OCTOBER 1999 TRANSREPORT TRANSPORTATION NEWS FROM THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION

MBTA Institutes New Sunrise Airport Bus Service Enhanced Auto Emissions and Safety Test to Begin October 1 The Bay Transportation At Dudley, passengers can connect to the Authority has unveiled its new Sunrise airport bus from routes #15 and #28, Massachusetts is adding a new, enhanced airport bus service. Four bus routes, the which also have earlier start times. With emissions inspection test to the current CT3, 15, 28, and 117, now provide early departure times from and Ash- safety test beginning October 1, 1999. morning service focused on getting Logan mont stations at 3:30 A.M., these two Generally, vehicles will be tested for emis- Airport employees and passengers to routes are now the earliest service pro- sions every other year based on model year and from the airport. The vided in the MBTA system. In and will continue to be tested for safety CT3 route, which was addition, the #117 bus from Won- annually. Motorists will be able to choose extended from Andrew derland Station to downtown now which inspection station they use as long Station on the Red Line begins service at 4:00 A.M. and as the station is licensed. The cost of the to Logan at the end of last makes a connection to the Eastie test is among the lowest in the nation for year, will now begin leav- Express bus to Logan at Maverick this type of program. The Enhanced Emis- ing Andrew at 4:15 A.M. Square. For more information on sions and Safety Test will cost $29 annu- The CT3, which normally these and other MBTA bus routes, ally. travels to Andrew and visit the MBTA Web site at There are several places to go for informa- Logan via Ruggles Station www.mbta.com. tion on the program, including the official and the Longwood Medical enhanced emissions and safety inspection Area, now originates at Dudley Station stations, the program’s Web site until 6:45 A.M., its previous starting time. (http://vehicletest.state.ma.us), the cus- TIP and UPWP Endorsed by Boston MPO tomer hotline (toll-free [877] 387-8234), and any Registry of Motor Vehicle branch At its September 8 meeting, the Boston ing was attendied by representatives from or DEP regional office. Metropolitan Planning Organization for- each of the seventeen MPO members. This is a high–tech test for today’s mally endorsed the fiscal year 2000 Uni- These two certification documents are which measures the pollution a emits fied Planning Work Program and fiscal now under federal review by FHWA and • continued on page 3 years 2000–2005 Transportation Improve- FTA. Both documents will become active ment Program for the Boston region. It as of the start of the federal fiscal year, also endorsed the 1999 Redetermination October 1, 1999. of Air Quality Conformity for the INSIDE THIS ISSUE Regional Transportation Plan. The meet- MPO activities update ...... 2 Route 3 South Environmental . . . . . 2 Water Transportation Forum ...... 2 Gloucester Harbor Master Plan . . . . 3 High Speed Rail Update ...... 3 Update on FAST LANE ...... 3 Artery Surface Restoration ...... 4 MPO Executive Secretary Luisa Paiewonsky, EOTC Deputy Secretary Julian Regan, MassHighway Meeting Calendar ...... 4 Commissioner Matthew J. Amorello

The members of the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO): Executive Office of Transportation and Construction • City of Boston • City of Everett • City of New- ton • City of Peabody • Federal Highway Administration • Federal Transit Administration • Joint Regional Transportation Committee • Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority • Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Advisory Board • Massachusetts Highway Department • Massachusetts Port Authority • Authority • Metropolitan Area Planning Council • Town of Bedford • Town of Framingham • Town of Hopkinton BOSTON METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES UPDATE

SSC UPDATE AACT UPDATE On August 26 the Sub-Signatory Com- FRACAS Chair Needed mittee of the Boston MPO met and rec- The Fixed-Route Access Committee ommended MPO endorsement of the fis- (FRACAS) of the Access Advisory Com- cal year 2000 Unified Planning Work Pro- mittee to the MBTA (AACT) is looking JRTC UPDATE gram and the fiscal years 2000–2005 for a new chair of the committee. The On September 8 the Joint Regional Transportation Improvement Program for person must have knowledge of the Amer- Transportation Committee voted to the Boston region. The SSC also icans with Disabilities Act and attend reg- accept its nominating committee’s recom- approved work scopes for five planning ular and specially scheduled meetings. mendations for the new fiscal year’s elec- efforts: Experience chairing meetings is preferred. tion. The committee selected Alan • MassHighway Park-and-Ride Lot For more information, write to AACT, McClennen, representative for the town Study Ben Haynes, 10 Park Plaza, Room 2150, of Arlington, as the nominee for JRTC Boston, MA 02116. chair. Also nominated was the city of • Traffic Volume Forecasts for South Cambridge’s representative, Bill Deignan, Weymouth Access Study for the position of JRTC vice-chair. The • Fiscal Year 2000 Section 15 Passenger- Forum on Future of Water elections for the fiscal year 2000 term will Mile Estimates Transportation in Boston be held at the October JRTC meeting. • SouthWest Advisory Planning A forum on the future of water transporta- The September meeting also featured a (SWAP) Subregional Area Trans- tion in will be held on presentation on the Welfare-to-Work pro- portation Study November 9 at the World Trade Center. gram by Mick Foster, the director of • Transportation/Land-Use Aspects of The sponsors of the event are the Boston TransAccess. The presentation centered the Regional Growth Plan Municipal Research Bureau, the Massa- chusetts branch of the American Plan- on the transportation challenges faced by For more information on these work people moving into the workforce from ning Association, and the Seaport Trans- scopes, contact Craig Leiner at (617) 973- portation Management Association. welfare, and what TransAccess and other 7097 or [email protected]. organizations are doing to facilitate these The forum will be in two parts: a two- On September 23 the SSC approved a fis- moves. The next JRTC meeting will be hour plenary session followed by a two- cal year 1999 TIP adjustment to satisfy the on October 13 at 3:00 P.M. at the State hour workshop at sea. The plenary session state’s commitment to a $40 million Transportation Building. will explore the universe of transportation “local” road program. For more informa- tion on this, contact David Mohler at (617) 973-7144 or [email protected].

