Memorandum for the Record
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization Meeting
March 22, 2018, Meeting
10:00 AM–12:10 PM, State Transportation Building, Conference Rooms 2 and 3, 10 Park Plaza, Boston
David Mohler, Chair, representing Stephanie Pollack, Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)
The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) agreed to the following:
See attendance on page 10.
Mayor Gary Christenson (City of Malden), Councillor Ryan O’Malley (Malden City Council,) and Deborah Burke (Malden Redevelopment Authority) advocated for the inclusion of project #608275 (Exchange Street Downtown Improvement Project in Malden) in the FFY 2019 element of the FFYs 2019–23 TIP. Mayor Christenson stated that the City of Malden has the necessary funds to complete 100 percent design plans. The city anticipates the submittal of 25 percent design plans in April 2018 and believes that the project could be ready for advertisement as early as FFY 2019. This would require collaborating with MassDOT on a combined 75/100 percent design review. Mayor Christenson stated that the private Jefferson Apartment Group is spending approximately $125 million to redevelop the former site of Malden City Hall. Retail, residential, and civic uses will all be part of this development, including the new city hall. This project is expected to be completed by summer 2019. Likewise, Wynn Boston Harbor in Everett is likely to be completed in June 2019. Malden believes it is important to begin construction of the Exchange Street project by FFY 2019 in order to accommodate the transportation needs of these developments. The estimated cost of the Exchange Street project is approximately $1.5 million, and the project has received approximately $500,000 in private investment funds. Mayor Christenson presented a short slide show with images of the project area and conceptual drawings of planned private developments. A PDF of this presentation is posted on the meeting calendar on the MPO’s website. Mayor Christenson added that Malden hopes to work with the MPO to complete the connection between Exchange Street, the Malden Center MBTA Station, and the Northern Strand Community Trail. Mayor Christenson noted that this project received a high evaluation score.
Vince Inglese (Friends of the Lynnfield Rail Trail) spoke in support of state prioritized TIP project #607329 (Wakefield–Lynnfield — Rail Trail Extension, from the Galvin Middle School to the Lynnfield/Peabody town line). During last year’s TIP development process, this project was moved from the FFY 2018 element to the FFY 2021 element in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). V. Inglese reported that in the last year the Town of Lynnfield has made progress in several areas related to the readiness of this project. At a town meeting last year, Lynnfield voted in favor of a warrant article authorizing the Board of Selectmen to undertake a lease with the MBTA and build a recreational path on the rail bed. The town is now raising design funds from a variety of sources besides the town budget. V. Inglese anticipates that MassDOT will hold a 25 percent design public hearing in May 2018. V. Inglese thanked the MPO, MassDOT, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) for their support and emphasized Lynnfield’s continuing commitment to advancing the project through the design process.
Anu Gerweck (Wakefield resident) echoed V. Inglese’s support of project #607329 and stated that residents of both towns are excited by the progress of the rail trail and look forward to the completion of the project.
Michael Soter (Chairman, Board of Selectmen, Town of Bellingham), Jim Kupfer (Town Planner, Town of Bellingham,), Kasia Hart (MAPC, SouthWest Advisory Planning Committee subregional coordinator), and Larry Sposato (Bellingham resident) advocated for the inclusion of project #608887 (South Main Street [Route 126] —Douglas Drive to Mechanic Street Reconstruction [Route 140] in Bellingham) in the FFYs 2019–23 TIP. The project area includes athletic fields, a middle school, and other essential town functions. The corridor has incomplete sidewalk facilities, inadequate drainage, and is not safe for pedestrians or bicyclists. M. Soter emphasized the dangerousness of the corridor. J. Kupfer noted that MPO staff conducted a study of the Route 126 corridor in 2011 and identified several opportunities for improvement along the 9.2 miles of Route 126 located in Bellingham, including the 1.6 mile stretch addressed by this project. J. Kupfer added that Route 126 is the main corridor throughout Bellingham and is the top priority for improvement. The goal is to connect residential areas, schools, and the Southern New England Trunk Line Trail with commuter rail in downtown Franklin. The corridor also serves the senior population and is a route for the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority’s (GATRA) bus services. It has been approximately a decade since Bellingham received TIP target funding. The town’s consultant submitted 25 percent design materials in January 2018. K. Hart spoke in support of the Complete Streets principles Bellingham has included in the project design, citing improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists. L. Sposato spoke to the safety concerns of Bellingham residents, noting that several Bellingham residents who utilize electric mobility devices currently must ride in the roadway due to the lack of sidewalks. L. Sposato stated that some residents in Bellingham would walk to work if walking on Route 126 were safe, adding that a significant population of senior citizens and schoolchildren are not able to walk in the area due to the safety concerns.
