Performance-based Planning and Programming—Congestion Reduction and Air Quality Targets

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The Boston Region MPO envisions an equitable, pollution-free, and modern regional transportation system that gets people to their destinations safely, easily, and reliably, and that supports an inclusive, resilient, healthy, and economically vibrant Boston region.

-Destination 2050 Vision 

On October 20, 2022, the MPO board voted to adopt a set of updated performance targets pertaining to the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program. These include targets related to non-single-occupancy travel, person-hours of excessive delay, and emissions reductions from CMAQ-funded projects. These targets reflect two-year and four-year time horizons. For more information on CMAQ measures, targets set in 2022, and related processes consult: CMAQ Program Performance Targets-2022.

A Mid-Performance Period Report outlining the progress towards the CMAQ targets was published in 2024. For more information consult the CMAQ Mid-Performance Period Report, October 2024 (PDF) CMAQ Mid-Performance Period Report, October 2024(HTML).

Baseline Value and Targets for Annual Hours of Peak-Hour Excessive Delay Per Capita in the Boston Urbanized Area (UZA)

Geographic Area

2021 Measure Value 
(Baseline)

Two-Year Target 
(CY 2023)

Four-Year Target 
(CY 2025)

Boston UZA

18.0

24.0

22.0

CY = calendar year. UZA = urbanized area.
Sources: National Performance Management Research Data Set, US Census Bureau, Federal Highway Administration, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, New Hampshire Department of Transportation, Cambridge Systematics, and the Boston Region MPO staff.
Note: Performance Targets were developed based on 2010 Census UZA Boundaries. The UZA Boundaries were updated during the 2020 Census.

Performance Values and Targets for the Percent of Non-SOV Travel in the Boston UZA

Geographic Area

Baseline Value 
(CYs 2016–20 average)

Two-Year Target 
(CYs 2019–23 average)

Projected Two-Year Target 
(CYs 2021–25 average)

Boston UZA

36.9%

38.8%

39.8%

Note: Values in this table reflect five-year rolling averages for the percent of non-SOV travel to work.
CY = calendar year. Non-SOV = non-single-occupancy vehicle. UZA = urbanized area.