Memorandum for the Record
Boston
Region Metropolitan Planning Organization Meeting
June 28, 2012 Meeting
10:00 AM – 12:50 PM, State
Transportation Building, Conference Rooms 2 & 3, 10 Park Plaza, Boston
Clinton Bench, Chair, representing
Richard Davey, Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Massachusetts Department
of Transportation (MassDOT)
The Boston Region Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO) agreed to the following:
·
endorse
the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2013 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
·
endorse
the FFYs 2013-16 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) as amended at this
meeting (see details in the body of this document)
·
endorse
the Amendment to the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), as revised today
(see details in the body of this document)
·
approve
the work program for the Route 79
Transportation Study – Evaluation of Alternatives
1.
Public Comments
Catherine Moore, Stoneham resident, spoke in
support of the Stoneham, Winchester, and
Woburn – Tri-Community Bikeway project. She discussed the amount of time
that project advocates have been working to advance the project, noting that
Cameron Bain has been working on the project for 30 years. She stated that the
residents of Stoneham have supported the project in town meeting and voted to
designate the right-of-way as open/recreation space.
Kristina Johnson, City of Quincy, spoke on
behalf of Quincy Mayor Tom Koch and Dennis Harrington. She expressed
appreciation for the programming of the Intersection and Signal Improvements at
Hancock Street and East/West Squantum Streets project in the draft
TIP. She stated that the project will implement 80% of recommendations from a
CTPS safety and operations improvement study, and it will improve pedestrian
circulation issues. The city is confident that it can implement the project in
FFY 2014.
K. Johnson also
apprised members of the Intersection
Improvements at Quincy Avenue and East Howard Street project, which is
moving forward in the planning process. The city expects to submit the project
to MassDOT’s Project Review Committee in July. The city considers this project
as mitigation for the construction of the Fore River Bridge, and believes it
will promote economic development at the Fore River shipyard.
Lynn Weissman, Friends
of the Community Path, expressed appreciation for the programming of the Green Line Extension to Route 16 project
and bicycle and pedestrian projects in the TIP and UPWP. She also expressed
hope that the MPO will continue to fund such transit, bicycle, and pedestrian
projects in the future. She used a projection of a map of Somerville and
Cambridge, which displayed the path of the Green Line Extension and Community
Path as well as existing bicycle trails, to show how the Community Path would
connect to four future Green Line stations and complete a 50-mile network of
continuous trails in the region. She noted the need for funding to complete a segment
of the Path to the North Point area of Cambridge. She asked the MPO to consider
this funding in future TIPs. Cost estimates will be available when the 30%
design is completed, she said.
Neil Osborne, President of the Mystic Valley
Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP) and a West Medford resident, expressed grave concerns about the impact
that a Green Line terminus at Route 16 would have on West Medford residents. He
noted that he was representing members of the Mystic Valley NAACP who are
typically African-Americans over the age of 65. He spoke about the history of
this NAACP branch, which has its roots and core in West Medford, and concerns
many members have that the Green Line project will encroach on their
neighborhood. He expressed that a more appropriate terminus for the Green Line
would be at College Avenue. He offered to discuss these matters further.
Paul Regan, MBTA Advisory Board, asked N.
Osborne if his concern was about the potential for gentrification to occur in
West Medford. N. Osborne confirmed that that there are concerns that a terminus
at Route 16 could change the character of the neighborhood in a way that would
make it difficult for people of color to live there. He reiterated that the
College Avenue area is a more appropriate terminus.
Carolyn Rosen, Chair of the Green Line
Advisory Group of Medford (GLAM), also voiced concern about the impact that a
Green Line terminus at Route 16 would have on Medford residents in terms of
gentrification and displacement. GLAM is focused on objectives of social equity
in Title VI and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and advocates for
social equity analyses to be conducted for projects. She explained that GLAM
cannot support the Green Line Extension
to Route 16 because it views the public outreach process around this
project as flawed. She stated that the environmental justice community in
Medford was marginalized during this process. She claimed that MassDOT held
meetings in non-neutral environments rather than in the area of impact, that
MAPC did not record the concerns expressed by opponents, and that the MPO held
a meeting on April 19 to which only Green Line supporters were invited. She
expressed that these agencies must hear diverse opinions about the project.
