Central Vision Statement
The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization envisions a modern transportation system that is safe, uses new technologies, provides equitable access, excellent mobility, and varied transportation options—in support of a sustainable, healthy, livable, and economically vibrant region.
Safety Goals
Transportation by all modes will be safe
Safety Objectives
• Reduce number and severity of crashes, all modes
• Reduce serious injuries and fatalities from transportation
• Protect transportation customers and employees from safety and security threats (Note: The MPO action will be to incorporate security investments into capital planning.)
System Preservation Goals
Maintain the transportation system
System Preservation Objectives
• Improve condition of on- and off-system bridges
• Improve pavement conditions on MassDOT-monitored roadway system
• Maintain and modernize capital assets, including transit assets, throughout the system
• Prioritize projects that support planned response capability to existing or future extreme conditions (sea level rise, flooding, and other natural and security-related man-made hazards)
• Protect freight network elements, such as port facilities, that are vulnerable to climate-change impacts
Capacity Management/Mobility Goals
Use existing facility capacity more efficiently and increase healthy transportation capacity
Capacity Management/Mobility Objectives
• Improve reliability of transit
• Implement roadway management and operations strategies, constructing improvements to the bicycle and pedestrian network, and supporting community-based transportation
• Create connected network of bicycle and accessible sidewalk facilities (at both regional and neighborhood scale) by expanding existing facilities and closing gaps
• Increase automobile and bicycle parking capacity and usage at transit stations
• Increase percentage of population and places of employment within one-quarter mile of transit stations and stops
• Increase percentage of population and places of employment with access to bicycle facilities
• Improve access to and accessibility of transit and active modes
• Support community-based and private-initiative services and programs to meet last mile, reverse commute and other non- traditional transit/transportation needs, including those of the elderly and persons with disabilities
• Eliminate bottlenecks on the freight network
• Enhance intermodal connections
• Emphasize capacity management through low-cost investments;
give priority to projects that focus on lower-cost O&M-type
improvements such as intersection improvements and Complete
Streets solutions
Clean Air/Clean Communities Goals
Clean Air/Clean Communities Objectives
• Reduce greenhouse gases generated in the Boston region by all transportation modes as outlined in the Global Warming Solutions Act
• Reduce other transportation-related pollutants
• Minimize negative environmental impacts of the transportation system
• Support land use policies consistent with smart and healthy growth
Transportation Equity Goals
Provide comparable transportation access and service quality among communities, regardless of income level or minority population
Transportation Equity Objectives
• Target investments to areas that benefit a high percentage of low-income and minority populations
• Minimize any burdens associated with MPO-funded projects in low- income and minority areas
• Break down barriers to participation in MPO-decision making
Economic Vitality Goals
Economic Vitality Objectives
• Respond to the mobility needs of the 25–34-year-old workforce
• Minimize the burden of housing and transportation costs for residents in the region
• Prioritize transportation investments that serve targeted development sites
• Prioritize transportation investments consistent with the compact-growth strategies of MetroFuture