Draft Memorandum for the Record
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization Meeting
June 16, 2016 Meeting
10:05 AM – 12:25 PM, State Transportation Building, Conference Rooms 2&3, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA
David Mohler, Chair, representing Stephanie Pollack, Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)
Decisions
The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) agreed to the following:
• approve the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2017 operating budget for the Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS)
• approve Amendment Four to the Federal Fiscal Years (FFYs) 2016-20 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
• approve an adjustment to the FFYs 2016-20 TIP
• release Draft Amendment Five to the FFYs 2016-20 TIP for a 30-day public review period
• approve the list of projects in Draft Amendment One to the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Charting Progress to 2040, so that staff can perform travel demand modeling for air quality and environmental justice analyses (in advance of releasing the amendment for public review)
Members of the public made comments on the following projects and answered MPO members’ questions:
Anthony Thomas, Legislative Aide to Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, expressed the Senator’s support for the Reconstruction of Melnea Cass Boulevard (Boston) project and discussed the importance of the project to the district for improving safety and bringing economic and environmental benefits to the area. He noted that there is a school along the corridor and between 300 and 400 students walk along the busy corridor. The project would improve safety for those students and support Boston’s Vision Zero campaign, which aims to eliminate serious and fatal accidents. He also noted that the project would help connect the neighborhoods of Roxbury and the South End, and support economic development on the corridor where development is now occurring on empty parcels.
Valerie Shelly, a longtime (68 years) Roxbury resident and member of the Friends of Melnea Cass Boulevard, advocated for the project. She noted that vehicles travelling at high speeds on the corridor make for hazardous conditions for residents, particularly students traveling to school and seniors who need to access the medical center and food store there.
Dorothea Hess, a member of WalkBoston and the Friends of Melnea Cass Boulevard, urged the MPO to commit funding to the project. She spoke about the potential to turn the boulevard into a “complete street” that serves all users – transit riders, bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. To do so, she said, traffic must be slowed on the boulevard. She noted that consultants for the City of Boston identified speeding vehicles as a problem on the wide roadway. The Friends are working with the city to create a design to knit together the neighborhoods of Roxbury and South End. She noted that the project will contribute to improving the quality-of-life of residents in the neighborhood.
Marah Holland, the Health Equity and Wellness Coordinator for the Madison Park Development Corporation and a member of the Friends of Melnea Cass Boulevard, discussed the project as an equity issue. She read an excerpt from a statement by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx, who is encouraging aspirations to eliminate the vestiges of racial discrimination from past decades when transportation decisions led to the building of infrastructure that became barriers between wealthy and poor neighborhoods. USDOT has established several principles to guide decision making on fixing broken links between neighborhoods: 1) transportation is essential to opportunity; 2) acknowledge that past wrongs have been committed and must not be repeated; and 3) transportation decisions must be made by, with, and for the people impacted by them. M. Holland noted that Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has signed his name in support of these principles.
Reconstruction of Main Street (Route 30) (Southborough)
Karen Galligan, Southborough Department of Public Works, provided an update on the Reconstruction of Main Street (Route 30) (Southborough) project and asked the MPO to keep the project programmed in the FFY 2018 element of the TIP. She reported that she is optimistic about the outcome of an upcoming town meeting where there will be a vote regarding the taking easements for the project.
MPO member Eric Bourassa, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), asked if the town meeting has been scheduled. K. Galligan replied that the town is expected to schedule the meeting in a couple of weeks.
Yolanda Greaves, Ashland Board of Selectmen, provided an update on the Reconstruction on Route 126 (Pond Street) (Ashland) project. She noted that a public forum was recently held in Ashland where many residents in and around the Route 126 corridor expressed support for the project. She encouraged the MPO to fund the project in FFY 2020.
Puja Mehta, Office of State Senator Karen Spilka, expressed the Senator’s support for the project and asked that the MPO program the project in FFY 2020.
Andrea Green, Chair of the Ashland Redevelopment Authority, reported that the Authority considers the Route 126 project as its most important project. The project has been in the town’s master plan for the past ten years and is in its urban renewal plan. She discussed the project as one of the few economic development opportunities available to Ashland as Route 126 is one of only two major routes in the town. She reported that the roadway conditions are unsafe, and that there are safety concerns for young people who frequent the fast food restaurants on the corridor. She asked the MPO to program the project in FFY 2020.