Dr. William Wood, GLAM, also expressed
concerns about the public outreach process for the Green Line Extension to Route 16 project and recommended that the
project be postponed until the agencies get a better understanding of concerns
of people from the environmental justice and disabled communities. He
emphasized the need for participation in the process by people with
disabilities and African-Americans. He noted that if the MPO votes for the
project they will be negatively impacting the oldest middle-class African-American
community in the country. He expressed that the project would benefit Tufts
University and developers more than residents. Dr. Wood complimented the MPO
for upholding civil rights for people with disabilities at this meeting.
Mary Anne Adduci, Medford resident, also
expressed concerns about the public outreach process for the Green Line Extension to Route 16 project
and recommended that the project be postponed to allow for more opportunity for
the public to comment and for more study. She explained that she has been
attending meetings on the Green Line Extension for five years. Without computer,
she relies on notifications in the newspaper, mail, or by word of mouth. She
noted that Medford residents were under the impression that the Green Line Extension to Route 16 lacked
funding, until they learned of the MPO’s action to program the second phase of
the Green Line project. She asked the MPO not to vote on the project until
abutters are informed that the project is viable again, and to give
consideration to the concerns of seniors and people with disabilities, and
other residents who live near the proposed station area. She stated that
building the Green Line to College Avenue satisfies the legal mandate to build
the line.
Anita Nagem, Medford resident, expressed
vehement opposition to the Route 16 terminus of the Green Line, a feeling she
said is shared by her neighbors. She stated that residents were not notified of
the MPO’s action to fund the Green Line
Extension to Route 16. She also expressed the view that MAPC’s visioning
meetings appeared designed to achieve a pre-determined result, with the focus
on how the terminus area would be developed, while residents’ concerns about
traffic, parking, and gentrification of an African-American community were not
addressed. While expressing support for the Green
Line Extension to College Avenue, she asked the MPO to remove funding for
the extension to Route 16.
Beth Rudolph, Town of Winchester, spoke in
support of the Stoneham, Winchester, and
Woburn – Tri-Community Bikeway project on behalf to the three towns in the
project area. She noted that it is a regional project that links commercial
centers, commuter rail stations, and schools. She also expressed support for
the programming of the Woburn – Montvale
Avenue project in the amendment to the LRTP.
Richard Rogers, Town of Danvers, spoke in
support of programming the Danvers –
Liberty Street project on the TIP.
Bill Bates, Office of State Representative
Ted Speliotis, expressed Representative Speliotis’s support for the Danvers – Liberty Street project. He
noted that the project is ready to go out to bid and that it meets the MPO’s
criteria for updating old infrastructure, improving livability, and improving
bicycle and pedestrian access.
Jeff Howie, Greenman-Pedersen, Inc., spoke on
behalf of the Town of Reading to advocate for TIP funding for the Reading – West Street project. The
project would reconstruct pavement, add sidewalks, and install signals at a
school crossing on a one and three-quarter mile stretch of roadway. The project
is at 75% design. The cost estimate is currently $7 million. The town has been
working on the project for 15 years and has been working to advance it through
the MPO since 2006. The town has already spent $400,000 on design and is
committed to the project, but concerned about spending more without a
commitment of TIP funding.
Todd Fontanella, Merrimack Valley Planning
Commission (MVPC’s), registered support for the draft FFY 2013 UPWP and the
inclusion of the I-93 North and Southeast
Expressway HOV Lane Monitoring project. He expressed MVPC’s interest in
collaborating with CTPS on the project given their shared interest in managing
congestion on Interstate 93.
Wig Zamore, Somerville Transportation Equity
Partnership, et al., commended the MBTA and its consultant for conducting the
public process for the Green Line
Extension project. He also expressed appreciation for the MPO’s public
process and meetings. He asked that MPO staff use a larger font on the
spreadsheets they produce. He also asked that a public workshop be held to
review the methodology used for developing interim offset measures for the Green Line Extension project and for the
MBTA to take public comments on that subject. He expressed support for
extending the Green Line to Route 16 and for unifying that project with the Community Path project (using federal or
state funds, not MPO funds).
