are viewing a curated or uncurated version of project ideas to better understand the public’s interest in various topics. Stella Jordan (MPO Staff) discussed that public surveys are used as input for all MPO work products, which includes project ideas that were not selected for the FFY 2025 UPWP.
L. Diggins expressed interest in the proposed “The Future of the Curb Phase 4” study and asked why it was not funded in the FFY 2025 UPWP. S. Murthy discussed considerations such as study scope and staff capacity and expertise to complete the project in one year.
L. Diggins and Fred Mosley (American Council of Engineering Companies) discussed the Advisory Council’s comment letter and the limited budget for discrete studies. L. Diggins stated that the UPWP details an impressive amount of work that will be done by staff.
L. Diggins and S. Murthy discussed considerations for MPO staff to publish studies as a work product. L. Diggins asked if there is interest in setting goals in the UPWP for staff to publish their work. S. Murthy stated while some staff pursue publications, it is not necessarily a goal identified in the UPWP because of limitations of the MPO’s federal Metropolitan Planning (PL) funds and federal guidance.
L. Diggins inquired about the possibility of getting more output and visibility from projects that MPO staff produce for partner agencies. S. Murthy replied that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Committee would be the appropriate space to raise the request.
L. Diggins provided staff with feedback to clarify figures and language in the FFY 2025 UPWP draft.
L. Diggins and F. Mosley discussed the ambitious goals of the Air Quality Program despite the available funding in FFY 2025.
3. Adjourn
L. Diggins adjourned the meeting.
Attendees
|
Citizen Advocacy Groups |
Attendees |
|
American Council of Engineering Companies |
Fred Mosley |
|
MBTA Ridership Oversight Committee (ROC) |
Lenard Diggins |
|
Other Attendees |
Affiliation |
|
Tyler Terrasi |
MWRTA |
|
Jim Nee |
MWRTA |
|
Shuo Wang |
WSP |
|
MPO Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff |
|
Jia Huang |
|
Stella Jordan |
|
Ethan Lapointe |
|
Srilekha Murthy |
|
CIVIL RIGHTS NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Welcome. Bem Vinda. Bienvenido. Akeyi. 欢迎. 歡迎.
For additional information or to file a civil rights complaint, visit www.bostonmpo.org/mpo_non_discrimination.
To request accommodations at meetings (such as assistive listening devices, materials in accessible formats and languages other than English, and interpreters in American Sign Language and other languages) or if you need this information in another language, please contact:
Boston Region MPO Title VI Specialist 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150 Boston, MA 02116 Phone: 857.702.3700 Email: civilrights@ctps.org
For people with hearing or speaking difficulties, connect through the state MassRelay service, www.mass.gov/massrelay. Please allow at least five business days for your request to be fulfilled. |