Eric Johnson, Framingham’s Town Engineer, provided an update on the Reconstruction of Union Avenue (Framingham) project. He stated that the town is executing a contract now to upgrade utilities along the Union Avenue corridor in advance of the TIP project. He remarked on the benefits of the project, which includes providing a regional benefit and access to the commuter rail public transportation.
David Knowlton, City Engineer for Salem, representing Mayor Kim Driscoll, provided an update on the Canal Street Rail Trail Construction, Phase 2 (Salem) project. The city intends to complete the project on schedule with the Canal Street Improvement project, which is starting this month. In order to keep to the two-year construction schedule, the design for the rail trail project must be complete by the end of this year, so that construction can begin next spring. The city is requesting that the MPO provide $2.4 million for the rail trail project. Assigning funds to the project will allow the city to request accelerated reviews of the project design by MassDOT, the MBTA, and Keolis.
Rafael Mares, Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), reported that CLF has provided written comments regarding the MPO’s proposed Amendment Four to the FFYs 2016-20 TIP. He expressed concern that the proposed action in Amendment Four – to shift federal funds from Phase 2 of the Green Line Extension project to support Phase 1 – will defund the construction of a Green Line station at Route 16 (Mystic Valley Parkway), which he said is a legally required part of the Green Line Extension project. He called for the MPO to take time to review a detailed budget, project scope, and procurement method for the revised Phase 1 project, prior to voting on Amendment Four, to determine the necessity of reprogramming the Phase 2 funds.
He also recommended the MPO explore potential cost-saving measures that could eliminate the need to shift funding from Phase 2. CLF has suggested a cost-savings option involving interruptions to commuter rail service and the addition of bus service during the construction period. (MassDOT sent a letter in response to the suggestion stating that the proposed measure would not provide the savings CLF has estimated.)
R. Mares also expressed concern that by shifting federal funds from Phase 2 to Phase 1, $38 million in state matching funds (currently matching the $152 million federal funding at the MPO’s discretion) would be lost to the project.
There was none.
Paul Regan, MBTA Advisory Board, reported that the MPO’s Administration and Finance Committee met this morning. They addressed the SFY 2017 operating budget for CTPS.
T. Bennett reported that the Advisory Council meet on June 8 and is now finalizing comments on the TIP and the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). The Advisory Council will be having more topical conversations in the coming months, including a discussion about autonomous vehicles.
K. Quackenbush announced that the FFY 2017 UPWP will be posted for public review by close of business today.
P. Regan reported that the MPO’s Administration and Finance Committee met this morning to discuss the SFY 2017 operating budget for CTPS. This year’s $6.394 million budget represents a two-percent decrease from the SFY 2016 budget. The reduction is primarily due to payroll savings resulting from recent retirements.
A motion to approve the SFY 2017 operating budget for CTPS was made by the Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (Town of Bedford) (Richard Reed), and seconded by the South Shore Coalition (Town of Braintree) (Christine Stickney). The motion carried.
The public review period for Amendment Four to the FFYs 2016-20 TIP closed on June 8. Staff provided members with a summary of the public comments received during that review period and made the complete written comments available. Staff also distributed two other letters that were received in the past week: a comment letter from the Mayor of Medford, and a letter from MassDOT responding to comments from CLF.
Amendment Four
would allocate $152 million of federal funds to support construction of Phase 1
of the Green Line Extension project,
which will extend light rail from Lechmere Station in Cambridge through
Somerville to College Avenue in Medford, with a spur line to Union Square. The
funds would be transferred from Phase 2 of the project, a planned future extension
of the line from College Avenue to Route 16 in Medford.
Having reviewed the amendment and public comments, members moved to a vote on the amendment.
A motion to approve Amendment Four to the FFYs 2016-20 TIP was made by the MassDOT Highway Division (John Romano), and seconded by the MBTA (Thom Dugan). The motion carried.
Staff provided an overview of an adjustment and an amendment
to the FFYs 2016-20 TIP. The changed items are documented in Draft Amendment
Five to the TIP. Members then heard a presentation on the Dedham Street and Interstate 95 Interchange
Reconstruction (Canton, Norwood, Westwood) project, which is one subject of the
amendment.
