Draft Memorandum for the Record
Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
Meeting Minutes

April 6, 2026, Meeting

10:00 AM–12:25 PM, 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 March 5, 2026, meeting
• Approve a final programming scenario for the Federal Fiscal Years (FFYs) 2027–31 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
  

Meeting Agenda

1. Introductions

See attendance below.

2. Chair’s Report—David Mohler, MassDOT

There was none.

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

T. Teich summarized the agenda and said that the next meeting would be on April 16 at 10:00 AM. The meeting will be virtual on Zoom.

4.Public Comments  

Jim Tarr, Ali Durak, Marianne Cohen, Jonah Shirenza, and Noah Tuke from the City of Malden spoke in support of the Broadway Reconstruction project’s placement on the FFYs 2027–31 TIP.

5.Committee Chairs’ Reports

Tom Bent, City of Somerville, shared updates from the TIP Process, Engagement, and Readiness Committee held on March 26 where staff provided updates on project cost changes and an updated picture of the funding balance of the Regional Target Program.

6. Community Advisory Council Report—Karl Alexander, Vice Chair, Community Advisory Council

Karl Alexander said that the Community Advisory Council welcomed new staff at the Advisory Council’s last meeting and discussed pending updates to the MPO’s Public Engagement Plan.

7. Action Item: Approval of March 5, 2026, Meeting Minutes

Documents posted to the MPO meeting calendar
1. March 5, 2026, Minutes (pdf) (html)

Vote

A motion to approve the minutes of the March 5, 2026, meeting was made by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) (Eric Bourassa) and seconded by the MetroWest Regional Collaborative (City of Framingham) (Dennis Giombetti). The motion carried.

8. Action Item: FFYs 2027–31 TIP Development Stage 3—Ethan Lapointe, MPO Staff

Documents posted to the MPO meeting calendar

1. March 19 TIP Program Draft (pdf) (html)
2. TIP Project Descriptions (pdf) (html)
3. TIP Public Comments (pdf) (html)
4. New Project Scores (pdf) (html)
5. Rescored Project Scores (pdf) (html)
6. Transit Candidate Bundles (pdf)

E. Lapointe provided an update on TIP program fiscal constraint, discussed the objective for the presentation and materials posted, reviewed fill-in projects, and discussed next steps. He requested that the board identify any other scored projects for inclusion in the Draft FFYs 2027–31 TIP Regional Target Program and move to adopt a final program of projects.

Discussion

Jay Monty, City of Everett, asked if there was a different scoring method for Transit Transformation projects. E. Lapointe responded that there is a separate set of criteria than the criteria for Complete Streets projects. J. Monty also asked for clarification on locomotive procurement. Sandy Johnston, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), replied that the MBTA would help establish a reliability baseline as well as make progress toward the goal of regional rail transformation, specifically through the battery-electric locomotive procurement.

L. Diggins advocated for the Regional Mix V3 bundle of projects and asked about the scalability of the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority’s (MWRTA) vehicle maintenance and fueling facility project. Jim Nee, MWRTA, said that the project could be scaled down to a cost of $25 million.

D. Mohler stated his concern about funding availability in FFY 2032 and asked about the scalability of the MBTA Locomotive Procurement project. S. Johnston said that the project is part of a larger funding pool, so any amount of MPO funds would be useful.

Vote

A motion to include the Regional Mix V3 Bundle of Projects with $3 million removed from MBTA Bus Priority and Accessibility Improvements in FFY 2027 and $5 million added to the MWRTA Construction of Vehicle Maintenance and Fueling Facility was made by MAPC (E. Bourassa) and seconded by the MetroWest Regional Collaborative (City of Framingham) (D. Giombetti). The motion carried. The following member abstained: North Shore Task Force (City of Beverly) (Darlene Wynne).

9. MBTA Capital Investment Plan (CIP)—Josh Klingenstein and Mike Malia, MBTA

Mike Malia presented the MBTA’s CIP which is driven by three objectives: regular maintenance, building for the future, and improving service for riders. He discussed the development timeline and how the CIP fits into the TIP, and provided a funding overview.

Discussion

D. Giombetti asked if the MBTA has decided between battery-electric and diesel for locomotive procurement. M. Malia clarified that the MBTA will procure both to balance the need to provide reliable service while working toward electrification to help with decarbonization efforts. The MBTA is targeting the Providence Line specifically for battery-electric locomotives due to the existing Amtrak caternary on the Northeast Corridor.

J. Nee asked about the MBTA’s in-house CNG midlife overhaul and if any cost savings have been found. M. Malia responded that the MBTA is now able to fund its full program for overhauling CNG vehicles for a third of the price of outsourcing.

E. Bourassa asked if there was a climate resilience program in the CIP. M. Malia clarified there are climate resilience projects throughout the program. The MBTA will be reporting on progress toward bus electrification and decarbonization in compliance with legislation.

L. Diggins asked about the possibility of a public-private partnership between the MBTA and other regional transit authorities (RTAs) for CNG overhauls. M. Malia shared that the MBTA general manager is eager to build capacity to not only support the MBTA fleet but also RTAs.

J. Monty asked if in-house services are funded with operating or capital funds. M. Malia clarified that these items are capital funded.

Hannah Switlekowski (MBTA Advisory Board) expressed appreciation for the CIP presentations and conversations and noted that the MBTA Advisory Board looks forward to continued partnerships.

Lydia Huasle, City of Boston, applauded the MBTA’s continued commitment to decarbonization and stated that the City is looking forward to more opportunities to collaborate on resilience work.

10. Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Update—Erin Maguire, MPO Staff

E. Maguire shared background information on the LRTP and summarized the previously endorsed plan, Destination 2050. She then provided an estimated timeline of the upcoming LRTP and previewed topics that will be brought to the board.

Discussion

L. Diggins asked if there were plans to update or review project evaluation criteria. E. Maguire confirmed that staff plans to review the criteria.

11. Members’ Items

S. Johnston reported that the MBTA is currently in a public engagement phase of its long-range plan and has a public meeting at La Colaborativa in Chelsea the following Wednesday.

L. Hausle introduced herself as a new representative for the City of Boston on the MPO board and thanked Tom Bent for stepping in for Jen Rowe and chairing the TIP Process, Engagement, and Readiness Committee.

12. Adjourn

A motion to adjourn was made by MAPC (E. Bourassa) and seconded by the MBTA Advisory Board (H. Switlekowski). The motion carried.

Attendance