APRIL 2005 TRANSREPORT TRANSPORTATION NEWS FROM THE REGION METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION

Governor Unveils Draft of Long-Range Transportation Plan for Governor Romney has mapped out $31 changes in Reading, Woburn, and Can- billion of investment in all modes of ton, expanding capacity on Route 3 transportation in the commonwealth in South, addressing increasing congestion his draft 20-year transportation plan, on Interstate 495, and improving safety unveiled on March 10. The plan, A on Route 2. Framework for Thinking – A Plan for The plan is consistent with the MBTA’s Action, is based on the regional priorities forward funding legislation, which was of the state’s metropolitan planning implemented with the intention of the organizations and regional planning com- MBTA itself paying for operations and missions. investing in a state of good repair. Future The plan acknowledges the vital role MBTA expansion, under forward fund- that state transportation decisions play in ing, would need to be paid for by federal, economic development. The governor state, and local sources. The MBTA, said that good transportation decisions which now relies on state sales tax rev- can improve the state’s national competi- enue, fares, and community assessments, tiveness, shape housing and commercial spends roughly one third of its annual development, and increase the amount of $1.1 billion annual budget to retire its time spent with family and friends. existing debt, a situation that is con- tributing to budget problems at the “This plan has some very specific goals “Fix-It-First” work and $6.2 billion in authority. for maintaining the commonwealth’s major roadway, air transportation, and competitiveness and quality of life,” said transit projects over the next 20 years. The document states the MBTA can’t former Transportation Secretary Daniel sustain its future debt costs. “If we’re seri- One of the top Fix-It-First priorities is to A. Grabauskas. “We look forward to con- ous about moving forward with mega invest more than $1 billion over the next tinued cooperation with our partners in transit projects, the only way we’re ever five years in fixing 600 of the state’s the state legislature and federal agencies going to get those done is if the state gets structurally deficient bridges. At the cur- as we move forward with this plan’s involved,” said Sen. Stephen Baddour rent investment level, the number of implementation.” (D-Methuen), chairman of the Trans- deficient bridges would increase. The portation Committee. “We need to move The objectives of the plan are to: $200 million annual investment doubles · Significantly reduce the number of the state’s current funding level. „ Statewide Plan cont. on p. 3 structurally deficient bridges The Fix-It-First priorities also include $9 INSIDE THIS ISSUE · De-bottleneck known choke points and billion aimed at getting the MBTA into modernize high-crash intersections a state of good repair, with station reno- MPO activities update ...... 2 vations, more than 400 new buses and · Achieve MBTA “State of Good New project information Web site . 2 Repair” trains, track replacements, and an auto- mated fare-collection system. MPO elections ...... 3 · Expand transit options Improvements totaling $12 billion are Terminal A opens ...... 4 · Contain debt-service cost at or below identified to ease traffic at choke points Suburban mobility project ...... 4 current percentage of total expendi- at many of the commonwealth’s top 10 tures milestones ...... 5 accident locations. This will ease travel MBTA bus improvements ...... 5 The document outlines $31 billion in on major highways. The plan includes transportation priorities: $24.5 billion in improving and 95 inter- Meeting calendar ...... 6