L. Dantas provided the details of the amendment, which includes several adjustments to the cost estimates for statewide items, including the following: Adaptive Signal Control on Route 9 (Framingham, Natick); bridge rehabilitation work in Braintree; and programs for the Cape Ann Transportation Authority.
The amended items include cost changes to the
following projects programmed in the FFY 2016 fiscal element: Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, Phase 2C (Concord); Resurfacing and Related Work on Route 9 (Southborough); bridge
rehabilitation work in Boston; Dedham
Street and Interstate 95 Interchange Reconstruction
(Canton, Norwood, Westwood). There
are also cost changes to the following projects in the FFY 2017 fiscal element: Reconstruction and Widening on Route 18 (Weymouth,
Abington), and Middlesex Turnpike
Improvements, Phase 3 (Bedford, Billerica, Burlington).
Tom O’Rourke, Three Rivers Interlocal Council (Town of
Norwood/Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce), asked for more information about
the cost changes to the Dedham Street and Interstate 95 Interchange Reconstruction project. D. Mohler explained that the project was
advertised for $52 million in September 2015. A new cost assessment has revealed
that the project will cost $16.8 million more than the cost at the time of advertisement.
The cost increase is reflected in the amendment and, when approved, MassDOT
will release a notice of the new cost for bidders. The additional cost will be
paid from a statewide funding source, not the MPO’s discretionary funding. The
cost change to this state-funded project is being incorporated in the TIP
amendment, however because of new federal reporting requirements.
Mike Furly, MassDOT Project
Manager, and Marie Sullivan, Stantec, then gave a presentation regarding the
cost changes to the Dedham Street and Interstate 95 Interchange Reconstruction project.
They explained that the project area
is a one mile corridor with two lanes of traffic and no bicycle or pedestrian
accommodations. The project would widen the roadway to four lanes (five a lanes
at the bridge over Interstate 95), add a sidewalk on one side and bicycle lanes
on both sides of the roadway, replace a bridge over Interstate 95, add a new
off-ramp from the highway to Dedham Street, and add three traffic signals.
The project is located within an
Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). Because of environmental
concerns, the project includes the construction of 18 retaining walls (about
two miles in length). The overhead utilities will be relocated underground. The
project also includes the addition of street lighting, a timber walkway, and storm
water infrastructure improvements.
The primary reason for the project cost increase is because of the current trends in the price of concrete, which has added nearly $10 million to the project cost. Additionally, the cost of pre-cast concrete items increased significantly because MassDOT changed the requirement for concrete curing times. Other significant cost increases resulted from the price of steel for bridge work.
Jim Gillooly, City of Boston, asked the presenters to comment about the initial estimates and the reference points used in the cost reassessment. M. Sullivan reported that the prior cost estimate for the project was developed in January 2015. Over the following year, the project team saw the trend of increasing concrete costs. Because the project would require a significant amount of concrete, MassDOT hired an independent estimator who verified MassDOT’s concerns. This led to a reassessment of the cost of other construction materials, as well.
Tom Bent, Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville), asked why MassDOT has changed the standard for the curing time of pre-cast concrete items. M. Sullivan explained that longer curing times are now required to improve the performance of the concrete and avoid hairline fractures.
Ken Miller, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), asked if the project team considered using different amounts of concrete or using other materials. M. Furly explained that there are constraints because of the project area, which is in an ACEC containing wetlands, endangered species habitat, and state parkland. Retaining walls are the least expensive way of reducing right-of-way takings in the area.
A motion to approve an adjustment to the FFYs 2016-20 TIP was made by the City of Boston (J. Gillooly), and seconded by the MBTA Advisory Board (P. Regan). The motion carried.
A motion to release Draft Amendment Five to the FFYs 2016-20 TIP for a 30-day public review period was made by the City of Boston (J. Gillooly), and seconded by the South Shore Coalition (Town of Braintree) (C. Stickney). The motion carried.
Members were provided with project tables showing the staff recommendation for programming the FFYs 2017-21 TIP, descriptions of new projects recommended for programming, and a summary of public comments received to date.
