Draft Memorandum for the Record
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
Unified Planning Work Program Committee Meeting Summary
July 27, 2023, Meeting
1:00 PM–1:20 PM, Zoom Video Conferencing Platform
Derek Krevat, Chair, representing Gina Fiandaca, Secretary of Transportation and Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)
The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Committee agreed to the following:
Materials for this meeting included the following:
1. FFY 2023 UPWP Amendment Two Table (pdf) (html)
2. FFY 2023 UPWP Redlined (pdf)
3. FFY 2023 UPWP Clean (pdf) (html)
4. FFY 2023 UPWP Appendices (html)
5. FFY 2023 UPWP Amendment Two Memo (pdf) (html)
See page 4.
Dan Jaffe, Charlestown resident, spoke of transportation issues affecting the community.
S. Murthy stated that the FFY 2023 UPWP Amendment Two proposes third-quarter adjustments to program budgets to account for changes in staffing or program needs throughout the fiscal year. Third-quarter adjustments have been made to the UPWP in recent years. Examples of budget adjustments include an increase in the Long-Range Transportation Plan budget due to development involving more staff than initially anticipated and staff attrition, while the Climate Resilience Program was developed before a Resilience Planner was hired and an intern has been hired to support the program. Budget adjustments represent a net zero change to the UPWP budget.
Staff request for the UPWP Committee to vote to waive the public review period and recommend for the full board to endorse the amendment.
Lenard Diggins, Regional Transportation Advisory Council, asked where the adjustments included in the redlined document can be found. S. Murthy stated that they can be found within Chapter Three and program budgets and descriptions.
David Koses, City of Newton, asked about the staff’s ability to implement budget adjustments. Annette Demchur stated that budget changes over 25 percent require a public review period and board approval, while budget changes under the 25 percent threshold require board approval.
Steve Olanoff, Three Rivers Interlocal Council, asked for clarification on the requested vote. S. Murthy stated that the Public Engagement Plan gives the UPWP Committee the authority to recommend for the board to waive the public review period and endorse.
A motion to recommend for the MPO board to waive the public review period for the FFY 2023 UPWP Amendment Two was made by the Three Rivers Interlocal Council (S. Olanoff) and seconded by the Regional Transportation Advisory Council (L. Diggins). The motion carried.
A motion to recommend for the MPO board to endorse the FFY 2023 UPWP Amendment Two was made by the Three Rivers Interlocal Council (S. Olanoff) and seconded by the Regional Transportation Advisory Council (L. Diggins). The motion carried.
Tom Bent, Inner Core Committee, spoke about Zoom logistics.
To be announced
A motion to adjourn was made by the Inner Core Committee (T. Bent) and seconded by the MBTA Advisory Board (Amira Patterson). The motion carried.
|
Members |
Representatives and Alternates |
|
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Office of Transportation Planning) |
Derek Krevat |
|
Regional Transportation Advisory Council |
Lenard Diggins |
|
At-Large City (City of Newton) |
David Koses |
|
Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville) |
Tom Bent |
|
Three Rivers Interlocal Council Alternate |
Steve Olanoff |
|
MBTA Advisory Board |
Amira Patterson |
|
Other Attendees |
Affiliation |
|
Miranda Briseño |
MassDOT |
|
Dan Jaffe |
Charlestown resident |
|
MPO Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff |
|
Tegin Teich, Executive Director |
|
Annette Demchur |
|
Hiral Gandhi |
|
Stella Jordan |
|
Erin Maguire |
|
Srilekha Murthy |
|
Judy Taylor |
|
The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) operates its programs, services, and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related statutes and regulations. Title VI prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs and requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency), be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity that receives federal assistance. Related federal nondiscrimination laws administered by the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, or both, prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, sex, and disability. The Boston Region MPO considers these protected populations in its Title VI Programs, consistent with federal interpretation and administration. In addition, the Boston Region MPO provides meaningful access to its programs, services, and activities to individuals with limited English proficiency, in compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation policy and guidance on federal Executive Order 13166. The Boston Region MPO also complies with the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law, M.G.L. c 272 sections 92a, 98, 98a, which prohibits making any distinction, discrimination, or restriction in admission to, or treatment in a place of public accommodation based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or ancestry. Likewise, the Boston Region MPO complies with the Governor's Executive Order 526, section 4, which requires that all programs, activities, and services provided, performed, licensed, chartered, funded, regulated, or contracted for by the state shall be conducted without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, veteran's status (including Vietnam-era veterans), or background. A complaint form and additional information can be obtained by contacting the MPO or at http://www.bostonmpo.org/mpo_non_discrimination. To request this information in a different language or in an accessible format, please contact Title VI Specialist By Telephone: For people with hearing or speaking difficulties, connect through the state MassRelay service: · Relay Using TTY or Hearing Carry-over: 800.439.2370 · Relay Using Voice Carry-over: 866.887.6619 · Relay Using Text to Speech: 866.645.9870 For more information, including numbers for Spanish speakers, visit https://www.mass.gov/massrelay |