The members of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO): Executive Office of Transportation and Construction • City of Boston • City of Everett • City of Newton • City of Salem • Federal Highway Administration • Federal Transit Administration • Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority • Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Advisory Board • Massachusetts Highway Department • Massachusetts Port Authority • Massachusetts Turnpike Authority • Metropolitan Area Planning Council • Regional Transportation Advisory Council • Town of Bedford • Town of Framingham • Town of Hopkinton BOSTON REGION MPO ACTIVITIES Road and Bridge Project Info Just a Click Away TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE ACTION ITEMS Web users can In March, the Transportation Planning and Programming now access the Committee prepared for the Agency and Municipal Trans- latest informa- portation Improvement Program (TIP) Input Days, tion on reviewed a proposal for the Suburban Mobility Improvement Program, and gathered MassHighway’s input from the MAPC subregional groups on priorities for the TIP and Unified road and bridge Planning Work Program (UPWP). projects across the common- On March 31 the Transportation Planning and Programming Committee voted to wealth through a fund the Cape Ann Transportation Authority seasonal shuttle from the Ipswich completely retooled Web site and new commuter rail station as part of the MPO Suburban Mobility Improvement Program Internet services designed by the Execu- and approved the work scope for a regional freight study. The MPO approved a tive Office of Transportation (EOT) and TIP amendment affecting several highway, transit, and bridge projects. The text can MassHighway. The updated project infor- be found at www.bostonmpo.org. mation and the new Web services, which REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COUNCIL UPDATE were unveiled on March 1, incorporate In March Beverly Woods, assistant director of the Northern Middlesex Metropoli- informational resources from a number of tan Planning Organization (NMMPO), briefed Advisory Council members and Internet sites into one shared Web site. guests on the past accomplishments and future goals of the NMMPO. The To access the site, visit www.mhd.state NMMPO is one of the Boston Region MPO’s six neighbor MPOs and part of the .ma.us/ProjectInfo/. Boston urbanized area. It consists of the city of Lowell and the eight municipalities In 2000 the Commonwealth and that surround Lowell. This coming year, their list of regional transportation projects MassHighway entered into a Memoran- includes the I-495 Corridor Study, conducted by MassHighway in cooperation with dum of Understanding with the Massa- NMMPO and the Merrimack Valley MPO, which looks at particular traffic conges- chusetts Association of Regional Plan- tion and safety issues in portions of the section from the I-495/I-95 intersection near the New Hampshire border to the Westford/Littletown town line; the start of con- struction of Phase 1 of the Bruce Freeman Bike Path from the Chelmsford/Lowell town line to the Westford/Carlisle/Acton town line; the completion of the Route 3 North Improvement Project; and a proposal to extend commuter rail to Nashua, ning Agencies (MARPA) in which they New Hampshire. agreed to make project information more Staff provided updates on the development of the draft fiscal year 2006 UPWP and readily available to the public. One of draft FYs 2006–2010 TIP. the Web services accessible on the updated site is comprehensive informa- The April 13 Advisory Council meeting will feature a briefing by the Executive tion on MBTA services that includes a Office of Transportation on the Statewide Transportation Plan and an MPO staff trip planning feature and schedule infor- briefing on the Agency and Municipal TIP Input Days. Please see the calendar on mation for all transit modes that the page 6 for the meeting location and time. MBTA offers. ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE MBTA (AACT) UPDATE EOT’s Web site also allows Web surfers In March the MBTA held the initial planning meeting for its Access Study. This to access information on the Massachu- study will provide an in-depth analysis of all of the Authority’s varied services, with setts Aeronautics Commission, the 15 the goal of identifying and eliminating all shortcomings throughout the system. regional transit authorities in the state, AACT Chairman James Oliver was named to assist with this project. It is expected Massport and Logan Airport services, and to take 18 months to complete. various commuter and recreational boat- A presentation on the new automated fare-collection system will be made by the ing opportunities, as well as other trans- MBTA at the next AACT meeting, on April 27. portation-related sites. A new online Any AACT member considering running for election as an AACT officer should trucking-permit application is also avail- contact Janie Guion, AACT coordinator, for nomination papers at (617) 973-7507, able to truckers who want to move loads (617) 973-8855 (fax), (617) 973-7089 (TTY), or [email protected]. The deadline for over Massachusetts roadways. submitting nomination papers is April 27, 2005.

TRANSREPORT 2APRIL 2005 Call for Nomination Papers for MPO Election; Two Seats to Be Decided in May Now is the time for municipalities to step forward if they want to have a vote on the Boston Region Metropolitan Plan- ning Organization (MPO). The local- member election process is underway, and the MPO is encouraging all of the eligible municipalities in the region to ramp up their involvement in transporta- tion planning by seeking membership. Each year, one city and one town are elected to three-year terms in a process in which all 101 municipalities in the MPO region can vote. In this year’s election, members for the seats now held by Newton and Hopkin- ton are to be elected. The two regional members of the MPO, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and the MBTA Advisory Board, conduct the election process on subregions currently represented on the · Return your nomination materials by behalf of the MPO. If you have questions MPO by members that are not up for the deadline; they are the source of an about the MPO elections, feel free to election (North Shore Task Force, informational mailing about all candi- contact Barbara Lucas of MAPC by e- MetroWest, and Minuteman Advisory dates sent to all municipalities. mail at [email protected] or by phone at Group on Interlocal Coordination) are (617) 451-2770, ext. 2043. Election not eligible to run this year. All other · Participate in the candidates’ night. information may be viewed at municipalities are encouraged to do so. · Vote: the election will take place at www.mapc.org/whats_new. the MAPC annual meeting, 9:00 A.M., Notification of the election and a call for May 25, at the Sheraton Lexington The MPO wants geographic diversity in nomination papers were sent to munici- Hotel, 727 Marrett Road, Lexington. its local members and is reaching out to pal chief elected officials on March 21. all eligible parts of the region for candi- Municipal officials and interested mem- Here’s how to run for a seat on the MPO: date municipalities. Though local mem- bers of the public are always invited to bers act from a regional, not a single- · Gather nomination signatures from five participate in MPO deliberations and community perspective, geographic chief elected officials in the region and decisions by attending and speaking at diversity on the MPO is a benefit. submit to MAPC by 5:00 P.M. on April MPO and Transportation Planning and 20; an official may sign for only one Election rules stipulate that no MAPC Programming Committee meetings, city and one town. subregion, except the Inner Core, can workshops, and open houses. Comments have more than one seat on the MPO at · Prepare candidate’s statement. and input are also welcome at www a time. So, municipalities from MAPC .bostonmpo.org