Route 3 South Environmental Review Process to Begin The Massachusetts Environmental Protec- The outline scope for the new EIR calls tion Act office has finished receiving writ- for an examination of a number of alter- ten comments on the outline scope of natives, including a no-build alternative, and water-related issues in Boston Harbor. work for a new environmental impact the addition of two HOV lanes in the The workshop will look at issues related report (EIR) for the Route 3 South Trans- median between exits 16 and 11, the to enhancing and expanding water trans- portation Improvements Project. The Sec- addition of two general-purpose travel portation within the harbor. The empha- retary’s Certificate with the full scope of lanes in the median between exits 16 sis will be on infrastructure, intermodal the EIR will be issued on October 8. and 11, and transportation demand connections, and marketing of water- related services. The Route 3 South project is an attempt management (TDM) alternatives with to relieve congestion and improve inter- and without the addition of general-pur- The cost for the program is $30. For more changes along the portion of that highway pose and HOV lanes. Other compo- information contact Bruce Masi at (617) between Weymouth and Duxbury. The nents of the scope include wetlands pro- 451-0044 ext. 111. interchanges to be improved are the ramps tection, growth planning, and agricul- at Route 53 in Hanover, Route 139 in tural preservation. Pembroke, and Route 228 in Rockland.

TRANSREPORT 2OCTOBER 1999 Enhanced Auto Emissions and Safety Test (continued from page 1) High-Speed Rail News tection Agency, and it is one of the most In early September, announced effective ways to reduce air pollution. that the debut of the high-speed Massachusetts is one of 28 states to imple- service will be delayed from its original as it is driven down the road, instead of ment an enhanced emissions program in December 1999 target date. Due to the when it is standing still as in the current recent years. need for additional testing by the manu- facturing consortium of Bombardier and test. The Enhanced Emissions and Safety Test ALSTOM, the new high-speed trainsets The new test will put the car on a tread- will result in a 25 percent reduction in the will not be delivered to Amtrak until the mill-type device called a dynamometer, smog-causing pollution emitted from cars, which will collect and analyze the emis- trucks and buses, approximately 120 tons sions under simulated driving conditions. per day. Also, for the first time the test will meas- The standards for each car will be based ure emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), on the model year of the car and the emis- not only the hydrocarbons (HC) and car- sions standards it was originally designed spring of 2000. This delivery date could be bon monoxide (CO) measured by the cur- to meet, with a comfortable margin built altered when a final date for launching the rent test. Both HC and NOx are key in to allow for wear and tear. For example, service is announced in December. ingredients in the formation of ground- a 1987 car must meet 1987 emissions stan- The principal cause for the manufacturers’ level ozone, or smog. dards; a 1997 car must meet 1997 emis- request for more testing time was excessive Specially trained repair technicians will be sions standards. wheel wear that occurred during tests. able to use the test equipment as a diag- Under the new program, model year 1983 The trainsets are one of three components nostic tool to pinpoint the cause of excess and older vehicles will not require an that together will enable Amtrak’s new emissions, resulting in more effective emissions inspection, and new cars—based Acela service to travel from Boston to repairs and greater pollution reductions on the original date of purchase—will not in three hours. The other than under the current test. undergo the emissions test for their first two—upgrading the ’s For the first time, all trucks and buses reg- two years. infrastructure and the electrification of the istered in Massachusetts will be periodi- Information will be available in mid-Sep- New Haven–to–Boston portion of the cor- cally tested for excess smoke. tember at http://vehicletest.state.ma.us ridor—are on schedule and should reduce The enhanced emissions test was man- and on the toll-free customer hotline at Boston–New York trip times to under four dated by the federal Environmental Pro- (877) 387-8234. hours by January.

