June 4, 2026
The following written comments were submitted to the MPO during the public review of the FFYs 2027-31 Transportation Improvement Program:
May 11, 2026
Mr. David Mohler, Chair
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
10 Park Plaza, Suite 4150
Boston, MA 02116
Dear Mr. Mohler:
I write to express my strong support for the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) Heavy-Duty Vehicle Maintenance and Fueling Facility construction project. This project is currently funded by the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) FFY 2027-2031 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). I ask that the MPO join me in supporting $25 million in federal funds for the initial design and construction of this state-of-the-art facility.
The MWRTA’s Heavy-Duty Vehicle Maintenance and Fueling Facility Construction Project represents a critical investment in the continued growth and long-term sustainability of public transportation services throughout the MetroWest region of Massachusetts. MWRTA’s facility will accommodate a growing fleet of fully accessible, larger-capacity, heavy-duty transit vehicles. Following initial design and construction, the MWRTA will be well-positioned to pilot a wide range of low and no-emissions propulsion types for its fleet, including battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technology. An expanded fleet of cleaner, greener vehicles will allow MWRTA to address seating capacity concerns along key routes, while promoting more sustainable, efficient operations.
In line with the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Destination 2050, the MWRTA remains committed to accelerating mobility and reducing harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through safe, reliable, and accessible public transportation services. I request that you join me in support of the additional funds required to complete the MWRTA’s Heavy-Duty Vehicle Maintenance and Fueling Facility construction project.
Sincerely,
Senate President Karen E. Spilka
Middlesex & Norfolk
May 15, 2026
David Mohler, Chair
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
10 Park Plaza, Suite 4150
Boston, MA 02116
Dear Mr. Mohler:
As the state representatives for the City of Framingham, we would like to express our support for the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority’s (MWRTA’s) Heavy-Duty Vehicle Maintenance and Fueling Facility Construction Project. We appreciate that the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has allocated funds to this project in the FY27-31 TIP, and we ask for your support in providing the full request of $25MM in federal funds.
The MWRTA’s network of fixed routes, demand response, MicroTransit (MT), and commuter shuttle services functions as a vital resource for numerous residents and visitors throughout the MetroWest region. The $25 Million in federal funds will allow for the full-scale design and construction of a state-of-the-art facility which will be fully equipped to maintain and fuel MWRTA’s current fleet, including a growing number of fully accessible, heavy-duty transit vehicles. This facility will also support the future pilot of low-and no-emissions propulsion types, including battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
We continue to stand with the MWRTA and its member communities in their ongoing efforts to foster more sustainable neighborhoods and improve quality of life for residents and visitors. MWRTA’s Vehicle Maintenance and Fueling Facility Construction Project directly aligns with these efforts by supporting the infrastructure required to expand vehicle and seating capacity while reducing emissions per passenger mile throughout the public transportation system. We welcome the Boston Region MPO to join us in supporting the additional funds required to ensure the completion of this critical initiative.
Sincerely,
Kate Hogan,
State Representative Speaker Pro Tempore 3rd Middlesex District
Jack Patrick Lewis
State Representative 7th Middlesex District
Priscila Sousa
State Representative Sixth Middlesex District
Danielle Gregoire
State Representative 4th Middlesex District
May 8, 2026
David Mohler, Chair
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 10 Park Plaza, Suite 4150
Boston, MA 02116
Dear Mr. Mohler:
The City of Framingham has been pleased to join forces with the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) to maintain and expand the availability of safe, reliable, and accessible public transportation services throughout our community. I write in support of the MWRTA's Heavy-Duty Vehicle Maintenance and Fueling Facility Construction Project, currently funded as part of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization's (MPO) Draft FFY2027-2031 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
The City of Framingham respectfully requests the allocation of the full request, which is $25 Million in Federal Funds, for this project. These funds will ensure the full buildout of the facility and will allow the MWRTA to acquire the infrastructure necessary to maintain and fuel its expanding fleet of fully accessible, larger-capacity transit vehicles. Construction activities will also support the future pilot of promising low-and no-emissions propulsion types, including battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
Through our collaborative partnership, the City of Framingham and the MWRTA are committed to accelerating innovative initiatives designed to enhance the reliability and efficiency of critical public transportation services. I am proud to support MWRTA's efforts to reduce vehicle
' missions per passenger mile and promote more sustainable, livable communities. I encourage t Boston MPO to join us in support of the additional funds required to undertake the MRTA's Heavy-Duty Vehicle Maintenance and Fueling Facility Construction Project.
