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

March 19, 2026, Meeting

10:00 AM–1:15 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 Transit Asset Management Performance Targets for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026
• Release the Federal Fiscal Years (FFYs) 2026–30 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Amendment Three for a 21-day public comment
• Release the Critical Urban Freight Corridor Update for a 21-day public comment period
  
  

Meeting Agenda

1. Introductions

See attendance below.

2. Chair’s Report—David Mohler, MassDOT

D. Mohler stated that the Request for Responses (RFR) has been released for the Route 135, Route 126, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Grade Separation Project in Framingham. The project is on the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and funded partially with MPO funds.

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

T. Teich shared staffing updates, grants and funding updates, previewed the agenda, and reminded attendees of the next meeting being in person.

4. Public Comments  

Documents posted to the MPO meeting calendar

1. Cambridge Street Bridge Letter (pdf) (html)
2. Swampscott Rail Trail Letter (pdf) (html)

David Grishman, Swampscott Select Board, spoke in support of the Swampscott Rail Trail’s inclusion in the TIP as did Marzie Galazka, Director of the Office of Community and Economic Development for the Town of Swampscott, and Alexis Runstadler, Friends of the Swampscott Rail Trail. Jennifer Armini, Town of Swampscott Representative, said that Transportation Chairman Brendan Crichton is also in support of the project. Dustin Kerksieck, Senior Civil Engineer at STV, provided an update on the project status.

Tom Palleria, Town of Swampscott resident, advocated for the removal of the project until it meets the TIP project readiness criteria.

Brad Rawson, City of Somerville, advocated for empathy and respect as a foundation for discussion, and advised documenting the process to improve it next year.

Aaron Clausen, Lynn Principal Planner, advocated for the Essex Street Reconstruction Project and Western Avenue Reconstruction.

Darlene Wynne, Town of Beverly, advocated for the Swampscott Rail Trail on behalf of Mayor Cahill.

Ali Rheaume, Franklin Commission on Disability, suggested that there be accessibility improvements on single light stoplights.

Joe Fleury, City of Boston, advocated for programming the Cambridge Street Bridge Project in FFY 2028.

T. Teich thanked attendees for their participation and said that updated information can be found by emailing tip@ctps.org.

5. Committee Chairs’ Reports

Lydia Hausle, City of Boston, stated that the TIP Process, Engagement, and Readiness Committee met on March 12 and discussed project cost and readiness updates, contingency cost implications, and funding challenges in later years of the TIP.

6. Community Advisory Council Report—Will Palmer, Chair, Community Advisory Council

W. Palmer stated that the Community Advisory Council hosted presentations from a variety of groups that provided a localized look at active transportation and community-based development.

7. Action Item: Transit Asset Management Performance Targets—Adriana Jacobsen, MPO Staff

Documents posted to the MPO meeting calendar

3. Transit Asset Management Memo (pdf) (html)

A. Jacobsen, provided an overview of how the transit asset management performance requirements fit into the MPO’s performance-based planning and programming program, and presented the Cape Ann Transportation Authority’s (CATA) and MetroWest Regional Transit Authority’s (MWRTA) targets. She was joined by Angela Servello-Jones, Deputy Director of Asset Planning at the MBTA, who presented the MBTA’s targets.

Discussion

Lenard Diggins, Town of Arlington, stated that there should be more coordination between MassDOT and other entities to ensure programs are in a state of good repair.

Vote

A motion to support the staff-recommended set of FY 2026 Transit Asset Management Targets, was made by the Town of Arlington (L. Diggins) and seconded by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) (Eric Bourassa). The motion carried.

8. Action Item: FFYs 2026–30 TIP Amendment Three—Adriana Jacobsen, MPO Staff

Documents posted to the MPO meeting calendar

4. TIP Amendment Three (pdf) (html)
5. TIP Amendment Three Board Edit (pdf) (html)

A. Jacobsen summarized Amendment Three which covers FFY 2026. It includes a newly programmed federal design earmark, State Highway Program project cost increases, three cost increases on Regional Target projects in final design stages, three requests for additional design funding through the Regional Target program, four delays of Regional Target projects out of FFY 2026, and requests for funding for fill-in projects.

Discussion

E. Bourassa clarified that none of the funds for the proposed Bluebikes fill-in project go to MAPC, rather the funds are passed through MAPC to municipalities.

D. Mohler stated that MassDOT and the MBTA are confident they can deliver the Belmont Community Path project in FFY 2026 (which it is proposed for removal). Sandy Johnston, MBTA, agreed that the Symphony Station project can be deferred to FFY 2027 to make space to program advanced construction funding for the Belmont Community Path project in FFY 2026.