L. Dantas provided an overview of the staff recommendation for the TIP highway program. The staff recommendation reflects the MPO members’ interest in changing project cash flows to minimize delays in the programming projects. As such, the recommendation maintains the programming of the Reconstruction of Highland Avenue and Needham Street (Newton, Needham) project in the FFY 2018 fiscal element, which was made possible by changing the cash flows of the Route 128 Add-a-Lane (Needham, Wellesley) and Reconstruction and Widening on Route 18 (Weymouth, Abington) projects.
The recommendation delays the Reconstruction of Main Street (Route 30) (Southborough) and the Intersection and Signal Improvements at Route 9 and Village Square (Gateway East) (Brookline) projects one year, from FFY 2017 to FFY 2018, because of readiness concerns.
The recommendation supports the MPO’s members’ request to program the Reconstruction of Melnea Cass Boulevard (Boston) project in the FFY 2019 fiscal element. The Improvements on Boylston Street (Boston) project was delayed to FFY 2020 as a result. The Canal Street Rail Trail Construction, Phase 2 (Salem) project was also added to the FFY 2019 element.
As requested by members, the multiyear Reconstruction of Rutherford Avenue (Boston) project will begin in FFY 2020. This decision resulted in delaying the New Boston Street Bridge (Woburn) project to FFY 2021.
Available funds in the FFY 2021 element were programmed for several new projects that were on the First Tier List of TIP project: Reconstruction of Union Avenue (Framingham); Reconstruction of Union Street (Holbrook); Intersection Improvements at Three Locations (Beverly); Intersection Improvements at Route 1 and University Avenue/Everett Street (Norwood); and set-asides for the Community Transportation Program.
D. Mohler reported that $17.4 million worth of earmarks for the Melnea Cass Boulevard project, which are reflected in the TIP tables, are not yet available for the project. MassDOT, the City of Boston, and Congressman Michael Capuano’s Office are working together to request that the federal government reassign earmarks originally intended for projects on the East Boston Haul Road and Museum Road and Forsyth Way in Boston, as those project have been constructed with other funding.
Laura Gilmore O’Connor, Massachusetts Port Authority, noted that the funding for Melnea Cass Boulevard includes an earmark originally intended for a freight project. She expressed the Port Authority’s hope that there will be other opportunities to partner with MassDOT and the City of Boston on freight projects.
David Koses, At-Large City of Newton, expressed the city’s support for the staff recommendation as it preserves the programming position of the number one ranked project, reduces delays to other projects, and incorporates new projects.
Dennis Giombetti, MetroWest Regional Collaborative (Town of Framingham), also expressed support for the staff recommendation and recognized the creative solutions to dealing with project cost overruns that were affecting other projects. He complemented both MassDOT and the MPO staff for their work.
T. Bennett reported that the staff recommendation reflects well the Advisory Council’s comments. The Advisory Council has been supportive of the updates to the MPO’s project evaluation process and for programming “complete streets” projects in the early years of the TIP. She noted that the Advisory Council looks forward to the MPO’s upcoming conversations about the reason for project cost overruns going. She also expressed the Advisory Council’s concerns that off-street path projects are scoring lower than highway projects in the MPO’s evaluation process, and the Advisory Council’s interest in having those projects ranked separately from highway projects.
T. Bennett asked why some high-scoring projects, such as the Rehabilitation of Mount Auburn Street (Watertown) project, were not included in the staff recommendation. L. Dantas noted that staff selected the Reconstruction of Union Avenue (Framingham) as a “complete streets” project to fund in FFY 2021 because it was at a greater level of readiness than the Mount Auburn Street project. This decision also allowed for the programming of the Reconstruction of Union Street (Holbrook) in FFY 2021, which gives consideration to geographic equity in the distribution of TIP funding.
T. Bennett inquired about the score for the Melnea Cass Boulevard project. L. Dantas reported that staff assigned a score of 61 points, which makes it the second highest ranking “complete streets” project.
Dennis Crowley, South West Advisory Planning Committee (Town of Medway), requested that staff provide the original cost estimates of TIP projects on the TIP tables. K. Quackenbush noted that the original cost estimates were provided previously in a report on cost estimation of projects; staff intends to provide that information in the future on a single TIP document.