Sincerly,
Charlie Sisitsky, Mayor City of Framingham
May 8, 2026
Mr. David Mohler, Chair
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 10 Park Plaza, Suite 4150
Boston, MA 02116
Dear Mr. Mohler,
The 495/MetroWest Partnership is committed to partnering with local and regional transportation organizations as they cultivate more livable communities through expanded service offerings. The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA), providing public transportation services within 17 MetroWest cities and towns, has developed innovative solutions designed to enhance transit equity while reducing the region's dependence on fossil fuels.
The 495/MetroWest Partnership is excited to coordinate with the MWRTA on its Heavy-Duty Vehicle Maintenance and Fueling Facility construction project, currently funded in the draft FY27-31 TIP. By funding the full $25 Million Federal Funds request, it will allow for the initial design and construction of this first-of-its-kind facility. Following the completion of this phase, the MWRTA will be well-positioned to maintain and fuel its diverse fleet of transit vehicles, while piloting a wide range of propulsion types, including battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technology. In line with our priorities for improved regional transit services, the MWRTA's modern heavy-duty Vehicle Maintenance and Fueling Facility will support ongoing efforts to increase vehicle and seating capacity throughout key routes and reduce vehicle emissions per passenger mile in order to promote a more sustainable and accessible public transit system.
As the number of employers and residents within the region continues to increase, the 495/MetroWest Partnership's continued collaboration with the MWRTA will ensure the availability of robust public transit services in line with local climate and clean transportation goals. We hope you will join us in support of the full $25 Million in federal funding required to ensure the full buildout of MWRTA's Heavy-Duty Vehicle Maintenance and Fueling Facility.
Jason Palitsch
Executive Director
The 495/MetroWest Partnership
May 28, 2026
Ethan Lapointe
Transportation Improvement Program Manager Commonwealth of Massachusetts
10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150
Boston, MA 02116
Via email to: elapointe@ctps.org
RE: Weston, Mass. Route 30 Reconstruction Project # 608594 Dear Mr. Lapointe:
I am a resident near to Route 30, or South Ave as it is commonly called, in Weston, Mass. I have reviewed the plans and presentations provided to interested parties for Project #608594 (the “Project”). I am writing to express strong support for the Project. Currently, far too many (likely the bulk of) residents in Weston are efectively cut-of from pedestrian and bike access by virtue of the lack of safe connectivity along Route 30. This Project will succeed in adding a vital segment to a desired level of local and regional connectivity for non-automotive users, while also overhauling the road itself, creating proper shoulder and lane widths—enhancing auto safety. This plan is a real roads-for-all approach.
This Project will provide true public transportation options as well as safe routes to local destinations via foot or pedal for a large number of Weston residents. When considering recent and planned connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists (e.g., street enhancements along Park Road), this planned Project could create true, safe interconnectivity to the MBTA Green Line Riverside Station, to the Commuter Rail Station at both Brandeis / Roberts (to North Station), and to the commuter Rail Station at Auburndale (to South Station). Further, the Project creates direct interconnectivity to heavily-traveled Weston destinations (such as the middle school and high school) and indirectly to all the destinations on Alphabet Lane (such as Memorial Pool, all the elementary schools, the library and the Council on Aging). Finally, this Project creates much more feasible access for pedestrians and bicylists to other nearby recreational destinations, such as DCR’s Leo J. Martin (e.g., for cross country skiing in winter), to Paddle Boston (for summer kayaking) and to the Charles River Link Trail (which itself is more than 16 miles of protect trails).
