Memorandum

Date      December 7, 2017

TO           Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization

FROM     Karl H. Quackenbush, Executive Director

RE           Work Program for: MBTA 2018 Title VI Program Monitoring

Action Required

Review and approval

Proposed Motion

That the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), upon the recommendation of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), votes to approve the work program for MBTA 2018 Title VI Program Monitoring presented in this memorandum

Project Identification

Unified Planning Work Program Classification

Agency and Other Client Transportation Planning Studies and Technical Analyses

CTPS Project Number

11413

Clients

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

Project Supervisor: Miles Walters

Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Office of Diversity and Civil Rights

Project Supervisor: John Lozada

CTPS Project Supervisors

Principal: Kate Pincus

Manager: Nicholas Hart

Funding

Future MBTA Contract


 

Impact on MPO Work

This is MPO work and will be carried out in conformance with the priorities established by the MPO.

Background

Every three years, the MBTA is required to submit a report to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Office of Civil Rights detailing the MBTA’s efforts to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The purpose of this Title VI report is to ensure that, as a recipient of federal funds, the MBTA provides a comparable level and quality of transportation services to all customers without regard to race, color, or national origin. The requirements for demonstrating compliance with Title VI are outlined in FTA Circular 4702.1B.

The MBTA submitted its most recent triennial Title VI report to the FTA in 2017. For years in which the MBTA does not submit a triennial report, the FTA requires the Authority to perform annual Title VI monitoring and internal reporting to identify and address problems early and ensure ongoing Title VI compliance. Under the MBTA’s monitoring schedule, the Authority collects and analyzes data annually for some service indicators, and every two years for others. When possible, results of biennial monitoring are folded into subsequent triennial Title VI reports for the FTA. The most recent triennial report outlined an ongoing process of Title VI data collection and analysis; documented the results of current compliance assessments; and indicated responsive action that would be taken with respect to Title VI concerns in the interim years (2018 and 2019) prior to the 2020 triennial report.

The Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) to the Boston Region MPO has performed data collection and analysis for MBTA Title VI reporting since the 1980s and has produced the MBTA’s 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2017 Title VI triennial reports to submit to the FTA. CTPS has also conducted annual internal reports for the MBTA since 2005, and quarterly reports for the FTA as required. This work program represents a continuation of CTPS’s involvement in the MBTA’s Title VI monitoring efforts, and outlines the monitoring that will be completed in state fiscal year (SFY) 2018.

Objectives

CTPS will assist the MBTA by collecting data and assessing performance (based on existing MBTA service standards and policies) of specific service indicators, according to the MBTA’s monitoring schedule. CTPS will then compare the performance of services rendered to predominantly minority riders with the performance of services rendered to predominantly nonminority riders, as required by the MBTA’s Disparate Impact and Disproportionate Burden Policy, to determine if there are disparate impacts on the basis of race, color, or national origin.

Work Description

The Title VI Circular identifies a number of service indicators for service monitoring for which a comparative analysis must be completed. The MBTA monitors most service indicators annually, including vehicle load, vehicle headway, on-time performance, availability, span of service, platform accessibility, vehicle accessibility, vehicle assignment, and the distribution, and/or operability of two types of transit amenities: 1) automated-fare-collection (AFC) gates, fare vending machines, and retail sales outlets; and 2) station escalators. For reporting in even-numbered years, the MBTA monitors rapid transit and commuter rail station conditions and amenities; distribution of neighborhood maps and bus transfer maps; and distribution and operability of variable-message signs. For reporting in odd-numbered years, the MBTA monitors bus shelter and bench placement, and bus shelter conditions and amenities.

Most service analyses rely on the latest demographic ridership data maintained by CTPS. This data—which has been updated using results from the 2015–17 MBTA systemwide passenger survey—allow CTPS to discern which MBTA services support predominantly minority and/or low-income riders.1

Task 1  Review Station and Stop Condition and Amenities Metrics and AFC Data Collection

CTPS will coordinate with the MBTA to review and, if requested, revise existing station and stop condition and amenities metrics. CTPS will also coordinate with the MBTA to ensure that AFC device operability data remain available throughout migration to the MBTA’s new fare system.