D. Crowley observed that the proposed TIP programming allocates only two percent of funding to the South West Advisory Planning Committee subregion over a six-year period. He asked staff to consider geographic equity for suburban and rural areas when allocating funding for in the future. K. Quackenbush noted that staff is keeping track of geographic dispersion of funding over time and staff will be able to provide more information about that to members.
J. Gillooly thanked staff for recognizing that the Melnea Cass project is a high priority for the city.
Richard Canale, At-Large Town of Lexington, suggested that staff provide information about how the new project scoring system affects towns in general as opposed to urban areas.
D. Mohler asked why staff chose to delay the Reconstruction on Route 129 (Lynn) project instead of the Resurfacing and Intersection Improvements on Route 16 (Milford) project. L. Dantas explained that the Lynn project was costlier and had an increase in cost, and that delaying the Lynn project allowed for the programming of the Canal Street Rail Trail Construction, Phase 2 (Salem) project, as well.
A motion to approve the highway program of the FFYs 2017-21 TIP for an upcoming public review period was made by the MetroWest Regional Collaborative (Town of Framingham) (D. Giombetti), and seconded by the Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (Town of Bedford) (R. Reed). The motion carried.
Members were provided with tables showing the proposed transit projects for the MBTA, MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA), and Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA). Thom Dugan, MBTA, discussed the transition to providing a greater level of detail at the project level in the TIP, which will more closely parallel the programming in the MBTA’s Capital Investment Plan (CIP). The CIP is expected to be approved on June 20, after which the TIP tables will be updated.
K. Miller asked that the MPO have a future meeting agenda item to discuss the action items following the MPO’s last federal certification review. He noted that one of the recommendations from the review involved better involving the MWRTA and CATA in the MPO’s planning processes.
T. Bennett inquired about funding for improvements to the Red and Green Line systems. T. Dugan discussed that projects in the CIP that are not funded with federal dollars may not be reflected in the TIP, including those funded by the MBTA’s “pay-go” program. The “pay-go” program is funded from savings in the MBTA’s operating budget. The MBTA is forecasting the spending of about $700 million of “pay-go” funding over the next five years. E. Bourassa noted that the other MBTA capital funding sources are federal formula funds (reflected in the TIP), revenue bonds, and state funding.
E. Bourassa asked if the MBTA is using only non-federal sources to purchase revenue vehicles. T. Dugan replied that the MBTA will be using Section 5307 federal formula funds for those purchases; details will be provided after the CIP is approved. (In the current tables the funding for those purchases is shown under the “unallocated funds” line item.) T. Dugan assured members that the details will be available before the MPO votes on endorsing the final TIP.
D. Crowley asked if the Positive Train Control project has been advertised and if the $154 million shown in that line item is for the entire project. T. Dugan replied yes to both questions.
L. Dantas noted that the TIP document will be updated with more definition on transit projects after the CIP is approved, and with a list of state-funded highway projects. D. Mohler added that the statewide highway list is not available yet.
A motion to approve the transit program of the FFYs 2017-21 TIP, as presented today, for an upcoming public review was made by the MBTA Advisory Board (P. Regan), and seconded by the MAPC (E. Bourassa). The motion carried.
Members agreed to table a vote to release the full FFYs 2017-21 TIP for a 30-day public review period until June 23 when complete details on MBTA projects and statewide highway projects will be available.
MPO staff presented changes to Draft Amendment One to the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Charting Progress to 2040, and discussed the schedule for public review of the MPO’s certification documents. MassDOT Highway Division staff also gave a presentation on the Reconstruction of the Interstate 90 and Interstate 495 Interchange (Hopkinton, Westborough) project, which is included in the amendment.
Amendment One to the LRTP was presented to
members on June 2. The primary reason for Amendment One is to make the LRTP
consistent with the FFYs 2016–20 TIP and its
amendments, the proposed FFYs 2017–21 TIP, and
the Massachusetts Capital Investment Program (CIP). The CIP documents projects
prioritized by the state.
The LRTP documents regionally significant
projects and investment programs planned over a 25-year timeline. For planning
purposes, regionally significant projects are considered to be those that either
will add capacity to the transportation system or that cost more than $20
million. Projects programmed in the LRTP are ultimately programmed through the
TIP when they are within five years of implementation.