W. Zamore also informed members that the World
Health Organization has determined that diesel emissions are a class one
carcinogen. Individuals at risk include transportation workers and people who
live next to transportation facilities. He expressed concern that diesel
powered trains are used on the Fairmount Corridor in a densely populated urban
area. He distributed handouts with information on the subject.
Cameron Bain, Stoneham resident, voiced support
for the Stoneham, Winchester, and Woburn
– Tri-Community Bikeway project. He discussed the history of the project
from its beginnings in 1988 when a committee was formed in Stoneham. In 1989,
MAPC conducted a study that concluded that a linear path would be the best use
of the railroad right-of-way. In 1995, the towns of Winchester and Woburn added
their efforts to create the Tri-Community Bikeway. C. Bain stated that the
project is in keeping with the Governor’s Healthy Transportation Compact and
federal plans for linear paths. He also remarked on the hard work that went
into the project and the strong desire of people who worked on it to see it
built in their lifetimes.
2.
Chair’s Report – Clinton Bench, MassDOT
The Chair reported that Congress is making
progress on a two-year transportation bill. He also reported on efforts at the
state level to address the MBTA’s deficit for FY 2013. MBTA fares will be
rising by approximately 25% in July. Despite the fare hike, the MBTA will still
face a deficit in FY 2014. He advised people to contact their state
representatives about the issue of transportation financing. He also noted that
the legislature approved funding for Chapter 90.
3.
Committee Chairs’
Reports
There were none.
4.
Regional
Transportation Advisory Council Report – Steve Olanoff,
Chair, Regional Transportation Advisory Council
S. Olanoff reported that the Advisory Council
met on June 13. In the morning, the group took a tour of the Green Line Extension (to College Ave.) project
area. The project was discussed further at the meeting in the afternoon. The
next meeting will be held on July 11 at 3 PM.
Following S. Olanoff’s report, C. Rosen,
GLAM, asked to be sent a copy of the Advisory Council’s June 13 meeting
minutes. She stated that, according to the Open Meeting Law, minutes must be
posted within ten days of a meeting.[1] W.
Wood, GLAM, then raised questions about whether individuals who are minorities
or disabled are represented on the Council, and whether the Council hears
diverse views.
C. Bench noted that S. Olanoff would be
available to provide more information about the Council to those interested.
5.
Executive Director’s Report – Karl Quackenbush, Executive Director, Central Transportation Planning
Staff
K. Quackenbush discussed two memoranda that
were prepared at members’ requests.
At the meeting of June 21, members discussed
observed increases in traffic in the urban area. In response, Bill Kuttner, MPO
staff, prepared a memorandum titled, “Recent Traffic Trends at Toll Plazas
within Route 128,” which provides data from toll data receipts (for traffic
passing through toll plazas on the Massachusetts Turnpike and the harbor
crossings). These data support the idea that traffic has been increasing.
Also at the last meeting, staff was asked to provide
information that would give a sense of scale when considering carbon dioxide
reduction figures. In response, Anne McGahan, LRTP Manager and MPO Air Quality
Specialist, prepared a memorandum titled, “The Value of a Ton of Carbon
Dioxide: An Overview of Greenhouse Gases, with a Focus on Carbon Dioxide.”
(This memorandum was presented later in the meeting.)
K. Quackenbush also noted that Eric Bourassa,
MAPC, brought to the attention of staff a paper prepared by the National
Association of Regional Councils, which discusses how MPOs integrate public
health into transportation planning. The Boston Region MPO was mentioned in the
paper as having a TIP process that aligns with the state’s Healthy
Transportation Compact legislation and that can incorporate health impact
assessments (HIA). MAPC is taking a leadership role on HIAs in this region.
During the Director’s report, Dennis
Giombetti, MetroWest Regional Collaborative (Town of Framingham), asked if
staff would extend their research on toll plaza traffic volume to the
Interstate 495 region.
6.
FFY 2013 Unified
Planning Work Program – Mary Ellen Sullivan, UPWP
Manager, MPO Staff
M.E. Sullivan reported that the UPWP
Committee met on June 21and voted to approve the draft FFY 2013 UPWP and
forward it to the MPO for final endorsement.