Product of Task 1

Revised station and stop condition and amenities metrics and AFC device operability data

Task 2  Monitor Service Performance

The first step in service performance monitoring is to assess the performance and/or distribution of specified services against established service standards and policies. The performance and/or distribution of the services provided for predominantly minority riders is then compared with the performance and/or distribution of services provided for predominantly nonminority riders to determine if there are disparate impacts on the basis of race, color, or national origin, as required by the MBTA’s Disparate Impact and Disproportionate Burden Policy. The service indicators for which CTPS will collect and/or analyze data and the actions that will be taken by CTPS are described below.

Products of Task 2

Task 3  Document Findings in Memorandum to MBTA

CTPS will compile the results of the level-of-service analysis into the 2018 Title VI memorandum to the MBTA. This memorandum will provide the data needed for the MBTA to determine whether any corrective actions need to be taken to ensure that services rendered to predominantly minority riders are comparable to services rendered to predominantly nonminority riders.

Product of Task 3

2018 Title VI service monitoring memorandum to the MBTA

Task 4  Provide Technical Assistance to the MBTA and Massachusetts Department of Transportation Office of Diversity and Civil Rights (ODCR)

CTPS will support the development and operation of a Title VI working group and provide technical assistance to the MBTA and ODCR to address Title VI issues as necessary.

Product of Task 4

Technical assistance provided to the MBTA and ODCR as necessary

Estimated Schedule

It is estimated that this project will be completed 12 months after work commences. The proposed schedule, by task, is shown in Exhibit 1.

Estimated Cost

The total cost of this project is estimated to be $77,150. This includes the cost of 32.4 person-weeks of staff time, a billing overhead rate of 105.66 percent as approved by the Boston Region MPO for SFY 2018, and travel. On each consecutive July 1, beginning with July 1, 2018, the overhead rate will be adjusted to reflect the state fiscal year rate approved by the MPO. A detailed breakdown of estimated costs is presented in Exhibit 2.

KQ/AD/NH/ad

1 The FTA no longer requires analysis of service performance by income level, but does require consideration of the impacts of service and fare changes on low-income populations.


Exhibit 1
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE
MBTA 2018 Title VI Program Monitoring


Task
Month
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1.
Review Station and Stop Condition and Amenities Metrics and AFC Data Collection
From month 1 to 2.
2.
Monitor Service Performance
From month 1.5 to 9.
3.
Document Findings in Memorandum to MBTA
From month 7 to 11.
Deliverable
A
, Technical Memorandum delivered by Month 11
4.
Provide Technical Assistance to the MBTA and the MassDOT Office of Diversity and Civil Rights (ODCR)
From month 1 to 13.
Products/Milestones
A: Technical Memorandum

Exhibit 2
ESTIMATED COST
MBTA 2018 Title VI Program Monitoring

Direct Salary and Overhead

$76,850

Task
Person-Weeks Direct
Salary
Overhead
(105.66%)
Total
Cost
M-1 P-4 P-3 P-1 Temp Total
1.
Review Station and Stop Condition and Amenities Metrics and AFC Data Collection
0.4 0.0 0.6 0.2 0.0 1.2 $1,645 $1,738 $3,383
2.
Monitor Service Performance
1.4 3.6 2.0 4.4 8.6 20.0 $18,101 $19,126 $37,227
3.
Document Findings in Memorandum to MBTA
2.2 0.9 0.9 0.0 0.0 4.0 $6,442 $6,807 $13,250
4.
Provide Technical Assistance to the MBTA and the MassDOT Office of Diversity and Civil Rights (ODCR)
3.2 2.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 7.2 $11,179 $11,812 $22,991
Total
7.2 6.5 5.5 4.6 8.6 32.4 $37,368 $39,483 $76,850

Other Direct Costs

$300
Travel
$300

TOTAL COST

$77,150
Funding
Future MBTA Contract