Michael O’Dowd, MassDOT, clarified that the cost increase for the Belmont Community Path project is relevant to underpass construction under the Fitchburg commuter rail line that is essential for cross-connectivity and that the cost of shuttles due to diversions on the rail line would not be part of the construction cost.

Vote

A motion to release the FFYs 2026-30 TIP Amendment Three for a 21-day public comment period with board edits, was made by MAPC (E. Bourassa) and seconded by MassDOT (M. O’Dowd). The motion carried.

9. FFYs 2027–31 TIP Development Stage 2—Ethan Lapointe, MPO Staff

Documents posted to the MPO meeting calendar

6. TIP Program (pdf) (html)
7. TIP Program Initial and Increases (pdf) (html)
8. TIP Project Descriptions (pdf) (html)

E. Lapointe summarized the materials posted and a public comment regarding the Swampscott Rail Trail. He then presented statewide projects to consider for regional prioritization. He also presented project cost and readiness changes, and information about how these changes would affect fiscal constraint before and after incorporating changes.

Discussion

D. Mohler noted that the City of Boston and MassDOT believe the Cambridge Street Bridge Project should be programmed in FFY 2028. A. Jacobsen clarified the fiscal constraint impacts of this move and of potentially programming the Swampscott Rail Trail project in FFY 2029.

L. Diggins asked if contingency cost estimates remained stable from 25 to 75 percent design. E. Lapointe responded that he would look into this.

S. Johnston asked for confirmation on the Symphony Station project’s inclusion in FFY 2027.  D. Mohler confirmed that this project would be voted on at a later time.

Tom Bent, City of Somerville, stated his frustration with Swampscott’s project readiness and requested more information on the cost increase.

Darlene Wynne, City of Beverly, stated her support for the inclusion of the Swampscott Rail Trail project for FFY 2029.

Dennis Giombetti, MetroWest Regional Collaborative (City of Framingham), stated that the MPO should get regular updates on projects that receive a policy exemption.

D. Mohler stated his desire for reevaluating the MPO’s cost increase policy.

T. Bent stated that he would like to reexamine the issue of cost increases and how the board wishes to deal with them in the future.

L. Diggins asked for clarification about where cost increases are coming from.

Meghan Roche, Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (Town of Lexington), asked if it was standard for MPO funds to not cover the costs of transit diversions. D. Mohler responded that this is the case.

Richard Benevento stated he would like the MPO to examine price increases beyond inflation in determining future project costs.

D. Giombetti requested a slide regarding regional equity of projects at the next meeting.

Votes

A motion to program the Cambridge Street Bridge Project in FFY 2028, was made by the City of Boston (Lydia Hausle) and seconded by MassDOT (M. O’Dowd). The motion carried.

A motion to keep the Swampscott Rail Trail Project in FFY 2029, was made by MassDOT (M. O’Dowd) and seconded by the City of Beverly (D. Wynne). The motion carried. The Town of Arlington and the Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (Town of Lexington) abstained.

A motion to approve the cost increases as presented, was made by MAPC (E. Bourassa) and seconded by the Town of Arlington (L. Diggins). The motion carried.

10. Action Item: An Update to the Critical Urban Freight Corridor—Shravanthi Gopalan Narayanan, MPO Staff

Documents posted to the MPO meeting calendar

9. Critical Urban Freight Corridor Memo (pdf) (html)

S. Gopalan Narayanan defined the National Highway Freight Network, which includes the Interstate system and critical freight corridors. Critical freight corridors are eligible for funding under the National Highway Freight Program. She then shared MassDOT’s proposed critical freight corridors.

Discussion

L. Diggins asked about funding related to the corridors. D. Mohler clarified that they are eligible for highway freight funding.

S. Johnston asked if the designation had any effects beyond funding eligibility. S. Gopalan Narayanan replied no.

Sarah Lee, Massachusetts Port Authority, shared her appreciation for S. Gopalan Narayanan’s work.

Vote

A motion to release the recommended Critical Urban Freight Corridors list for a 21-day public comment period was made by MAPC (E. Bourassa) and seconded by the Massachusetts Port Authority (S. Lee). The motion carried.

11. Public Engagement Plan Update—Sean Rourke, MPO Staff

S. Rourke summarized the MPO’s public engagement plan, which guides public engagement policies, strategies, and practices across all MPO work, defines processes for reaching interested stakeholders, including underserved populations, and ensures compliance with federal engagement and civil rights statutes and regulations.

The update focused on the inclusion of the newly established Community Advisory Council, engagement data collection and reporting, public review periods, virtual engagement and remote meetings, and program descriptions and workflows.

Discussion

W. Palmer shared his appreciation for the positive update.

12. Members’ Items

S. Johnston announced that the MBTA has started the public engagement process for the next iteration of its mass transportation program, Focus 2050.

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