A motion to endorse the FFY 2013 UPWP, as
recommended by the UPWP Committee, was made by the MBTA Advisory Board (Paul
Regan), and seconded by the MassDOT Highway Division (John Romano). The motion
carried.
7.
FFYs 2013-16 Transportation
Improvement Program – Sean Pfalzer, TIP Manager, MPO Staff
S. Pfalzer summarized public comments
received during the public review period of the draft FFYs 2013-16 TIP and gave
an overview of the staff proposal for project programming in this document.
Members then took action on the TIP.
Public Comments
Members were provided with a matrix summarizing
all public comments received. (The original comment letters and emails were
also provided.) At the meeting of June 7, S. Pfalzer provided a summary of
topics covered in the comments. Since that time the MPO has received additional
comments expressing the following:
·
support
for the Stoneham, Winchester, and Woburn
– Tri-Community Bikeway project (from Stoneham, Woburn, and Lynnfield
residents)
·
support
for the Green Line Extension to College
Avenue and Union Square, the Community
Path, and the Green Line Extension to
Route 16, as well as support for building the Green Line Extension in conjunction with the Community Path (from residents of Somerville and the Friends of the
Community Path)
·
opposition
to the Green Line Extension to Route 16
(from residents in Medford)
·
support
for multiple Inner Core projects and funding for transit maintenance (from the
Inner Core Committee)
·
request
for programming the Hopkinton – Route 135
project in the FFY 2013 element of the TIP (from the Town of Hopkinton)
·
support
for the Assabet River Rail Trail
(from the Acton Board of Selectmen)
Staff Proposal
Members were also provided with revised TIP
tables and a table showing proposed changes to project programming since the
meeting of June 21. S. Pfalzer gave an overview of the proposed changes to each
fiscal element of the TIP, as reflected in the TIP tables. The changes affect
the following funding categories: Accelerated Bridge Program; earmarks; transit
carryover funding; the Job Access and Reverse Program (JARC); and the New
Freedom Program.
The proposed changes to the FFY 2013 element
are as follows:
·
an
increase in funds programmed for the Concord/Lincoln
– Crosby’s Corner project due to
changes in cash flows across years
·
an
increase in funds programmed for the
Danvers – Liberty Street project
·
changes
to the values of several earmarks
·
the
addition of an earmark for design of the Boston
– Improvements to Gainsborough and St. Botolph Streets project and the
movement of a construction earmark for this project to FFY 2014
·
the
addition of an earmark for the Boston –
Reconstruction of Rutherford Avenue project
·
the
movement of the Boston – Morton Street
over the MBTA and CSX Railroad project from the FFY 2012 element to the FFY
2013 element
·
cost
change to the Everett/Medford – Bridge
Replacements, Revere Beach Parkway over the Malden River, and over MBTA and
Rivers Edge Drive project, which reflects the bundling of two bridge
projects
·
the
programming of MBTA carryover funds, originally programmed in FFY 2012
·
incorporation
of grant awards under JARC and New Freedom Programs
Changes made in the Amendment Two of the FFYs
2012-15 TIP have resulted in the FFY 2013 element of the TIP exceeding fiscal
constraint. The changes in FFY 2012 included adjustments to the cash flows for
the Crosby’s Corner project and a
cost increase to the Danvers – Liberty
Street project. As a result, the FFY 2013 element would be over-programmed
by $714,509.
The proposed changes to the FFY 2014 element
are as follows:
·
changes
to the values of several earmarks
·
the
addition of the Chelsea/Revere –
Resurfacing and Related Work on Route 1 project
·
the
addition of the Manchester – Safe Routes
to School project
·
incorporation
of multi-year grant awards under JARC and New Freedom Programs
The proposed changes to the FFY 2015 element
are as follows:
·
the
addition of earmarks for the Boston –
Improvements to Commonwealth Avenue project
·
incorporation
of a multi-year New Freedom grant award under JARC and New Freedom Programs
S. Pfalzer then discussed options for
restoring the FFY 2013 element to fiscal constraint. This could be accomplished
by reducing the dollars programmed for the Lynn
– Reconstruction of Route 129 project in the FFY 2013 element, and by
moving the Intersection Improvement Program to FFY 2014. The MPO has programmed
$5.6 million for the Lynn project, but MassDOT believes that the cost estimates
are coming in lower than expected for the project.