Today, A. McGahan presented updates to
Amendment One. Members were provided with tables
showing the proposed programming of projects. The changes to the tables since the
June 2 meeting include the following:
• updates to cash flows of the Route 128 Add-a-Lane (Needham, Wellesley) project consistent with FFYs 2017-21 TIP programming
• addition of funding for the Ramp Construction on Interstate 95 (northbound) and Improvements on Canton Street and Dedham Street (Canton, Norwood, Westwood) project in the FFY 2016 element
• cost increases to the Middlesex Turnpike Improvements, Phase 3 (Bedford, Billerica, Burlington) and Reconstruction and Widening on Route 18 (Weymouth, Abington) projects consistent with Amendment Five to the FFYs 2016-20 TIP and FFYs 2017-21 TIP programming
• transfer of funds to Phase 1 of the Green Line Extension (Lechmere Station to Union Square in Somerville and College Avenue in Medford) from Phase 2 (College Avenue to Route 16 in Medford), in keeping with Amendment Four of the FFYs 2016-20 TIP and FFYs 2017-21 TIP programming
• addition of the Reconstruction of Melnea Cass Boulevard (Boston) project consistent with FFYs 2017-21 TIP programming; the project costs more the $20 million, so it must be programming the it LRTP
• updates to cash flows for the Reconstruction of Rutherford Avenue (Boston) project to reflect the programming of earmarks
• cost increase to the New Boston Street Bridge (Woburn) project, now programmed in the FFY 2021 element
• documentation of funding for two regionally significant projects in the Boston Region that are programmed in the CIP: the Reconstruction of the Interstate 90 and Interstate 495 Interchange (Hopkinton, Westborough) project and the project for a new bridge connection from Burgin Parkway over the MBTA railroad in Quincy
Members were also provided with written descriptions of the two CIP projects.
E. Bourassa asked if there are any state-funded highway projects that will be added to the LRTP when the statewide project list becomes available. D. Mohler replied no.
Renata Welch, MassDOT Highway Division, gave a presentation
on the Reconstruction
of the Interstate 90 and Interstate 495 Interchange (Hopkinton, Westborough)
project and discussed MassDOT’s plans to address the congestion, safety, and
mobility issues at the interchange. The implementation of an all-electronic
tolling system provides an opportunity to address the problems at the
interchange.
The deficiencies at the
interchange were identified in a 2012-13 MassDOT planning study and more fully
explored in a 2014 feasibility study. The interchange was constructed in the
1960s and its geometry is now substandard and unable to handle current traffic
volumes. Interstate 495 is a major truck route and this location is considered
a “freight significant route.” Safety issues include weaving conflicts at the
toll plaza, traffic queues, and truck rollovers at the ramps. The project aims
to eliminate weaving, upgrade the interchange design, reduce travel time and
congestion, and minimize impacts to the environment.
The interchange is located within
an ACEC containing protected species habitat and a floodplain. The design of
the reconstructed interchange is constrained by these environmental factors. The
project requires an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) as per its Massachusetts
Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) certificate.
After evaluating approximately 20
concept designs, MassDOT is considering three final concepts: Concepts 14-4,
14-5, and 22-3. Traffic modeling conducted for the feasibility study showed
that all three concepts would provide an acceptable level of traffic
operations, address traffic weaving, and reduce congestion. The concepts differ
in terms of the degree of improvement that could be achieved and the magnitude
of impacts on the surrounding natural resource areas.
Public outreach conducted to date
includes interactions with FHWA and regulatory agencies in 2014, meetings with
the 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership, and public information meetings.
MassDOT has hired consultants to
develop the preliminary design and prepare environmental documentation. The
project must be programmed in the LRTP and MassDOT’s State Transportation
Improvement Program (STIP) to advance the environmental documentation and
engage FHWA in the design process. August 2020 is the target date for
advertising the project.
J. Gillooly asked if the environmental
rules would credit the project for reducing the roadway footprint in a way that
restores more land to a natural state. R. Welch replied that such
improvements would be counted favorably. She noted that such restorations would
be documented, particularly those in the areas of protected habitat.
