Report cover.

Needs Assessment
for the Long-Range Transportation Plan of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization

July 2019

Prepared by

The Central Transportation Planning Staff
to the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning
Organization

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning
Organization is composed of

Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Metropolitan Area Planning Council
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
MBTA Advisory Board
Massachusetts Port Authority
Regional Transportation Advisory Council
City of Boston
City of Beverly
City of Everett
City of Framingham
City of Newton
City of Somerville
City of Woburn
Town of Arlington
Town of Bedford
Town of Braintree
Town of Lexington
Town of Medway
Town of Norwood
Federal Highway Administration (nonvoting)
Federal Transit Administration (nonvoting)

This document was funded in part through grants from the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration of the US Department of Transportation. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the US Department of Transportation.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1        Introduction to the Needs Assessment

Chapter 2        Land Use and the Transportation System

Chapter 3        Travel Patterns in the Boston Region

Chapter 4        Safety Needs

Chapter 5        System Preservation and Modernization Needs

Chapter 6        Capacity Management and Mobility Needs

Chapter 7        Clean Air and Sustainable Communities Needs

Chapter 8        Transportation Equity Needs

Chapter 9        Economic Vitality Needs

Chapter 10      Summary of Recommendations to Address Transportation Needs

Appendix A     Policies, Plans, Studies and Data that Inform the Needs Assessment

Appendix B     Relevant MPO Studies and Reports

Appendix C     Data Resources

Appendix D     Public Input on Transportation Needs

Appendix E      Destination 2040 Vision, Goals, and Objectives

Appendix F      Bibliography

A map of the Boston Region MPO Area.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS

The MPO complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal and state nondiscrimination statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. The MPO does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), religion, creed, gender, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran’s status (including Vietnam-era veterans), or background. Any person who believes herself/himself or any specific class of persons to have been subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title VI, ADA, or another nondiscrimination statute or regulation may, herself/himself or via a representative, file a written complaint with the MPO. Complaints filed under federal law (based on race, color, national origin [including limited English proficiency], sex, age, or disability) must be filed no later than 180 calendar days after the date the person believes the discrimination occurred. Complaints filed under Massachusetts General Law (based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or ancestry) or Governor’s Executive Order 526, section 4 (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) must be filed no later than 300 calendar days after the date the person believes the discrimination occurred. A complaint form and additional information can be obtained by contacting the MPO (see above) or at www.bostonmpo.org.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Cape Ann Transportation Authority, and MetroWest Regional Transit Authority, which are Federal Transit Administration Section 5307(c) applicants, have consulted with the MPO and concur that the public involvement process adopted by the MPO for the development of the Transportation Improvement Program satisfies the public hearing requirements that pertain to the development of the Program of Projects for regular Section 5307, Urbanized Area Formula Program, grant applications, including the provision for public notice and the time established for public review and comment.

Contact MPO staff:

By mail:

Boston Region MPO
Certification Activities Group, Central Transportation Planning Staff
10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150
Boston, MA 02116

By telephone:

857.702.3690 (voice), 617.570.9193 (TTY)

By fax:

617.570.9192

By email:

amcgahan@ctps.org