This is a good plan with apparent attention to detail in the design. There are thoughtful plans to calm trafic, make safer a number of complicated intersections and to connect bikers and walkers from north and south of Route 30. The protected crosses, signaled intersections, islands and so forth show a true commitment to making the Project accessible to all nearby residents. The road has been shifted to take advantage of natural wider areas as well as to ease changes in grade.
The concerns voiced by many directly impacted property owners are not without merit.1 That said, even after accounting for those concerns, the benefits overall to the residents of the Town and residents of the Commonwealth in the form of safe and secure pedestrian and bicyclist access along with improved auto travel seem to greatly outweigh individual impacts. Further, those individual impacts, while real, are likely temporary. Studies have clearly shown that property owners with adjacent and direct access to protected shared us paths have experienced more growth in property values than those nearby without such directly-adjacent amenity.
It is probable, further, that the true value of adjacency to a protected shared use path will not be realized until the entirety of a network has been completed. This Project is a very important step in creating that network efect – by completing some networks (e.g., access to both school clusters) and by completing an important segment of to-be-finished networks (e.g., completing access to Newton’s Commonwealth Avenue protected bike and pedestrian path).
I recommend moving as quickly as possible in completing the design, actively engaging in the bidding and negotiations phase and moving the Project forward to construction. I strongly support the Project.
Sincerely,
Matthew Picarsic
15 Ware Street, Weston, Mass.
May 28th, 2026 Secretary Phil Eng, Chair
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150
Boston, MA 02116
RE: Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization's Draft Transportation Improvement Program, FFY 2027-2031
Dear Secretary Eng,
On behalf of the 495/MetroWest Partnership, please accept the following comments regarding the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization's (Boston MPO) draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for FFY 2027-31.
The 495/MetroWest Partnership is a unique alliance among businesses, municipalities, and other stakeholders leading the advancement of the 495/MetroWest region as an exceptional location for people, businesses, and communities. Our vision is one in which the 495/MetroWest region enjoys sustainable economic growth, well-stewarded natural and built resources, and diverse transportation and housing choices across our 37 cities and towns. The Partnership accomplishes this by providing coordination, education, and advocacy for solutions to regional constraints.
While the 495/MetroWest region features a robust transportation network, the Partnership has identified a number of transportation challenges that threaten the economic vitality of our region. These include several high-congestion and high-crash locations, interchange capacity issues, and gaps in public transit service. Addressing these issues will require enhanced transportation infrastructure and targeted investments in transit options.
In accordance with our organization's 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, the 495/MetroWest Partnership has adopted a "Vision and Priorities" statement regarding roadway projects in our region, outlining our organization's core aims regarding roadway improvements as well as specific projects requiring significant attention. We are pleased to note that a number of these priorities were reflected in the draft TIP for FFY 2027-31.
The Partnership greatly appreciates proposed funding increase for project 673639 Framingham - Resurfacing and Related Work on Route 9. We support the advancement of this important maintenance initiative on this key regional corridor.
The Partnership is pleased to see a programmed funding increase for the 612178 Natick - Bridge Replacement, N-030070, Speen Street Over RR MBTA/CSX project, but would like to express concern that it has been rescheduled to later years than previously planned. We encourage the MPO to accelerate scheduling for this project should resources become available.
Additionally, it is our understanding that the following projects were accelerated into FY26 or are otherwise being funded by other sources. We continue to support these worthy projects and extend our thanks for their progress:
The Partnership supports the continued inclusion of the following projects at their current funding levels and schedule:
While the Partnership understands that the MPO is conducting its planning work under significant resource constraints, we would like to express concern with the proposed delays to the following projects:
The Partnership is concerned by the reduced funding for the 673343 Foxborough - Interstate Pavement Preservation and Related Work on /-95 project, and requests further information regarding the reasoning for the funding reduction.