T. Bennett asked if the cost
of natural restoration is included in the project cost estimate. R. Welch
replied that environmental mitigation is not included in the cost estimate.
T. Bennett asked if the $270
million for the project to be programmed in the LRTP would cover the cost of
any of the three design concepts. D. Mohler replied that the figure is for
the mid-range estimate adjusted for inflation.
T. Bennett asked if traffic modeling
has been conducted to determine potential greenhouse gas reductions resulting
from the interchange redesign. R. Welch replied that such air quality impacts
would be evaluated for the EIR. D. Mohler added that an assumed project
alternative would be among the group of LRTP projects evaluated for regional
air quality impacts.
D. Crowley asked about the
numbers of lanes on the proposed flyovers. R. Welch replied that there
would be two lanes in the flyover going northbound to eastbound on Interstate
495 and one lane on Interstate 90 westbound to Interstate 495 southbound.
R. Canale asked if
cost-sharing between the Boston Region MPO and the Central Massachusetts
Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) is anticipated considering that the
project area is on the border of the two regional planning areas. R. Welch
reported that about 70 percent of the project area is in Hopkinton, in the
Boston Region MPO area, and about 30 percent is in Westborough, the CMRPC area.
D. Mohler explained that the project will not be funded with MPO discretionary
funding. With the MPOs’ approval, it
will be listed in the LRTPs of both the Boston Region MPO and the CMRPC, will
full state funding shown on the Boston Region MPO’s LRTP.
R. Canale asked about
MassDOT’s priorities for scheduling other major interchange projects.
D. Mohler noted that because the Interstate
90 and Interstate 495 Interchange project is partially on Interstate 90, it
is eligible to receive some funding from toll revenues. Other major
intersection projects in this region (in Canton, Woburn, and Concord) are not
eligible to receive toll funding. He noted that MassDOT’s list of long-range
priorities is in the CIP.
K. Miller expressed concern
that a more collaborative approach to project selection should be established
between MassDOT and the MPOs, as MPOs have an obligation under federal law to
conduct long-range planning for the region.
D. Mohler noted that MassDOT
held significant public outreach during the development of the CIP and that
public comment will also be accepted on June 20 when the MassDOT Board of
Directors and the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) vote on the
CIP.
T. O’Rourke asked about the
amount of toll funding available for the Interstate
90 and Interstate 495 Interchange project and how the balance of the
project cost would be funded. D. Mohler stated that a cursory estimate,
based on the portion of the project that is on Interstate 90, about 40 percent
of the project cost could come from toll funds. MassDOT’s legal and fiscal department
is conducting a detailed review to determine the amount eligible to come from
toll funding. The balance would come from state revenues.
E. Bourassa suggested that
MassDOT consider scheduling the CIP development process earlier next year to
better coincide with the MPOs’ TIP processes. He expressed concern that the
current scheduling does not allow the MPO to get a good sense of statewide project
prioritization until the very end of the TIP development process. He also suggested that, during the next
development cycle, MassDOT provide a presentation to the MPO on the CIP before
it is released for public review. D. Mohler stated that the MassDOT Board
of Directors and the FMCB expressed a desire to better align these processes.
A motion to approve the list of projects in Draft Amendment One to the LRTP, so that staff can perform travel demand modeling for air quality and environmental justice analyses (in advance of releasing the amendment for public review), was made by the MetroWest Regional Collaborative (Town of Framingham) (D. Giombetti), and seconded by the MAPC (E. Bourassa). The motion carried.
Staff distributed a schedule for the public review periods for the certification documents. They are as follows:
• Amendment Five to the FFYs 2016-20 TIP
o Public review period: June 24 to July 23
o Vote to endorse: July 28
• FFYs 2017-21 TIP
o Public review period: June 24 to July 23
o Vote to endorse: July 28
• Amendment One to the LRTP
o Public review period: July 12 to August 10
o Vote to endorse: July 18
• FFY 2017 UPWP
o Public review period: June 17 to July 18
o Vote to endorse: July 28
D. Mohler asked if the schedule
allows staff enough time to model projects for Draft Amendment One to the LRTP.
K. Quackenbush noted that major changes to the set of projects (involving
lane reductions or additions) can produce disruptions in traffic patterns in
the model set; however, in this case, staff is not anticipating having
problems.