K. Hart advocated for the inclusion of project #608045 (Rehabilitation on Route 16 [East Main Street] from Route 109 to Beaver Street in Milford) in the FFYs 2019–23 TIP. This is a MassDOT prioritized project that has been noted for safety concerns in the MPO’s Long–Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The project will improve a section of roadway in Milford’s downtown with sidewalk improvements that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and bicycle infrastructure.
Roger Fernandes (Town Engineer, Town of Hingham) advocated for the inclusion of project #605168 (Summer Street/Rockland Street Roadway and Streetscape Improvements in Hingham) in the FFYs 2019–23 TIP. The project has an evaluation score of 52. This corridor is heavily affected by seasonal traffic and has safety concerns. The project would reduce the number of lanes to two in each direction. The town will be administering a pilot program throughout summer 2018, which will temporarily change the lane configuration along the corridor, to test traffic modeling and public reaction and collect more data prior to the 25 percent submittal in fall 2018. The Town of Hingham has been collaborating with the Towns of Hull and Cohasset and the MassDOT district office on this project. MPO staff studied this corridor in 2016, identifying a number of safety, mobility, and access problems. This corridor is severely affected by seasonal traffic and has safety concerns.
William Paulitz (Engineer, City of Peabody) advocated for the inclusion of project #608933 (Rehabilitation of Central Street in Peabody) in the FFY 2023 element of the FFYs 2019–23 TIP. W. Paulitz anticipates the submittal of 25 percent design materials by consultant WorldTech Engineering in early 2019. Central Street is a “gateway” corridor connecting Route 114 to downtown Peabody. The majority of the project is in an environmental justice area. On behalf of Peabody Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. and the Peabody City Council, W. Paulitz thanked the MPO members for their consideration.
Dan Nason (Director of Public Works, Town of Sudbury) advocated for the inclusion of project #607249 (Intersection Improvements at Route 20 and Landham Road in Sudbury) in the FFY 2019 element of the FFYs 2019–23 TIP. This is a MassDOT–prioritized project at the 100 percent design stage. D. Nason stated that the project will be ready for construction in FFY 2019. This project is a priority for the Town of Sudbury because of high crash rates at the intersection, which has a crash rate nearly twice the average for MassDOT Highway District 3. D. Nason urged the MPO to program this project for the safety of Sudbury residents, residents of neighboring towns, and commuters who utilize Route 20.
Rich Benevento (WorldTech Engineering) and Aaron Clausen (North Shore Task Force) (City of Beverly) advocated on behalf of the City of Beverly and project #608347 (Intersection Improvements at Three Locations in Beverly). This project is currently programmed in the FFY 2021 element of the TIP, but the city believes that the project could be reprogrammed for earlier construction in FFY 2019. MassDOT’s comments on the 25 percent design submittal were recently addressed. The project consists of three intersections that are high crash locations, the largest of which is MassDOT-owned. The City of Beverly is using local funds to design this project. R. Benevento and the Town of Beverly believe the project could be ready for advertisement in June 2019. There are three permanent easements necessary for the project. A. Clausen added that Beverly has held four public meetings to inform the community of the progress of this project, at which there has been positive feedback from residents. The project has an evaluation score of 63. A. Clausen emphasized that Beverly has a good track record on securing right–of–way easements in a timely manner.