„ Statewide Plan cont. from p. 1 from the planning stage to the construc- ports and seaports, and bikeways are also to those with “comprehensive corridor tion stage and get these projects off the addressed in the plan. plans” that would expedite permitting, drawing board.” More than half of the funding identified create zones for new housing, and have The plan explains that after Silver Line in the document, $15.8 billion, comes strong local support. Phase III is completed, the Common- from the federal government, with $10.2 Mr. Grabauskas also said the administra- wealth will honor its role in funding billion from the state’s capital budget, tion plans to gather feedback during the future system expansion, including the $4.4 billion from the MBTA’s capital next several months and make revisions remaining Central Artery/Tunnel transit budget, and $279 million from other based on that advice. commitments. sources. The plan would give high prior- Intermodal centers, freight facilities, air- ity to projects that use federal dollars and

TRANSREPORT 3APRIL 2005 New Terminal Opens at Logan Airport MPO Celebrates Launch of After almost three years of construction, The terminal’s satellite gate building has Suburban Mobility Project Logan International Airport’s Terminal a flexible plan which can accommodate a On March 18 Boston Region MPO mem- A opened to the public on March 16. large variety of aircraft types, large pas- bers watched with great pride the launch The $400 million project consolidates all senger areas with expansive views of the of the first funded project under the Delta Air Lines operations, which airfield, and a retail/food court. In addi- MPO’s new Suburban Mobility Improve- include Delta, Delta Connection, Delta tion, shopping and dining options featur- ment Program. Operated by the Worces- Shuttle, and Song, into one location that ing national and regional restaurant and ter Regional Transit Authority (WRTA), offers unprecedented technologies and retailer chains are found throughout the conveniences. All Delta flights formerly complex. operating out of Terminals B and C are Expected to be a national model for pas- now operating out of Terminal A. senger- and environment-friendly airport The new terminal has 686,000 square facilities, Terminal A is Logan Airport’s feet of space and is comprised of a main first truly sustainable, or “green,” struc- terminal building and a satellite building, ture. It is constructed of sustainable which are materials connected by such as pre- a 602-foot cast con- TLC ceremony in Southborough underground crete, wood the new service, called “The Local Con- tunnel with panels, and nection” (TLC), was celebrated with two moving recycled ceremonies held in Southborough and walkways products. It Marlborough. The events were attended that trans- was by local officials from both the City of port passen- designed so Marlborough and the Town of Southbor- gers between as to ough, state and federal officials, Boston terminals achieve a Region MPO members, WRTA staff, and and parking LEED rat- the public. garages more ing from Funding for the service is provided by the Exterior and interior views of the new Terminal A conve- (artist’s rendering) the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, the niently. Green Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Between its Building Transportation, and MassHighway main build- Council. through the Boston MPO’s Suburban ing and satel- The LEED Mobility Improvement Program. This lite gate rating sys- dial-a-ride, on-demand service will pro- facility, Ter- tem is a vol- vide service to residents and commuters minal A has untary, con- of Marlborough and Southborough, mak- 18 aircraft sensus- ing it possible to travel by public transit gates, giving based, to many local destinations such as shop- Logan a total national ping plazas, employment centers, medical of 94 gates. standard for facilities, and the MBTA commuter rail Terminal A’s developing station in Southborough. Service is pro- main build- high-per- vided to the Marlborough and Southbor- ing has a sleek, light, transparent design, formance, sustainable buildings. The sus- ough downtown areas; along Routes 9, which includes brushed-metal ceilings tainability strategies at Terminal A 20, and 85; and the area west of I-495 and shatter-resistant glass walls that include—in addition to the use of recy- and south of Route 20 in Marlborough. It allow for expansive views. Although clable materials—natural lighting, energy also extends into the Route 9/I-495 area modern, the terminal’s interiors reflect a conservation, and alternative fuel utiliza- of Westborough. The new service is Boston image with imprinted copper- tion. designed to connect with Local Inter- toned panels in the ticketing hall. In For more information, visit Massport’s Framingham Transit (LIFT), particularly addition to check-in counters and self- Web site at www.massport.com. the LIFT 7 route to area malls and down- service check-in kiosks, the ticketing hall town Framingham. has phone banks, security lanes, and a The service operates between 6:00 A.M. Delta Crown Room Club, which provides „ WRTA cont. on p. 6 a variety of travel services.

