Regional Transportation Advisory Council Meeting
October 14, 2015 Meeting
3:00 PM, State Transportation Building, Conference Room 4, 10 Park Plaza, Boston,
MA
Meeting Summary
Introductions
Mike Gowing, Chair (Acton) called the meeting to
order at 3:00 PM. Members and guests attending the meeting introduced themselves.
(For attendance list, see page 6)
Chair’s Report–Mike Gowing, Chair
M. Gowing expressed thanks to members on behalf
of himself and Vice Chair D. Montgomery for support and cooperation over the
past two years.
Election of Officers
The nomination of officers for 2016 was
completed at the previous Advisory Council meeting on September 9, 2015. Chair
nominee Tegin Teich Bennett and Vice Chair nominee Mark Sanborn each briefly
addressed the Council and described their goals and expectations for the
Advisory Council for the upcoming year. T. Bennett has been active in the
transportation planning field since graduate school having worked both in the
private and public sector. T. Bennett is a Transportation Planner for the City
of Cambridge and has been involved in public participation advisory committees
and boards in the past.
M. Sanborn represents Massachusetts Bus Association
and is employed with Concord Coach Lines as the Director of Government
Relations and Corporate Development. He has a background in government in the
U.S. Congress as well as Federal and State departments and agencies. M. Sanborn
has been active in American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHTO) and
has been at New Hampshire Department of Transportation prior to commencing work
for Concord Coach Lines and becoming the Chair of the Massachusetts Bus
Association.
The nominees expressed their intent to continue
the work of the current officers in running the meetings efficiently and
effectively. They will make every effort to engage the speakers and topics that
will be of great value to the members.
The motion to elect the nominees as Chair and
Vice Chair was approved unanimously. The newly elected officers will serve as
the Chair and Vice Chair of the Advisory Council for 2016.
Minutes – September 9, 2015
A motion to approve the minutes for the September 9 meeting was
seconded. The minutes were approved.
MassCommute
Presentation−Julia Prange Wallerce, Executive Director,
MassCommute
J. Prange Wallerce defined
Transportation Management Association (TMAs) as public-private partnerships
between a specific business community and local and state governments. TMAs are
most often independent non-profit organizations composed of representatives
from local businesses, institutions, and communities. TMAs help to coordinate
the resources of multiple private-sector members with local and state
governments to improve transportation access. As a means of coordinating the
resources of member groups, TMAs may run shuttles to connect business,
residential developments and transit stations.
Some of the benefits
offered by TMAs include the relief of traffic congestion by encouraging
commuters to use rapid transit. Boston ranks 5th for traffic
congestion nationally; congestion costs Boston-area drivers an additional
$1,100/year in gas; and adds an excess of 1.4 million pounds of CO2
into the atmosphere. National statistics are equally compelling showing a total
price tag of $121 billion as a result of congestion.
TMAs promote and provide
transportation demand management (TDM) measures that decrease single occupancy
vehicle (SOV) commuting and improve both workplace satisfaction and quality of
life for commuters. TMA staffs are geographically based and can offer the best
use of existing local transportation resources; they bring together TMA members
and communities to develop, implement, and fund programs that fill the gap in
existing resources that support the use of shared ride alternatives.
Several congestion
reduction strategies employed by TMAs include regional ride-matching databases
that increase the formation of carpools and vanpools; gap shuttle services that
expand the use of public transportation and the use of remote parking
facilities in support of local and regional land use plans; development of
incentive programs to shift to public transportation; encourage pre-tax
commuter benefits programs, alternative work schedules, and tele-work. Work to
improve local bike routes, trails, and paths is another emphasis area.
Currently, there are 12
MassCommute TMAs serving over 300 members in 40 municipalities across the
Commonwealth. They represent every sector of the economy. Association with the government sector helps
address transportation issues at the local level through support of local
zoning and planning processes. TMAs engage diverse stakeholders concerned with
traffic reduction and economic growth.
TMAs work for businesses by
pooling resources and relieving employers from providing commuter options
programs, and help comply with state regulations. With programs to advocate for
member’s needs, TMAs improve retention and recruitment. TMAs work for employees
by offering personalized commuter assistance plans, transportation options that
save time and money, and earn rewards for choosing a greener commute.
Because many TMAs serve
multiple communities they can serve as a resource to bring communities together
to develop and implement regional transportation initiatives. Most TMA shuttles
are open to the public; they alleviate local traffic congestion and clean the
air by taking cars off the road. They also provide mitigation and
communications during construction.
MassCommute is a coalition of
twelve Transportation
Management Associations (TMAs) working with over 300 businesses, medical
facilities and higher learning institutions in 39 municipalities across the
Commonwealth. TMAs leverage public and private funds to promote the use of transportation
options that reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions while improving
access and quality of life for commuters.
The mission of MassCommute
is to: Collaborate, Advocate, and Inform. By working with
state agencies and other partners, MassCommute develops programs and events
aimed at promoting Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measures. In
addition, they advocate on behalf of TMA members on important legislation and
regulatory reform issues that impact members and their employees. MassCommute
also informs TMAs about important state-wide & federal transportation
issues affecting member organizations.
MassCommute has a
collaborative relationship with MassRIDES, working
together to promote NuRide, which is the state’s
ride-matching and travel incentives database. Promotional activities conducted
by MassCommute include participation in the Massachusetts Clean Air Challenge,
the MassCommute Bicycle Challenge, and the Massachusetts ECO (Excellence in
Commuting Options) Awards.
