A series of mini-surveys was released between May 15 and July 15, 2015 to collect input on investment strategies for Charting Progress to 2040, the Boston Region’s long-range transportation plan (LRTP). Seven different surveys were released; these surveys asked for the respondents’ views on
The surveys were publicized through MPOInfo, Twitter, and the release of an MPO NewsFlash. Each survey had either one or two questions. The MPO received a total of 1,100 responses from the seven surveys. A summary of the responses is shown below.
Question 1 – What personal need of yours is not being met by the regional transportation system? (212 respondents)
Transit had the most responses; the issues included
Bicycle/Pedestrian had the second highest number of responses; the issues included
Mobility had the third highest number of responses; the issues included
Roadways had the fourth highest number of responses; the issues included
Question 2 – Which of the following investment programs include projects that would best address this need? (227 respondents)
Major infrastructure had the most responses. This includes both transit and highway infrastructure; transit received two-thirds of the responses and highway received one-third of the responses.
Question 1 – During the next 25 years, would you focus funding on a few large-scale projects or multiple small-scale projects? (223 respondents)
The majority of respondents wanted multiple small-scale projects. This coincides with the MPO’s new Operations and Management (O&M) approach to funding projects.
Question 1 – Rate the physical condition of the following facilities or services (1 = poor and 5 = excellent). (160 respondents)
Question 2 – Rate how well the regional transportation facilities or services meet your travel needs for these same categories (1 = not very well and 5 = very well). (160 respondents)
Question 1 – How do you think the MPO should allocate its funds among the following six investment programs to best meet the region’s needs? (91 respondents)
This question asked about the six different investment programs that the MPO considered in programming the LRTP. It shows how the respondents would allocate funding to each of these programs. For example, for the Complete Streets Program, 46 of 91 people think that 10% to 30% of the funds should be allocated to this program.
For all programs, some felt that there should be no allocation to that particular program, but many felt that there should be some allocation across all of the programs. This reinforces the MPO’s O&M approach across the various programs.
Question 1 – How well would expanding the off-road bike-path network improve your ability to travel around the region (1 = not very well and 5 = very well)? (182 respondents)
Question 1 – What types of transit improvements likely would increase your use of public transportation? (123 respondents)
Question 1 – In addition to keeping the existing system well maintained, how important is it to expand the public transportation system (1 = not very important and 5 = very important)? (92 respondents)
Question 2 – If the MPO spends a portion of its highway funding for transit improvements or expansion, what projects do you think it should fund? (92 respondents)
The majority of the responses requested an improvement to the quality of service; the issues included
Expansion of the subway system had the second highest number of responses.
Access to transit had the third highest number of responses; the issues included
Bus service had the fourth highest number of responses; the issues included
Even though the question asked specifically about transit, roadway is another category. The responses to this category requested