Summary of Comments for the Metropolitan Planning Organization's (MPO) Revised Vision, Goals, and Objectives January 17, 2019

NA NA WRITTEN COMMENTS NA
Commenter LRTP Goal Comment MPO Staff Response
Sarah Hamilton, Medical Academic and Scientific Community Organization (MASCO)  Economic Vitality Goal and Objectives Objective talks about addressing targeted development site; however, Focus 40 identifies “Priority Places” where transportation is not currently sufficient. The objectives should cross-reference Focus40 and add criteria for investments that serve locations like the Longwood Medical Area Proposed Change to Economic Vitality Objective:
Prioritize transportation investments that serve residential, commercial, and logistics targeted development sites and “Priority Places” identified in MBTA’s Focus 40 plan
Len Diggins Multiple 1) In System Preservation the notion of "modernization" needs more detail. Would like to see an emphasis on modernization that includes a focus on:
(a)  Interconnectivity among various transportation/transit systems, especially regarding data sharing
(b) Setting up systems with the intention of data mining rather than figuring out how to mine data after the systems have been implemented
(c) Better asset management across all transportation/transit systems
(d) Interoperability with future technology (which may require collaboration with industry and educational institutions)
Details will be considered when reviewing evaluation criteria and performance measures
    2) Under Transportation Equity goal suggests changing "sex" to "gender" Title VI protection is based on sex, not gender
    3) Liked the emphasis on emerging technologies in the visionhoping the MPO won't wait until a technology has been fully developed, because it may be harder to use the technology in a way that meets the MPO's goals. No response required
    4) Liked the emphasis on transit system safety events that are not crashes  
    5) Supports the emphasis on sidewalks in the System Preservation section.  Beyond preservation, he supports any effort that encourages walking and makes it safer.
 
    6) Agrees with managing auto/bicycle parking rather than building more spots; also add more bicycle parking spots wherever it can be done in a cost-effective manner  
#NAME? NA SURVEY COMMENTS NA
Commenter LRTP Goal Comment MPO Staff Response
Survey System Preservation Resiliency needs to be emphasized Staff is proposing the System Preservation goal be strengthened to include resiliency in goal and objectives. Resiliency was also added to the vision.
Survey Capacity Management and Mobility Needs more emphasis on multi-person vehiclesmore emphasis should be on poolingeither commuter, shuttles, or cars The Capacity Management and Mobility goal for the roadway objective supports non-single-occupant vehicle travel options
Survey Capacity Management and Mobility Needs more emphasis on multi-person vehicles with a goal for a significantly larger portion of commuters attracted to multi-person vehicles  The Capacity Management and Mobility goal for the roadway objective supports non-single-occupant vehicle travel options
Survey Clean Air and Clean Communities Transportation must lower greenhouse gas emissions This is included as an objective in the Clean Air and Sustainable Communities goal
Survey Economic Vitality   Private businesses should be brought into the mix The MPO accounts for private businesses in its evaluation criteria used when selecting transportation investments and projects in its Community Transportation Program.
Survey Vision The scope of the vision needs to be greater, and the geographic area covered needs to be bigger  The MPO is responsible for the 97 municipality area; however, it coordinates with the state and adjoining MPOs when considering transportation investments in the region.
Survey Vision Vision has too many buzzwordsquestioning equitable access for whom and what is excellent mobility? We should be specific so we can derive performance measures Equity populations are defined in the Transportation Equity objectives. Excellent mobility is defined in the Capacity Management and Mobility objectives.
Survey Vision The vision is OK No response required
Survey Technical Assistance Include a specific objective to assist communities with regional negotiation of rail trail or other trail acquisition work This could be covered through the technical assistance program.
Survey Performance Measures There should be a metric to measure emerging technologies. Also, transit should be "free" for riders, paid for by the huge international corporations  Details will be considered when reviewing evaluation criteria and performance measures