Draft Memorandum for the Record
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
Unified Planning Work Program Committee Meeting Summary
April 2, 2020 Meeting
10:00 AM11:30 AM, Zoom videoconferencing platform
Benjamin Muller, Chair, representing Stephanie Pollack, Secretary, and Chief Executive Officer, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
· There were none.
Materials for this meeting included the following:
· Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Committee Study Concept Ranking Survey Results
· Staff-recommended list of studies
· Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2021 Universe of Proposed Studies
B.
Muller welcomed everyone to the UPWP Committee meeting. The other members and
staff present introduced themselves.
There were none.
S. Johnston presented the results of the survey on study concept priorities to the Committee, along with the staff-recommended list of studies. He explained that in developing the staff-generated list, staff considered the results of the committee preference survey; what staff resources and bandwidth will be available in the coming year; and what other, possibly redundant or complementary, work will be executed by other agencies.
The survey asked committee members to rank each of the study
concepts outlined in the Universe of Proposed Studies, with the exception of
those designated as recurring studies, which occur on a predictable annual or
semi-annual schedule. The results of
the survey were presented in two formats in two tables: Ranked in Order of
Average Score and In Order of UPWP Universe. S. Johnston summarized the results
and explained staff reasoning behind the staff-generated list.
Committee members
asked a number of questions about the survey results and the staff-generated
list. Discussion topics included whether projected budgets are sufficient;
whether robust data exist to support the necessary analyses; how the planned
studies can help respond to the COVID-19 crisis; and the need for coordination
between different agencies to share data and produce solid analysis. Study
concept R-1, Multimodal Resilience and Emergency Planning, was of particular
interest given the COVID crisis. Staff explained that the work to be conducted
under that task consists, in FFY 2021, mainly of rebuilding the CTPS
All-Hazards Planning tool and refreshing its user interface and data, but that
that work could produce the basis for more thorough emergency planning in the
future.
Committee members supported the Staff-Generated List of Studies as the slate for the FFY 2021 UPWP. S. Johnston indicated that the committee would be asked to take a formal vote to approve the list as part of the full draft FFY 2021 UPWP at the next meeting.
There were none.
B. Muller announced that the next UPWP Committee meeting may be held in May.
5. Adjourn
A motion to adjourn was made by a member and seconded by another member. The motion carried.
|
Members |
Representatives
and
Alternates |
|
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Office of Transportation
Planning) |
Ben Muller |
|
Metropolitan Area Planning Council |
Eric Bourassa |
|
Regional Transportation Advisory Council |
Lenard Diggins |
|
At-Large Town (Town of Arlington) |
Daniel Amstutz |
|
City of Boston (Boston Transportation
Department) |
Tom Kadzis |
|
Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville) |
Tom Bent |
|
MetroWest Regional Collaborative (City of Framingham) |
Erika Jerram |
|
Three Rivers Interlocal Council alternate
(Town of Westwood) |
Steve Olanoff |
|
MPO
Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff |
|
Tegin Teich, Executive Director |
|
Annette Demchur, Director of Policy and Planning |
|
Scott Peterson, Director of Technical Services |
|
Hiral Gandhi, Director of Operations and Finance |
|
Mark Abbott, Traffic Analysis and Design Group Manager |
|
Sandy Johnston, UPWP Manager |
|
Kate White, Public Outreach Coordinator |
|
Rσisνn Foley,
Administrative and Communications Assistant |
|
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 |