TRANSREPORT 4APRIL 2005 Central Artery Project MBTA Implements Bus Service Improvements Attains Two Milestones On March 26 the MBTA implemented a · #33 and #40 run later on weekdays. The widening of number of changes to its bus service · #40 and #50 have new Sunday service. the Central based on comments received as part of its #40 outbound and #50 inbound have Artery (I-93) biennial Service Plan. These service · hourly trips. southbound was improvements are designed to provide completed on more efficient, reliable, and · #42 now operates to Dudley March 5 with the comfortable bus service. These Station Monday through Sat- addition of a improvements come at no cost urday, with increased fre- fourth lane on the Leonard P. Zakim to the Commonwealth’s tax- quency for parts of the day. Bunker Hill Bridge and in the I-93 south payers, since only very lightly · #201/202 has new weekend tunnel. This tunnel opened in an interim used bus trips will be discontin- bus service linking Dorchester configuration in December 2003 so that ued. and North Quincy. work crews could continue to demolish The Boston neighborhoods of Dorch- · #211 has new Sunday bus service in the old elevated Central Artery and com- ester, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Roslindale, Squantum and Wollaston. plete construction on the tunnel below. and Roxbury and the cities and towns of · #216 has more Sunday bus service in Braintree, Brockton, Holbrook, Milton, Over the last 14 months, there was a West Quincy. series of traffic shifts on I-93 southbound Quincy, and Randolph have improved · #225 has more as work on the renovation of the former service. The follow- morning rush hour Tunnel continued. With ing routes have service on Quincy the full opening of I-93 southbound, the modified schedules: Avenue. highway is now in its permanent · #24 now runs #236 has more frequently · improved service to on Saturdays. the South Shore · #26 now serves Plaza shopping Blue Hill Avenue mall. and Morton Many bus routes Street when #21 · departing Quincy is not operating MBTA bus Center have later on weekdays and Saturdays. weeknight service. · #27 now runs less frequently during Many bus routes in Braintree, Brock- midday weekdays and on Saturdays. · ton, Dorchester, Holbrook, Milton, · #30 has more service during the morn- Quincy, and Randolph now have both The I-93 southbound tunnel ing rush hour and serves Forest Hills all earlier and later service. day on weekdays. configuration, with three lanes of traffic MBTA bus fares are still 90 cents, and traveling through the left-hand side of · #31, #36, and #39 provide earlier ser- free transfers allow two rides for the price the Dewey Square Tunnel and a new, vice to downtown Boston on Sunday of one. For more information, consult the two-lane exit through the right-hand side mornings. spring 2005 (red) printed bus schedules, of the tunnel for traffic headed to I-90 · #32 has more service during the morn- call the MBTA at 617-222-3200 (TTY (the Massachusetts Turnpike) westbound ing rush hour. 222-5146), or visit www.mbta.com. and Albany Street. At its widest point, the newly renovated tunnel handles six lanes of traffic. As On April 2 the new, permanent connec- with a more gradual turning radius and part of the new roadway configuration, tion from I-90 westbound to I-93 south- handles cars headed to I-93 northbound the Turnpike Authority also extended bound opened, dramatically improving and southbound from both I-90 west- the high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lane the flow of traffic for motorists leaving bound and South Boston surface streets. on I-93 southbound (north of downtown Logan International Airport. Motorists The Central Artery/Tunnel project is Boston) more than half a mile from no longer have to negotiate a hairpin where it used to end (on the lower deck now 96 percent complete and is sched- turn at the temporary Exit 23, which uled to be closer to full completion by of I-93) onto the Zakim Bridge, and often caused backups on I-90 westbound. widened the on-ramp from the Tobin September 2005. For more information, The new connection, via Exit 24 in visit www.masspike.com. Bridge to I-93 southbound. South Boston, features a longer off-ramp