Janie Dretler (Sudbury resident) advocated for the inclusion of project #607249 (Intersection Improvements at Route 20 and Landham Road in Sudbury) in the FFYs 2019–23 TIP. J. Dretler noted that the Landham Road intersection is less than 400 feet from the proposed Mass Central Rail Trail.
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A motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of February 1, 2018, was made by MAPC (Eric Bourassa) and seconded by At-Large City (City of Everett) (Tony Sousa). At-Large Town (Town of Arlington) (Jennifer Raitt) and the North Suburban Planning Council (City of Woburn) (Tina Cassidy) abstained. The motion carried.
This item was not presented.
1. MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA): Draft FFYs 2019–23 TIP Project List
2. Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA): Draft FFYs 2019–23 TIP Project List
3. MBTA Federal Capital Program: FFY 2018 TIP Amendment and FFY 2019–23 TIP (Federal Share Only)
4. MBTA Federal Capital Program, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Formula Funds: FFY 2018 TIP Amendment and FFY 2019–23 TIP, Project‐level Backup
5. MBTA Federal Capital Program, FTA Formula Funds: FFY 2018–23 TIP Project Descriptions
A. Kleyman presented the draft transit programming for MWRTA, CATA, and the MBTA.
Paul Regan (MBTA Advisory Board) asked whether MWRTA is in coordination with the MBTA on plans for acquiring fare collection equipment in FFY 2021, given that the MBTA is moving towards a cashless fare system. Joy Glynn (MWRTA) replied that MWRTA is in close communication with the MBTA via IT contractor Daniel Fitch.
P. Regan asked about the line item for “Procurement of Battery Electric 40 ft Buses and Related infrastructure,” listed in Table 2 under Section 5307 – Revenue Vehicle Program. E. Waaramaa replied that this is in essence a pilot program to test this specific battery electric technology.
E. Bourassa, Jim Fitzgerald (City of Boston) (Boston Planning & Development Agency) and Kenneth Miller (Federal Highway Administration) asked questions related to Green Line car procurement, Ruggles Station upgrades, and the number of trolley buses that the MBTA has. E. Waaramaa replied that he would follow up regarding these questions.
Rafael Mares (Conservation Law Foundation) asked how the procurement of new Silver Line buses will prolong the useful life of the fleet. E. Waaramaa replied that he would follow up with an answer.
This item was not presented at this meeting. D. Mohler reported that MassDOT has decided to program project #607249 (Intersection Improvements at Route 20 and Landham Road in Sudbury) in FFY 2019 with statewide funds.
1. DRAFT FFYs 2019–23 TIP: Regional Target Programming, Discussion Draft from 3/15/18 MPO Meeting with Staff Project Selections
After the board’s discussion of readiness and cost updates for currently programmed projects at the meeting on March 15, 2018, A. Kleyman created a new interim programming draft that solved some of the issues raised. The bottom line for the working draft, which A. Kleyman presented to the board, showed $7 million in deficit in FFY 2020, smaller deficits in FFYs 2021 and 2022, and $21.9 million available in FFY 2019. A. Kleyman included the following 12 new projects as recommendations for programming in FFY 2023:
· #607249 Intersection Improvements at Route 20 and Landham Road in Sudbury (Note: As stated under the previous item, this project will be programmed with statewide funding in FFY 2019, leaving more available MPO target funding in FFY 2023.)