The Partnership appreciates the MPO's work done on 608045 Milford- Rehabilitation on Route 76, From Route 709 to Beaver Street project, and supports the proposed approach of potentially initiating a separate project under a different ID that would address other elements of this project.
Finally, the Partnership notes that the following projects were programmed in the FY26-30 TIP but do not appear in the draft TIP for FY27-31; we strongly encourage their inclusion within their originally programmed years:
We appreciate funding for S73397 MWRTA - Construction of Vehicle Maintenance and Fueling Facility, which will allow for the initial design and construction of this first-of-its-kind facility. Following completion, the MWRTA will be well-positioned to maintain and fuel its diverse fleet of transit vehicles, while piloting a wide range of propulsion types, including battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technology. In line with our priorities for improved regional transit services, the MWRTA's modern heavy-duty Vehicle Maintenance and Fueling Facility will support ongoing efforts to increase vehicle and seating capacity throughout key routes and reduce vehicle emissions per passenger mile in order to promote a more sustainable and accessible public transit system.
The Partnership would like to reiterate support for the 1-90 connection with Route 30 in Framingham/Speen Street in Natick, as it is a major regional hub for office space and retail. Although this area is of tremendous regional significance, its largely uncoordinated development has resulted in confusing and congested roadways. The 2013 Golden Triangle Study highlighted issues and potential improvement approaches for this area. We would like the MPO to be aware that the Partnership is convening stakeholders to discuss the interchange, with the intention of drafting additional suggestions on this area to MassDOT and the MPO in the future.
The Partnership would like to remind the MPO of several long-range priorities of our organization. These include the I-495/Route 9 interchange project, which deserves future funding consideration given its proximity and interdependency with the 1-495/1-90 interchange, and the area's key role in serving freight and commuter traffic. Since the Interstate 495 and Route 9 Interchange Improvement Study was conducted by MassDOT in 2013, the immediate area continues to grow as a regionally significant employment base. With the planned opening of Costco in Southborough in the immediate vicinity of the interchange, we note the potential for additional traffic at what is already a frequently congested location.
The Partnership would also like to highlight our priorities for our region's Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs), particularly enabling increased connectivity and origin-to-destination travel for its riders. Current RTA service operations are characterized by carrying passengers from hubs (such as Framingham, Worcester, and Lowell) to neighboring communities, and vice versa, leaving significant localized and regional coverage gaps within the 495/MetroWest region itself. While some initiatives like MetroWest RTA's north-south 495 Connector service represent progress towards greater connectivity within our region, gaps in coverage remain. The Partnership supports our region's RTAs providing the right mix of services that would enable passengers to travel extensively within their own community and between other 495/MetroWest communities.
The Partnership identified several unprogrammed projects included on the TIP Project Dashboard that are of significance to our stakeholders and which we will continue to monitor. Those projects include:
The Partnership is pleased to see 670676 Wrentham - Intersection Improvements on Route 7A at North and Winter Street, previously on the TIP Universe of Projects, receiving funding on this year's TIP. We would also like to express our concern for the removal of 604862 Bellingham - Ramp Construction & Relocation, 1-495 at Route 726 (Hartford Avenue) from the MPO's list of unprogrammed projects.
Finally, the Partnership applauds continued funding, as planned, for project 607977 Hopkinton & Westborough - Reconstruction of Interstate 90/lnterstate 495 Interchange. This initiative had been a major priority of our organization for over a decade; we, and our stakeholders, continue to be pleased with the pace of the project. We are deeply appreciative of the work by the MPO, MassDOT, District 3, as well as contractors and other staff who have made this initiative a success thus far. We look forward to celebrating the completion of this important effort in 2028.
We thank you for your consideration of these comments. Should you have any questions or require any additional information, please contact me at any time, (774)-760-0495 or by email at jason@495partnership.org.
Jason Litsch
Executive Director
The 495/MetroWest Partnership