Memorandum for the Record

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

June 13, 2023, Meeting

12:00 PM–12:30 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.    Meeting summary of April 20, 2023, meeting

2.    Meeting summary of April 27, 2023, meeting

3.    Draft FFY 2024 UPWP

Meeting Agenda and Summary of Discussion

1.    Introductions

See page 3 for attendance.

2.    Public Comments

There were none.

3.    Meeting Summary of April 20, 2023Approval of this summary

A motion to approve the summary of the meeting of April 20, 2023, was made by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (Eric Bourassa) seconded by the Inner Core Committee (Tom Bent, City of Somerville). The motion carried.

 

4.    Meeting Summary of April 27, 2023Approval of this summary

A motion to approve the summary of the meeting of April 27, 2023, was made by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (Eric Bourassa) and seconded by the Inner Core Committee (Tom Bent, City of Somerville). The motion carried.

5.    Action Item: Draft Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024 UPWPSrilekha Murthy, MPO Staff

The FFY 2024 UPWP programs approximately $7.1 million for work to be conducted by the Central Transportation Planning Staff and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. It funds 18 programs that support the MPO and 3C processes, as well as technical assistance programs and discrete studies. As in previous years, the goal of increasing funding for ongoing programs is to maintain staff’s ability to respond to evolving planning needs throughout the year.

In FFY 2024, the UPWP funds four discrete studies: Lab and Municipal Parking Phase 2, Parking in Bike Lanes, Strategies for Environmental Outreach and Engagement, and Applying Conveyal to TIP Scoring.

E. Bourassa asked if the planning grants received by the MPO and other municipalities under the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program needed to be added or amended into this year’s UPWP. D. Krevat stated that he would follow up on this question with the Federal Highway Administration.

Vote

A motion to send the FFY 2024 UPWP to the MPO board for a vote to release the UPWP for public comment was made by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (Eric Bourassa) and seconded by the Inner Core Committee (Tom Bent, City of Somerville). The motion carried.

6.    Members Items

There were none.

7.    Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on July 13, 2023, to review public comments and request endorsement.

8.    Adjourn

A motion to adjourn was made by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (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)

Tom O’Rourke

Three Rivers Interlocal Council alternate (Town of Westwood)

Steve Olanoff

City of Framingham (Metrowest Regional Collaborative)

 

 

Other Attendees

Affiliation

Marc Older

 

 

MPO Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff

Tegin Teich, Executive Director

Annette Demchur

Hiral Gandhi

Silva Ayvazyan

Srilekha Murthy

Ethan Lapointe

Ryan Hicks

Erin Maguire

 


 

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

By Telephone:
857.702.3700 (voice)

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