The upcoming schedule of MPO
meetings was also discussed. The MPO will convene on June 23, July 7, July 28,
and August 18.
J. Gillooly announced that the next meeting about the design process for the Reconstruction of Rutherford Avenue (Boston) project will be held on June 30.
A motion to adjourn was made by the MAPC (E. Bourassa), and seconded by MBTA Advisory Board (P. Regan). The motion carried.
|
Members |
Representatives
and
Alternates |
|
At-Large City (City of Everett) |
Jay Monty |
|
At-Large City (City of Newton) |
David Koses |
|
At-Large Town (Town of Arlington) |
Laura Wiener |
|
At-Large Town (Town of Lexington) |
Richard Canale |
|
City of Boston (Boston Redevelopment Authority) |
Lara Mérida |
|
City of Boston (Boston Transportation Department) |
Jim Gillooly Patrick Hoey Tom Kadzis |
|
Federal Highway Administration |
Kenneth Miller |
|
Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville) |
Tom Bent |
|
Massachusetts Department of Transportation |
David Mohler Marie Rose |
|
MassDOT Highway Division |
John Romano |
|
Massachusetts Port Authority |
Laura Gilmore O’Connor |
|
MBTA |
Thom Dugan |
|
MBTA Advisory Board |
Paul Regan |
|
Metropolitan Area Planning Council |
Eric Bourassa |
|
MetroWest Regional Collaborative (Town of Framingham) |
Dennis Giombetti |
|
Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (Town of Bedford) |
Richard Reed |
|
North Shore Task Force (City of Beverly) |
Aaron Clausen |
|
North Suburban Planning Council (City of Woburn) |
Tina Cassidy |
|
Regional Transportation Advisory Council |
Tegin Bennett |
|
South Shore Coalition (Town of Braintree) |
Christine Stickney |
|
South West Advisory Planning Committee (Town of Medway) |
Dennis Crowley |
|
Three Rivers Interlocal Council (Town of
Norwood/Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce) |
Tom O’Rourke |
|
Other
Attendees |
Affiliation |
|
Matt Borrelli |
Needham Board of Selectmen |
|
Sarah Bradbury |
MassDOT District 3 |
|
Kate Fitzpatrick |
Town of Needham |
|
Mike Furly |
MassDOT |
|
Karen Galligan |
Town of Southborough |
|
Yolanda Greaves |
Ashland Board of Selectmen |
|
Andrea Green |
Ashland Redevelopment Authority |
|
Maurice Handel |
Needham Board of Selectmen |
|
Dorothea Hess |
Friends of Melnea Cass Boulevard |
|
Marah Holland |
Friends of Melnea Cass Boulevard |
|
Eric Johnson |
Town of Framingham |
|
Jim Johnson |
Town of Walpole |
|
David Knowlton |
City of Salem |
|
Rafael Mares |
Conservation Law Foundation |
|
Owen MacDonald |
Town of Weymouth |
|
Puja Mehta |
Office of State Senator Karen Spilka |
|
Steve Olanoff |
Three Rivers Interlocal Council (Town of
Norwood) |
|
Bryan Pounds |
MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning |
|
Constance Raphael |
MassDOT District 4 |
|
Valerie
Shelly |
Friends of Melnea Cass Boulevard |
|
Bill
Smith |
Town of Brookline, Engineering |
|
Ellie
Spring |
Office of State Representative Denise
Garlick |
|
Clodagh Stoker-Long |
City of Medford |
|
Marie Sullivan |
Stantec |
|
Anthony Thomas |
Office of State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz |
|
Geri Vaten |
MassDOT |
|
Joe Viola |
Town of Brookline |
|
Wig Zamore |
Somerville Transportation Equity
Partnership / Mystic View Task Force |
|
MPO
Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff |
|
Karl Quackenbush, Executive Director Robin Mannion, Deputy Executive Director Elizabeth Moore, Director of Policy and Planning Scott Peterson, Director of Technical Services |
|
Lourenço Dantas David Fargen Elizabeth Harvey |
|
Maureen Kelly |
|
Alexandra Kleyman Anne McGahan |
|
Jennifer Rowe |