Members discussed the staff proposal.
Jim Gillooly, City of Boston (BTD), asked if
the FFY 2014 element has the capacity to absorb the Intersection Improvement
Program. S. Pfalzer replied yes and noted that the costs shown in the FFY 2014
column of the table include amounts for that program.
E. Bourassa asked if staff informed the City
of Lynn of the proposed changes and confirmed the information regarding the
Lynn project with the MassDOT Highway Division. S. Pfalzer replied yes.
Endorsement of TIP
A motion to endorse the FFYs 2013-16 TIP – as
amended to include staff’s recommendation to reduce dollars programmed for the Lynn – Reconstruction of Route 129
project in the FFY 2013 element and to move the Intersection Improvement
Program to FFY 2014 – was made by the Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville)
(Tom Bent), and seconded by the At-Large Town (Town of Lexington) (Richard
Canale). The motion carried.
During the discussion of this motion, members
heard a comment from a member of the public. W. Wood, GLAM, noted that the MPO
will be level-funded as a result of Congressional action, and recommended that
the MPO wait to program funding for the Green
Line Extension to Route 16 until they are sure they will have funds
available.
8.
Amendment to the Long-Range Transportation
Plan – Anne McGahan, LRTP Manager, MPO Staff
Prior to a vote on the proposed amendment to
the Long-Range Transportation Plan, Paths
to a Sustainable Region, A. McGahan gave an overview of the documents
provided to members regarding the amendment and summarized public comments
received during the public review period. She then discussed the memorandum on
carbon dioxide.
Amendment Summary
One document provides an overview of the
changes that would be incorporated in the amendment, which include:
·
moving
the Hanover – Route 53 project from
the FFYs 2016-20 timeband to the FFYs 2012-15 timeband
·
moving
the Woburn – New Boston Street Bridge
and Woburn – Montvale Avenue projects
from the FFYs 2021-25 timeband to the FFYs 2016-20 timeband
·
updated
financial information, which makes the LRTP consistent with the TIP
·
the
addition of projects programmed in the TIP which cost over $10 million
·
the
incorporation of the latest designs for the Boston/Cambridge
– Longfellow Bridge and Boston –
Casey Overpass projects into the travel demand model, which is used to
determine air quality conformity
Another document contains a table of project
costs, available revenues in each five-year timeband, and percentage of program
funding (Table 2). A copy of Chapter 10, containing the air quality conformity
determination for the LRTP, was also distributed.
Public Comments
Lastly, members were provided with a summary
of the public comments received during the public review period. (The original
comment letters and emails were also provided.) At the meeting of June 21, A.
McGahan provided a summary of topics covered in the comments received by noon
on Wednesday June 20. Since that time the MPO has received additional comments
expressing the following:
·
support
for the Woburn – Montvale Avenue
project (from the Winchester Board of Selectmen)
·
support
of the Green Line Extension to Route 16
as programmed (13 new comments from Arlington, Medford, and Somerville
residents)
·
support
for the Green Line Extension to Route 16
with full-funding for the Community Path
(13 new comments from Belmont, Cambridge, Medford, and Somerville residents)
·
support
for the Community Path, Assabet River Rail Trail, and Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (from the
Friends of the Community Path, Acton residents, and a Cambridge resident)
·
a
request that transportation planning be unified behind GreenDOT; that planners
avoid past mistakes, such as bridge rebuilds in Somerville that did not take
into account the Green Line Extension
construction; that MassDOT find ways to substitute clean, electric-based
transit for diesel-based commuter rail in dense urban areas; and that the
conversion of Fairmount commuter rail lines to light rail be studied (from a
Somerville resident)
·
support
of Urban Ring area improvements and a request that the following projects be
added to the LRTP incrementally: Ruggles Platform construction; Melnea Cass
Boulevard center median busway; bus and roadway improvements between BU Bridge
and Audubon Circle; and short-term crosstown bus improvements from Sullivan
Station to JFK/UMass Station via the Longwood Medical Area (from MASCO)
Members discussed the amendment.
