Memorandum for the Record

Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
Unified Planning Work Program Committee Meeting Summary

April 27, 2023, Meeting

1:00 PM–1:30 PM, Zoom Video Conferencing Platform

Derek Krevat, Chair, representing Gina Fiandaca, Secretary of Transportation and Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)

Decisions

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Committee agreed to the following:

Materials

Materials for this meeting included the following:

1.    Scenario Vote Results

Meeting Agenda and Summary of Discussion

1.    Introductions

See page 4 for attendance list.

2.    Public Comments

There were none.

3.    Action Item: Final Scenario of Discrete Studies for the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024 UPWP—Srilekha Murthy, MPO Staff

S. Murthy provided a brief summary of the previous meeting on April 20, where the UPWP Committee developed three scenarios of potential discrete studies to fund in FFY 2024. Following that meeting, the committee voted on those scenarios. The winning scenario funded the following studies: Strategies for Environmental Outreach and Engagement; Parking in Bike Lanes: Strategies for Safety and Prevention; Lab and Municipal Parking Phase II; and Applying Conveyal to Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Project Scoring. S. Murthy then asked the committee to discuss and finalize their choice of scenario.

Discussion

Eric Bourassa (Metropolitan Area Planning Council [MAPC]) expressed his support for the chosen scenario, and asked for context on the description of the Opportunities for the MPO to Support Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) study. S. Murthy stated that this description needed more work to develop a full scope, but the goal was to develop an MPO policy on supporting TOD in light of the recent Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Communities regulations. E. Bourassa responded that MAPC is currently assisting many municipalities with the new zoning requirements, and asked if CTPS will still be offering technical assistance to municipalities with smaller, site-specific projects. Annette Demchur (MPO Staff) stated that there are two technical assistance programs offered yearly, one that is transit oriented, and one focused on multimodal mobility.

Len Diggins (Regional Transportation Advisory Council) expressed support for the study Applying Conveyal to TIP Project Scoring.

Steven Olanoff (Three Rivers interlocal Council/Town of Westwood) shared that TOD topics are being given a lot of attention recently, and studies relating to environmental engagement are not as popular currently, but also need attention and funding. For that reason, it is important for the MPO to support Strategies for Environmental Outreach over the TOD study.

Tom Bent (Inner Core Committee/City of Somerville) expressed support for the chosen scenario.

Vote

The Inner Core Committee (Tom Bent/City of Somerville) made a motion to accept Scenario C as the preferred scenario of discrete studies to fund in the FFY 2024 UPWP. The Three Rivers Interlocal Council (Steven Olanoff/Town of Westwood) seconded that motion. The motion carried.

4.    Members Items

There were none.

5.    Next Meeting

The next meeting is planned for May 25, where staff will present the Draft FFY 2024 UPWP and request the Committee release it for public comment.

6.    Adjourn

A motion to adjourn was made by MAPC (Eric Bourassa) and seconded by the Inner Core Committee (Tom Bent/City of Somerville). The motion carried.


Attendance

Members

Representatives

and Alternates

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Office of Transportation Planning)

Derek Krevat

Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Eric Bourassa

Regional Transportation Advisory Council

Lenard Diggins

At-Large City (City of Newton)

David Koses

At-Large Town (Town of Arlington)

City of Boston (Boston Transportation Department)

Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville)

Tom Bent

Three Rivers Interlocal Council (Town of Norwood/Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce)

Three Rivers Interlocal Council alternate (Town of Westwood)

Steve Olanoff

City of Framingham (Metrowest Regional Collaborative)

 

 

Other Attendees

Affiliation

Sandy Johnston

MBTA

Amira Patterson

MBTA Advisory Board

Miranda Briseño

MassDOT OTP

 

MPO Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff

Tegin Teich, Executive Director

Silva Ayvazyan

Annette Demchur

Hiral Gandhi

Ryan Hicks

Stella Jordan

Srilekha Murthy

 


 

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.

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Title VI Specialist
Boston Region MPO
10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150
Boston, MA 02116
civilrights@ctps.org

By Telephone:
857.702.3700 (voice)

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