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Regional Transportation Advisory Council
The Regional Transportation Advisory Council (RTAC), also known as the “Advisory Council” is an independent group of cities and towns, transportation advisory groups, neighboring MPOs, and other agencies charged with providing public input on transportation planning to the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The Advisory Council provides a forum for broad-based and robust discussions of transportation issues and is a major avenue for public participation in the MPO planning process. As a voting member of the MPO´s Transportation Planning and Programming Committee (TPPC), the Advisory Council brings the perspectives of the public to the MPO for consideration as plans and programs are developed. In this role, it is an integral part of the federally required 3C transportation planning process.

One specific responsibility of the Advisory Council is to review and comment on the MPO´s certification documents: the Transportation Plan, the Unified Planning Work Program, and the Transportation Improvement Program. Air Quality Conformity Determinations, which are also federally required, are included in the TIP and the Plan. Through its representatives and subcommittees, the Advisory Council participates in the development of these and other MPO documents and studies, and submits comments and recommendations on draft documents.
Meetings
The Advisory Council meets the second Wednesday of each month, at 3:00 PM, in the State Transportation Building, which is located at 10 Park Plaza, Boston. Standing and open committees of the Advisory Council meet as necessary throughout the year. All meetings are open to the public. The Advisory Council also conducts site visits for first-hand reviews of important planned and ongoing projects.

Please visit upcoming meetings or past meetings for more information about past and future Advisory Council meetings, including minutes, presentations, documents, and agendas.
Membership
The number of voting and nonvoting members on the Advisory Council is not fixed. The voting membership comprises approximately 70 entities, including non-MPO state agencies with transportation-related responsibilities, municipalities, and state advocacy organizations that deal with transportation issues. Advisory Council members who are also voting MPO members do not vote at Advisory Council meetings.
Authorization
The Memorandum of Understanding of January 1973, which established the metropolitan planning organization for the Boston Region, also created the federally recognized Joint Regional Transportation Committee. The Memorandum of Understanding of December 2001 renamed the body the Regional Transportation Advisory Council, expanded its role in the MPO, and provided for modifications of its procedures. The Advisory Council has adopted bylaws that established additional operating procedures.