Draft Memorandum for the Record

Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
Meeting Minutes

June 4, 2026, Meeting Minutes

10:00 AM–11:20, Zoom Video Conferencing Platform

David Mohler, Chair, representing Phillip Eng, Interim Secretary of Transportation and Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)

Decisions

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) agreed to the following:

• Approve the minutes of the meeting of May 7, 2026
• Endorse the Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 2027–31 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
• Waive the public comment period and endorse the FFYs 2026–30 TIP Amendment Six

Meeting Agenda

1. Introductions

See attendance below.

2. Chair’s Report

There was none.

3. Executive Director’s Report—Tegin Teich, Executive Director, Central Transportation Planning Staff

T. Teich announced the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Scenario Planning Workshop June 16, 1:00 PM, at 10 Park Plaza, Conference Room One.

T. Teich said that she presented at a Transportation for Massachusetts Champions Institute event on the role that the MPO plays in advancing Complete Streets projects. She also said that staff will be leading a walk audit with WalkMass around Revere Middle School to pilot heat relief interventions. She then shared the upcoming agenda.

4. Public Comments

There were none.

5. Committee Chairs’ Reports

Sam Taylor, MassDOT, said that the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) committee would be meeting June 11, 2026.

6. Community Advisory Council Report—Caitlin Allen-Connelly, Chair, Community Advisory Council

C. Allen-Connelly said she appreciated MPO staff’s work on engaging with the Community Advisory Council.

7. Action Item: Approval of May 7, 2026, MPO Meeting Minutes

Documents posted to the MPO meeting calendar

1. May 7, 2026, Minutes (pdf) (html)

Vote

A motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of May 7, 2026, was made by Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) (Eric Bourassa) and seconded by the Town of Lexington (Meghan Roche). The motion carried.

8. Action Item: FFYs 2027–31 TIP—Ethan Lapointe, MPO Staff

Documents posted to the MPO meeting calendar

1. FFYs 2027–31 TIP (pdf) (html)
2. FFYs 2027–31 TIP Change Tracker (pdf) (html)
3. FFYs 2027–31 TIP Public Comments (pdf) (html)
4. FFYs 2027–31 TIP Public Comments Table (pdf) (html)

E. Lapointe summarized the materials posted, the changes to the TIP, and public comments and engagement. There were only two changes to the program of projects, a corrected funding source in the statewide highway program and a revised matching funding in the transit program. There were also minor clarifications and corrections throughout. The public comments were focused on requesting an additional $6,250,000 for the Blandin Hub vehicle maintenance and fueling facility project.

E. Lapointe requested that the board vote to endorse the FFYs 2027–31 TIP.

Discussion

Jim Nee, MetroWest Regional Transportation Authority (MWRTA), shared his appreciation for the Blandin Hub public comments and requested that the board look into amending the TIP at a later date. D. Mohler agreed.

Dennis Giombetti, City of Framingham, thanked the chair for considering J. Nee’s request.

Brad Rawson, City of Somerville, thanked the board for its work and requested that it continue through the summer in the TIP Process Engagement and Readiness Committee working to improve the TIP process for next year.

Vote

A motion to endorse the FFYs 2027–31 TIP was made by MAPC (E. Bourassa) and seconded by the Town of Arlington (Lenard Diggins). The motion carried.

9. Action Item: FFYs 2026–30 TIP Amendment Six—Ethan Lapointe, MPO Staff

Documents posted to the MPO meeting calendar

1. Amendment Six (pdf) (html)

E. Lapointe summarized Amendment Six, which includes the programming of a federal earmark and Statewide Highway funds to support the reconstruction of Allen Street in Braintree and the flex of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Ferry Boat Program funds to the MBTA for its Catamaran Ferry Overhaul. Staff are requesting a waived public comment period due to emergency circumstances as both changes use federal funds that will expire unless they are obligated before the end of FFY 2026.

Vote

A motion to waive the public comment period and endorse the FFYs 2026–30 TIP Amendment Six, was made by MAPC (E. Bourassa) and seconded by the MWRTA (J. Nee). The motion carried.

10. Introduction to the Federal Certification Review—Anthony Jones, FHWA

A. Jones explained the certification review process that began on May 8. The certification review is federally required for Transportation Management Areas and is a joint FHWA and Federal Transit Agency review of the MPO planning process. They assess compliance, identify best practices, and recommend improvements. He emphasized it is not a “pass/fail” audit, but certification is required for continued funding eligibility. He explained the five major phases, which are scoping, desk review/pre-site analysis, site visit and public engagement, findings development, and final report and certification determination. He finished by summarizing the timeline of next steps.

Discussion

Jen Rowe, City of Boston, noted that Labor Day was during the month of the board engagement. A. Jones responded they are considering a mid-September date.

11. Introduction to Long-Range Transportation Planning (LRTP) Scenario Planning—Erin Maguire, MPO Staff

E. Maguire shared the goal of the presentation, which was context setting before the workshop on Tuesday, June 16, 1:00–2:30 PM. Staff are hoping to explore strategies that help influence mode shift within the region. She defined scenario planning as a process to explore the impacts of future conditions, policies, and plans and emphasized that approaches vary by MPO. Marty Milkovits, MPO Staff, shared an overview of the Travel Demand Model and described model inputs. He then explained how board engagement will connect to scenario planning and modeling using the Travel Demand Model. Finally, E. Maguire previewed workshop questions.

Discussion

C. Allen-Connelly asked how the MPO and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) long-term transportation plans connect. Sandy Johnston, MBTA, shared that both staffs are in active dialogue through plan development.

John Strauss, Town of Burlington, asked what an uncertainty test was. E. Maguire responded that it is changing a model input and observing the outcome.

J. Rowe asked about capacity at the workshop. E. Maguire responded they should try to keep the invitation of municipal staff to those most related to the MPO, but it would be a good opportunity for engaging conversations with a broad public.

12. Members’ Items

L. Diggins asked about how unobligated funds work, which D. Mohler explained.

13. Adjourn

A motion to adjourn was made by MAPC (E. Bourassa) and seconded by the Town of Arlington (L. Diggins). The motion carried.

Attendance

Civil Rights Notice to the Public

Welcome. Bem Vinda. Bienvenido. Akeyi. 欢迎. 歡迎

You are invited to participate in our transportation planning process, free from discrimination. The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is committed to nondiscrimination in all activities and complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency). Related federal and state nondiscrimination laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, sex, disability, and additional protected characteristics.

For additional information or to file a civil rights complaint, visit www.bostonmpo.org/mpo_non_discrimination.

To request this information in a different language or format, please contact:

Boston Region MPO Title VI Specialist
10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 857.702.3700
Email: civilrights@ctps.org

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