· #607305 Intersection Signalization at Route 28 and Hopkins Street in Reading
· #608348 Rehabilitation of Bridge Street in Beverly
· #605743 Resurfacing and Related Work on Central and South Main Streets in Ipswich
· #608887 South Main Street (Route 126) – Douglas Drive to Mechanic Street Reconstruction (Route 140) in Bellingham
· #608707 Reconstruction of Sea Street in Quincy
· #608007 Corridor Improvements and Related Work on Justice Cushing Highway (Route 3A) from Beechwood Street to Henry Turner Bailey Road in Cohasset
· #607899 Pedestrian Improvements along Bussey Street in Dedham
· #608933 Rehabilitation of Central Street in Peabody
· #608275 Exchange Street Downtown Improvement Project in Malden
· #607244 Revere Street Roadway Improvements in Winthrop
· #603739 Construction of I-495/Route 1A ramps in Wrentham
At the last meeting, the board asked MassDOT to ascertain the readiness of currently programmed or not yet programmed projects for FFY 2019. John Bechard (MassDOT Highway Division) stated that the only project MassDOT would recommend programming in FFY 2019 is #608347 (Intersection Improvements at Three Locations in Beverly).
Dennis Giombetti (MetroWest Regional Collaborative) (City of Framingham), T. Sousa, and Tom Bent (Inner Core Committee) (City of Somerville) advocated for the inclusion of project #608275 (Exchange Street Downtown Improvement Project in Malden), which MassDOT had not recommended for programming in FFY 2019. Mayor Christenson reiterated the city’s position that the project can be ready in FFY 2019.
D. Mohler asked A. Kleyman to move project #608347 (Beverly) into FFY 2019. This would remove the deficit in FFY 2021 and leave $17.5 million available in FFY 2019. D. Mohler called for a vote on including #608275 (Malden) in FFY 2019 due to MassDOT’s opposition.
K. Miller reminded the board of the importance of following the federal Uniform Act to the letter during the right-of-way acquisition process.
D. Giombetti suggested flexing some funding in FFY 2019 from highway to transit in order to program MWRTA’s solar bus canopy project. J. Glynn stated that MWRTA is reviewing two bids for this project, estimated at $1.6 million and $2.3 million, respectively. There was some discussion about the bid process for this project.
D. Mohler asked A. Kleyman to apply the surplus funds in FFY 2020 to the Green Line Extension project in FFY 2019. This action would leave $2 million unprogrammed in FFY 2019, $1.2 million unprogrammed in FFY 2020, and a $1.65 million deficit in FFY 2022. D. Mohler suggested moving $1 million of Community Transit programming and project #608146 (Intersection Improvements to Pleasant Street at Village/Vine/Cross Streets in Marblehead) into FFY 2021. This action would create a $500,000 overage in FFY 2021, which could be taken out of the Green Line Extension in that year and moved in FFY 2019. This change would leave $1.6 million available in FFY 2019. And $6.8 million would be left in FFY 2023, if the MPO programs all the new projects suggested by staff in that annual element.
R. Mares noted that those changes would not leave enough funding for both the MWRTA’s and Malden’s projects, if the latter is made ready by FFY 2019.
The three projects that A. Kleyman did not suggest for programming in FFY 2023 that could use the remaining funding were #605168 (Summer Street/Rockland Street Roadway and Streetscape Improvements in Hingham), #608045 (Rehabilitation on Route 16 [East Main Street] from Route 109 to Beaver Street in Milford), and #608443 (Intersection Improvements on Route 2A at Willow Road and Bruce Street in Littleton and Ayer).
Richard Reed (Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination) (Town of Bedford) advocated for the inclusion of project #608443 (Littleton and Ayer) in FFY 2023. A. Kleyman stated that this project is the priority for MassDOT Highway District 3, among the two eligible projects in that district.
E. Bourassa noted that funding trends show that the Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination, where that project is located, has historically been well-funded as compared to other subregions.
MPO staff will incorporate all the changes discussed and voted on at this meeting into a draft TIP document. The board will vote to release the document for public review at the meeting on April 12, 2018.
A motion to program project #608275 (Malden) in FFY 2019 was made by the Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville) (T. Bent) and seconded by the MetroWest Regional Collaborative (City of Framingham) (D. Giombetti). The motion did not carry.