J. Gillooly asked staff to add earmark
funding for the Boston – Commonwealth
Avenue project to Table 2 to reflect the amounts programmed in the TIP.
Mayor Scott Galvin, City of Woburn, thanked
A. McGahan and the MPO staff for holding a public meeting in Woburn during the
public review period. He emphasized the importance of the Woburn – New Boston Street Bridge and Woburn – Montvale Avenue projects to the City of Woburn and for the
area. He asked the MPO to support the amendment.
Endorsement of the LRTP Amendment
A motion to endorse the Amendment to the
LRTP, as revised to include earmark funds for the Boston – Commonwealth Avenue project, was made by the North
Suburban Planning Council (City of Woburn) (Mayor Galvin), and seconded by the
Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville) (T. Bent). The motion carried.
Carbon Dioxide Discussion
A. McGahan then provided an overview of the
information in the memorandum titled, “The Value of a Ton of Carbon Dioxide: An
Overview of Greenhouse Gases, with a Focus on Carbon Dioxide.” This memorandum
was prepared at the request of members to provide information that would give a
sense of scale when considering carbon dioxide reduction figures.
She described the four greenhouse gases
(GHGs) that make up most of the GHG emissions, and discussed the global warming
potential (GWP) of each. The GWP is based on how well the gas absorbs energy and
how long the gas stays in the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide comprises 84% of all GHG
emissions and enters the atmosphere primarily thorough the burning of fossil
fuels. It can persist in the atmosphere for thousands of years. Carbon dioxide
has a GWP of one, and is used as the baseline to measure the GWP of other gases.
Methane comprises 10% of all GHG emissions and enters the atmosphere during
production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. It has a GPW of 21,
meaning that methane will cause 21 times as much warming as an equivalent mass
of carbon dioxide over a 100 year period. Methane can persist for ten years in
the atmosphere.
Nitrous oxide comprises 4% of all GHG
emissions and enters the atmosphere as a result of agricultural and industrial
activities and fossil fuel and solid waste combustion. It has a GWP of 300. It
can persist in the atmosphere for 100 years. Fluorinated gases comprise 2% all
GHG emissions and enter the atmosphere as a result of a variety of industrial
processes. They are high-GWP gases.
MPO staff has calculated carbon dioxide
impacts for projects in the LRTP and TIP because carbon dioxide makes up the
highest percentage of GHGs and because the transportation sector emits GHGs
from the burning of fossil fuels. For passenger vehicles only, carbon dioxide
accounts for 94% of GHG emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles are
significantly higher than other pollutants. Details on how staff calculates
emissions are provided in the memorandum.
A. McGahan provided comparisons to help give
a sense of the value of a ton of carbon dioxide. For example, a mid-sized sedan weighs
approximately two tons, and driving that vehicle 12,000 miles a year produces about
6 tons of carbon dioxide. To give a sense of how challenging it is to mitigate
for such emissions, she noted that an average size tree can sequester about
0.012 tons of carbon dioxide over a ten year period.
Members discussed this topic.
C. Bench noted that the Boston Region MPO is taking
the lead in Massachusetts on identifying the GHG impacts of transportation
projects. This work will help MassDOT determine its approach to implementing
GreenDOT and conforming with the Global Warming Solutions Act.
J. Gillooly suggested that it would be useful
to know the amount of fossil fuels burned per MBTA passenger, and by mode. This
information would likely underscore the importance of bicycle trail projects
and shifting people to this mode of travel, he said. A. McGahan suggested that
this question could be discussed when the MPO holds a workshop on GHGs.
Members then heard comments from the public.
W. Zamore stated that for every mile driven
in a car, one pound of carbon dioxide is produced. He also commented on the
half-life of pollutants and pollution from particulates.
9.
Work Program for Route 79 Transportation Study
– Evaluation of Alternatives – Karl
Quackenbush, Executive Director, Central Transportation Planning Staff
K. Quackenbush introduced the work program
for Route 79 Transportation Study –
Evaluation of Alternatives. This study follows upon a 2008 study that
focused on reconnecting the downtown Fall River area to the waterfront. In this
second study CTPS would support the work of MassDOT and its consultant to
examine alternative roadway designs for the Route 79 corridor.
