Draft Memorandum for the Record
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
Unified Planning Work Program Committee Meeting Summary
August 18, 2022, Meeting
9:00 AM-9:20 AM, Zoom Video Conferencing Platform
Derek Krevat, Chair, representing Jamey Tesler, Secretary of Transportation and Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)
The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Committee agreed to the following:
Materials for this meeting included the following:
1. Meeting summary of the June 15, 2022, meeting
2. Draft FFY 2023 UPWP
3. FFY 2022 UPWP with Amendment Two
See page 4.
There were none.
A motion to approve the summary of the June 15, 2022, meeting was made by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (Eric Bourassa) and seconded by the Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville/Tom Bent). The motion carried.
S. Johnston presented the complete draft of the FFY 2023 UPWP and reviewed the comments received during the public comment period. The comments were included in Appendix B of the UPWP, including those that were received from MassDOT’s Office of Transportation Planning, Ms. Lucia Dolan, the Regional Transportation Advisory Council, and the 495/MetroWest Partnership. The completed draft additionally included minor text edits throughout the document, confirming budget numbers and ensuring consistency, as well as the addition of a project for the MPO’s work on the Bus Network Redesign in Chapter 5.
Joy Glynn (MetroWest Regional Transit Authority) asked how regional transit authorities could apply for funds in the UPWP. S. Johnston replied that he will follow up with her offline, and he noted that, generally, staff solicit study ideas in the fall from regional stakeholders, so that may be the time to discuss funding opportunities.
D. Krevat asked whether the potential increases in MAPC funding will be addressed through amendments over the next fiscal year. E. Bourassa replied in the affirmative.
Len Diggins (Regional Transportation Advisory Council) asked if he could be sent a list of MAPC’s studies for the next year. E. Bourassa stated that he will follow up with that list offline, and he added that MAPC studies can be found in Chapter 7 of the document.
A motion to move the FFY 2023 UPWP to the MPO board for endorsement was made by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (Eric Bourassa) and seconded by the Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville/Tom Bent). The motion carried.
S. Johnston discussed the proposed Amendment Two to the FFY 2022 UPWP, concerning fourth quarter budget adjustments, for which a public comment period had just been completed. S. Johnston reviewed the reasoning behind the proposed amendment: namely, staff are required to make predictions on work and budgets about 18 months before work actually begins and there have been issues with staff attrition, both of which have resulted in a need to adjust certain line items to better fit evolving project and line-item needs. Additionally, this amendment corrects a budget number for the Long-Range Transportation Plan line item.
A motion to move the FFY 2022 UPWP Amendment Two to the MPO board for endorsement was made by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (Eric Bourassa) and seconded by the Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville/Tom Bent). The motion carried.
T. Bent and D. Krevat thanked staff for their work on developing the UPWP this year.
S. Johnston stated that there is no meeting currently scheduled, but staff will reach out to members prior to the next meeting.
A motion to adjourn was made by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (Eric Bourassa) and seconded by the Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville/Tom Bent). The motion carried.
|
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) |
Daniel Amstutz |
|
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 (Town of
Westwood) |
|
|
City of Framingham (Metrowest Regional Collaborative) |
|
|
Other
Attendees |
Affiliation |
|
Joy Glynn |
MetroWest Regional Transit Authority |
|
Jennifer Rowe |
Boston Transportation Department |
|
Jon Seward |
|
|
MPO
Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff |
|
Tegin Teich, Executive Director |
|
Annette Demchur, Director of Policy and
Planning |
|
Hiral Gandhi, Director of Finance and Operations |
|
Mark Abbott, Manager of Traffic Analysis and Design |
|
Jonathan Church, Manager of Certification Activities |
|
Sandy Johnston, MPO Staff |
|
Logan Casey, MPO Staff |
|
Silva Ayvazyan, MPO Staff |
|
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 By Telephone: For people with hearing or speaking difficulties, connect through the
state MassRelay service: · Relay Using TTY or Hearing Carry-over: 800.439.2370 · Relay Using Voice Carry-over: 866.887.6619 · Relay Using Text to Speech: 866.645.9870 For more information, including numbers for Spanish
speakers, visit https://www.mass.gov/massrelay. |