A motion to program project #608275 (Malden) in FFY 2020 was made by the MAPC (E. Bourassa) and seconded by the North Suburban Planning Council (City of Woburn) (T. Cassidy). The motion carried.
A motion to flex highway funding in FFY 2019 to transit to program MWRTA’s solar bus canopy project was made by the MetroWest Regional Collaborative (City of Framingham) (D. Giombetti) and seconded by the SouthWest Advisory Planning Committee (Town of Medway) (Glenn Trindade). After some discussion of the proposal, D. Giombetti withdrew the motion.
A motion to program project #608443 (Littleton and Ayer) in FFY 2023 was made by the Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (Town of Bedford) (R. Reed) and seconded by At-Large Town (Town of Lexington) (David Kucharsky). The Regional Transportation Advisory Council (A. Fragoso) abstained. The motion carried.
A motion to approve the staff recommended regional target programming for inclusion in a draft FFYs 2019-23 TIP, incorporating the aforementioned changes to the programming of projects #608275 (Malden) and #608443 (Littleton and Ayer), to be voted on at the meeting on April 12, 2018, was made by MassDOT Highway Division (J. Bechard) and seconded by the At-Large Town (Town of Lexington) (D. Kucharsky). The motion carried.
There were none.
A motion to adjourn was made by the SouthWest Advisory Planning Committee (Town of Medway) (G. Trindade) and seconded by At-Large City (City of Everett) (T. Sousa). The motion carried.
|
Members |
Representatives
and
Alternates |
|
At-Large City (City of Everett) |
Tony Sousa |
|
At-Large City (City of Newton) |
David Koses |
|
At-Large Town (Town of Arlington) |
Jennifer Raitt |
|
At-Large Town (Town of Lexington) |
Dave Kucharsky |
|
City of Boston (Boston Planning &
Development Agency) |
Jim Fitzgerald |
|
City of Boston (Boston Transportation
Department) |
Tom Kadzis |
|
Federal Highway Administration |
Kenneth Miller |
|
Federal Transit Administration |
|
|
Inner Core Committee (City of Somerville) |
Tom Bent |
|
Massachusetts Department of Transportation |
David Mohler |
|
MassDOT Highway Division |
John Bechard John Romano |
|
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
(MBTA) |
Eric Waaramaa |
|
Massachusetts Port Authority |
|
|
MBTA Advisory Board |
Paul Regan |
|
Metropolitan Area Planning Council |
Eric Bourassa |
|
MetroWest Regional Collaborative (City 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 |
AnaCristina Fragoso |
|
South Shore Coalition (Town of Braintree) |
|
|
South West Advisory Planning Committee
(Town of Medway) |
Glenn Trindade |
|
Three Rivers Interlocal Council (Town of
Norwood/Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce) |
|
Other Attendees |
Affiliation |
|
Michael Soter Jim Kupfer Larry Sposato Roger Fernandes William Paulitz Roland Bartl Dan Nason Anu Gerweck Vince Inglese Joy Glynn Constance Raphael Janie Dretler Felicia Webb Paul Talbot Mayor Gary Christenson Deborah Burke Councillor Ryan
O’Malley Patrick Tierney Kasia Hart Bryan Pounds Richard P. Merson |
Town of Bellingham Town of Bellingham Bellingham resident Town of Hingham City of Peabody Town of Acton Town of Sudbury Wakefield Resident Friends of the Lynnfield Rail Trail MWRTA MassDOT Highway District 4 Sudbury resident CATA CATA City of Malden Malden Redevelopment Authority Malden City Council Michael Baker International MAPC MassDOT Needham DPW |
|
MPO
Staff/Central Transportation Planning Staff |
|
Karl Quackenbush, Executive Director |
|
Mark Abbott Lourenço Dantas Annette Demchur |
|
Betsy Harvey Sandy Johnston Ali Kleyman Bill Kuttner |
|
Scott Peterson |
|
Jen Rowe |
|
Michelle Scott |