Update on MassPike FAST LANE Changes and Usage Effective August 31, the Massachusetts dropped from $50 to $20. Those who have 138,882 transactions. Currently, about 25 Turnpike Authority reduced the cost of paid the $50 deposit will receive $30 back percent of all toll transactions are opening a FAST LANE account from $50 via check or as a charge credit. Those who recorded in the FAST LANE. to $20, while the cost of the transponder have prepaid toll balances in excess of $20 The usage of FAST LANE is heaviest at stays the same, $27.50. In effect, the cost will see those balances drop to $10 and the -Brighton tolls, where in of joining the pro- then have their accounts replenished back excess of 40 percent of all toll transactions gram is now up to $20. For those who use the Bank- during peak commuter hours are now $47.50, rather Boston checking account payment option, recorded in the FAST LANE. As a result, than $77.50. there is no change. For more information, the Turnpike Authority will shortly begin FAST LANE is call 1-877-MASSPIKE. to remove the toll booths surrounding the MassPike’s elec- On June 30, the first day FAST LANE FAST LANEs at this location (two FAST tronic toll-collection system, which elimi- was in operation over the entirety of the LANEs are at the far right of this plaza on nates the need for its users to stop at toll turnpike, 111,649 vehicles had transpon- both the eastbound and westbound sides). booths. ders. As of September 15, 232,693 vehi- “FAST LANE not only provides customer For individuals who use a credit card to cles were equipped to use FAST LANE, convenience, but by using intelligent postpay their tolls, the security deposit for an increase of 107%. technology we can reduce emissions, a FAST LANE account has dropped from The number of FAST LANE toll transac- improve fuel economy and enhance safety $50 to $20. And for individuals who pre- tions has risen dramatically as well. On for our patrons,” said MassPike Chairman pay their tolls either by credit card or by July 1, there were 70,541 FAST LANE James J. Kerasiotes. check, the required opening balance has transactions. On September 9, there were

TRANSREPORT 3OCTOBER 1999 Central Artery Corridor Surface MEETING CALENDAR Restoration Discussion The public is welcome to attend the following meetings on transportation-related issues in October 1999. The Central Artery Environmental Over-

BOSTON MPO LOCAL TIP SUBCOMMITTEE sight Committee (EOC) will hold a panel

Tuesday, October 5, at 10:00 A.M. discussion on October 6 about the restora- Newton City Hall, 2nd Floor tion of land along the surface of the Cen- Call MAPC at (617) 451-2770 for more information. tral Artery corridor. The panel members include Turnpike Chairman James J. Kera- CENTRAL ARTERY SURFACE RESTORATION PANEL DISCUSSION siotes, City of Boston Chief of Staff James Wednesday, October 6, at 11:00 A.M. Rooney, House Chair of the Joint Trans- Presented by the Central Artery Environmental Oversight Committee portation Committee Joseph Sullivan, Offices of Hale & Dorr Artery Business Committee President 60 , 26th Floor, Boston Richard Dimino, and Move Massachusetts Call Anne Fanton at (617) 451-2770 ext. 2044 for more information. Board Member Robert O’Brien. The BOSTON MPO SUB-SIGNATORY COMMITTEE meeting will be at 11:00 A.M. at the offices Thursday, October 7, at 10:00 A.M. of Hale & Dorr, 60 State Street, Boston. State Transportation Building, CTPS Conference Room, 2nd Floor For more information contact Anne Fan- 10 Park Plaza, Boston ton, EOC director, at (617) 451-2770 or Call (617) 973-7097 for more information. [email protected].

ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE MBTA (AACT)

Thursday, October 7, at 1:30 P.M. TRANSREPORT Framingham State College, College Ctr., Room 1839, 3rd Floor PRODUCED BY THE CENTRAL TRANSPORTATION Call (617) 973-7507 for more information. PLANNING STAFF Editors Contributors JOINT REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE (JRTC) Mary Ellen Sullivan Scott Hamwey Wednesday, October 13, at 3:00 P.M. Terry Regan David Mohler State Transportation Building, Conference Rooms 2 and 3 Copyediting Photography Leland N. Morrison 10 Park Plaza, Boston Carol Gautreau Bent Kenneth A. Dumas Call (617) 973-7097 for more information. PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION RIDE SUBCOMMITTEE OF AACT Kevin J. Sullivan, Chairman Thursday, October 21, at 1:00 P.M. Luisa Paiewonsky, MPO Executive Secretary Quincy City Hall, Conference Room, 2nd Floor

1305 Hancock Street, Quincy TRANSREPORT is available in accessible formats Call (617) 973-7507 for more information. to people with disabilities. Contact the Central Transportation Planning Staff Certification Meeting dates and times are subject to change: please call the phone number listed for confirmation. Activities Group at (617) 973-7119 (voice), Additional transportation meetings open to the public are listed on the Boston MPO Web site, at (617) 973-7089 (TTY), (617) 973-8855 (fax) or www.ctps.org/bostonmpo. [email protected] (e-mail).

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TRANSREPORT is published monthly by the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization to disseminate information on current transportation projects and issues within the Boston region. Comments and requests to be added or deleted from the mailing list are welcomed and should be sent either to TRANSREPORT Editor, CTPS, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150, Boston, MA 02116, or to [email protected]. TRANSREPORT is free. The preparation of this newsletter is financed in part by grants from the Federal Highway Administra- tion and the Federal Transit Administration.