Draft 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)
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:
See page 4 for attendance list.
There were none.
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.
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.
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.
There were none.
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.
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.
|
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. 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 |