CTPS’s work would involve conducting travel
modeling for alternative roadway configurations, an environmental justice
analysis, and air quality analysis (including GHGs). CTPS’s travel model overs
the south coast area and its projections will be consistent with the demographic
data that underlies the LRTPs of the Boston Region and the Southeast Regional
Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD).
Members discussed the work program.
Laura Weiner, At-Large Town (Town of
Arlington), asked about the funding source for the study. K. Quackenbush
replied that MassDOT will fund the study; the funds will not be coming from the
MPO’s 3C planning funds. The study is in the UPWP.
S. Olanoff asked about SRPEDD’s involvement
in terms of modeling. K. Quackenbush replied that the Boston Region MPO’s model
will be used for this study because it is multi-modal and covers the area south
to Fall River and New Bedford. SRPEDD prepares its own socio-economic
projections, which will be incorporated in the Boston Region MPO’s model.
D. Giombetti asked if this study would have
an impact on any other studies. K. Quackenbush replied no, that staff
anticipated this work and incorporated it into its schedule. C. Bench added
that the study will have no impact on the MPO’s 3C planning funds.
A motion to approve the work program for the Route 79 Transportation Study – Evaluation
of Alternatives was made by the City of Boston (BTD) (J. Gillooly), and
seconded by the Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville) (T. Bent). The motion
carried.
10.
Members Items
There were none.
11.
Adjourn
A motion to adjourn was made by the MBTA
Advisory Board (P. Regan) and seconded by the Inner Core Committee (City of
Somerville) (T. Bent). The motion carried.
Boston
Region Metropolitan Planning Organization Meeting Attendance
Thursday,
June 28, 2012, 10:00 AM
At-Large
City (City of Everett) James
Errickson
At-Large
City (City of Newton) David
Koses
At-Large Town (Town
of Arlington) Laura
Wiener
At-Large
Town (Town of Lexington) Richard
Canale
Ned
Codd
Massachusetts
Bay Transportation Authority Joe Cosgrove
Eric
Halvorsen
Coordination (Town of Bedford)
South
West Advisory Planning Committee Dennis Crowley
(Town of Medway)
Three
Rivers Interlocal Council (Town of Norwood) Tom
O’Rourke
Other
Attendees
Mary Anne Adduci Medford
resident
Cameron Bain Stoneham
Tri-Community Bikeway
Roland Bartl Town
of Acton Planning Department
Bill Bates Office
of State Representative Ted Speliotis
Callida Cenizal MassDOT
Office of Transportation Planning
Alex Doyan Office
of State Representative Carl Sciortino
Martha Duffield Town
of Danvers
Todd Fontanella Merrimack
Valley Planning Commission
Kristen Guichard Town
of Acton Planning Department
Tom Holder Town
of Medway
Geoffrey Howie Greenman-Pedersen,
Inc.
Kristina Johnson City
of Quincy
Brian Kane MBTA
Advisory Board
David Knowlton City
of Salem
Jeff Levine Town
of Brookline
John Lozada MassDOT
Rafael Mares Conservation
Law Foundation
Barbara Miranda Office
of State Senator William Brownsberger
Alan Moore Friends
of the Community Path
Catherine Moore Stoneham
resident
Hayes Morrison City
of Somerville
Anita Nagem Medford
resident
Joe Onorato MassDOT
Highway
Neil Osborne Mystic Valley NAACP
Ellin
Reisner Somerville Transportation Equity
Partnership
Richard
Rogers Town of Danvers
Carolyn
Rosen Green Line
Advisory Group of Medford
Beth Rudolph Town of Winchester
Andrew
Sylvia Westford Patch
Joe Viola Town of Brookline
Lynn
Weissman Friends of the
Community Path
Brittany
Williams Conservation Law Foundation
Dr. William Wood Green
Line Advisory Group of Medford
Wig Zamore Somerville
Transportation Equity Partnership, Mystic View Task Force
Mary
Ellen Sullivan
Alicia
Wilson
Pam
Wolfe
[1] Note: Section 22 (c)
of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law (M.G.L. c. 30A) requires that minutes
must be created and approved in a “timely manner”, and if they exist, must be
made available within 10 days of a request.