J. Prange Wallerce
presented historical data demonstrating the sizeable return on investment of
public funds in leveraging private sector investment. She cited the relative
reduction in CO2 emissions and VMT the over the last eight years, as
well the increase in educational outreach events as some of the benefits of the
program.
In 2015, the MassCommute
presented a White Paper clarifying the uniquely collaborate nature of TMAs;
that they support state climate and transportation initiatives and they augment
regional rideshare and employer programs. The White Paper recommended expanded
and enforced trip reduction and congestion mitigation policies; use of TMAs to
achieve state transportation and climate goals; increase coordination between
TMAs and the Statewide Travel Options Program; employ TMAs to Pilot
Transportation Initiatives; and dedicate state funding to leverage private sector funding for existing
and future TMAs.
Questions and
Comments:
J. Prange Wallerce responded
to a question by M. Murray on the availability of TMA services at the North
Shore TMA stating that a new TMA in the North Shore is organized but does not
yet run a shuttle.
J. Prange Wallerce explained
that services are available at MassCommute to help communities research
different program options that might work for based on models used in the past
in response to a question from D. Montgomery.
In response to a question
from C. Porter, J. Prange Wallerce explained that more outreach and education
resources would address an untapped-potential for needed services and programs.
J. Prange Wallerce stated
that the integration of technology for fare card use and collaborating to find funding
for cleaner vehicles would be a local TMA issue in response to a question by T.
Bennett. If it were an issue the members would discuss, then it could be
conducted by MassCommute in a roundtable discussion.
S. Olanoff
said that requiring businesses to join TMAs should be done well in advance of
opening not after the building is built.
J. Prange Wallerce explained
that commuter resources like carpools and vans are available through MassRides in cases where TMAs do not offer services due to
ridership demand or hour of service limitations. TMAs do not have control over
RTAs but they can serve as collaborators. (M. Murray, O. MacDonald, P. Nelson)
J. Prange Wallerce stated
that TMAs contribute to clean-air improvements through mode shift, which is a
net benefit of shared commute programs. Noise pollution would be addressed at
the community roundtables in response to a question from M. Wellons.
J. Prange Wallerce explained
the availability of different types of CMAQ funds available for different
programs which may contribute to confusion over the amount of funds available
to the host entities in response to a question from M. Gowing.
J. Prange Wallerce said
that individual ridership services depend on whether there is a shuttle in
response to a question by B. Steinberg. J. Prange Wallerce said there are other
services available to the public at large, including access to the ridership database
and all web resources.
Bylaws Update – David Montgomery, Vice Chair
D. Montgomery presented
recommendations of the Executive Committee for the purpose of clarifying
membership status based on meeting attendance. The updates resolve quorum
issues that have resulted in the past due to non-participating members being
represented in the base for the purpose of establishing quorum.
The Bylaws were presented
and discussed at length at the last meeting. Pursuant to that discussion,
substantive comments and additions were made to the document being presented
today for approval. Members discussed the process of reviewing attendance and
endorsed using the past 12 month’s attendance to assess whether a member had
attended a majority of the meetings. Members would be added to voting status
based on a majority vote of the current voting membership present in quorum.
After approving the motion
to clarify wording on attendance updates passed. The motion to approve update
to the bylaws as clarified was made and seconded. The motion passed. The bylaws will be denoted as amended through
October 14, 2015.
Old Business, New Business and
Member Announcements
M. Gowing noted that the MPO’s response letter to the
Advisory Council’s Comment Letter on the MPO Certification Documents was included
in the meeting documents package. Members discussed the response letter and the
implication on the planning process.
Bryan Pounds, MassDOT–Office of Transportation Planning, is the new liaison
to the Boston Region MPO. The Advisory Council will ask and encourage him to
attend Advisory Council meetings when possible.
S. Olanoff mentioned the Moving
Together Conference will be held at the Park Plaza Hotel on November 4.
Adjournment
A motion to adjourn
was
made and seconded. The motion passed and the meeting
was adjourned at 4:30 PM.
ATTENDANCE
Municipalities
(Voting) |
Column1 |
Acton |
Mike Gowing |
Belmont |
Robert McGaw |
Cambridge |
Tegin Bennett |
Needham |
David
Montgomery |
Weymouth |
Owen
MacDonald |
Citizen
Groups |
Column1 |
AACT |
Mary Ann
Murray |
American
Council of Engineering Companies |
Fred Moseley |
APA -
Massachusetts Chapter |
Jim
Fitzgerald |
Association
for Public Transportation |
Barry M.
Steinberg |
Boston
Society of Architects |
Schuyler Larrabee |
Boston
Society of Civil Engineers |
Bryan Zimolka |
Massachusetts
Bus Association |
Mark Sanborn |
MassBike |
Chris Porter |
MassCommute |
Julia Prang
Wallerce |
MASCO |
Paul Nelson |
MoveMassachusetts |
Jon Seward |
Riverside
Neighborhood Association |
Marilyn
Wellons |
Agencies
(Voting) |
Column1 |
MassRides |
Gary St.
Fleur |
Agencies
(Non-Voting) |
Column1 |
TRIC |
Steve Olanoff |
Municipalities
(Non-Voting) |
Column1 |
Braintree |
Joe Pestazio |
Guests |
Column1 |
Ed Lowney |
Malden
Resident |
Alex Smith |
Seaport TMA |
Staff |
Column1 |
Matt Archer |
David Fargen |
Maureen Kelly |
Column1 |