TRANSREPORT 5APRIL 2005 „ WRTA cont. from p. 4 EETING ALENDAR M C and 6:30 P.M. and is on-demand. To

The public is welcome to attend the following Wednesday, April 6 request a pickup, call (877) RIDE-TLC transportation-related meetings this month. A Coalition for Zoning Reform: 10:00 A.M. between 9:00 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. A one- photo ID is usually required for access to meeting Second Massachusetts Forum locations. on Land Use Reform way fare is $2.00. For more information, Suffolk University Law School visit the website at www.ridetlc .com. MEETINGS AT THE STATE TRANSPORTATION 120 Tremont Street, Boston BUILDING, 10 PARK PLAZA, BOSTON Registration required. Visit For fiscal year 2005, the Boston Region Thursday, April 7 www.apcc.org or register at the Boston Region MPO 9:00 A.M. forum at 9:30 A.M. MPO approved funding for the Route Transportation Planning and Friday, April 8 128 Business Council’s Anderson RTC Programming Committee Transportation Move Massachusetts: 8:00 A.M. Improvement Program (TIP) Municipal Statewide Transportation Plan shuttle and the Ipswich summer shuttle. Input Day Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels The MPO is currently reviewing an Conference Room 4 One Financial Center, 18th Floor Thursday, April 7 Dewey Square, Boston application for the proposed LIFT Route MBTA Board of Directors 1:00 P.M. Thursday, April 14 9 in Framingham and Natick. For further Room to be assigned; check second-floor information board on day of meeting. MBTA Public Meeting: 6:00 P.M. information on the Suburban Mobility Morton Street Commuter Rail Wednesday, April 13 Station Rehabilitation Improvement Program, contact Barbara Regional Transportation 3:00 P.M. Mildred Avenue Community Center Advisory Council 5 Mildred Avenue, Mattapan Lucas, at (617) 451-2770, ext. 2043, or Conference Room 4 Tuesday, April 26 [email protected]. Thursday, April 21 Central Artery/Tunnel Project 5:30 P.M. Boston Region MPO 10:00 A.M. North End Construction Update Transportation Planning and Meeting TRANSREPORT Programming Committee Meeting Nazarro Community Center CTPS Conference Room, Suite 2150 20 North Bennet Street, Boston PRODUCED BY THE CENTRAL TRANSPORTATION MBTA Rider Oversight 4:30 P.M. PLANNING STAFF Committee Meeting Conservation Law Foundation Editors Contributors 62 Summer Street, Boston Jonathan Church Sean Daly Meeting dates and times are subject to change: please Wednesday, April 27 Mary Ellen Sullivan Bill Moore call (617) 973-7119 for confirmation. Additional Pam Wolfe Access Advisory Committee 1:00 P.M. transportation meetings open to the public are listed to the MBTA (AACT) Graphics on the Boston Region MPO Web site, www.boston Jane Gillis Photography Conference Rooms 2 and 3 mpo.org. Kate Parker Carol Gautreau Bent Thursday, May 5 Massport Kenneth A. Dumas Boston Region MPO 10:00 A.M. Transportation Planning and Programming Committee Work Session PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON REGION CTPS Conference Room, Suite 2150 METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION

John Ziemba, Acting Chairman OTHER BOSTON AREA MEETINGS Dennis A. DiZoglio, Chair, and Barbara G. Lucas, Tuesday, April 5 Vice Chair, Transportation Planning and Programming Committee New Charles River Basin Citizen 4:00 P.M. Advisory Committee Conference Room 1 TRANSREPORT is available in accessible formats 185 Kneeland Street, Boston Meeting dates and times are subject to change: please to people with disabilities. Contact the Central call (617) 973-7119 for confirmation. Additional Transportation Planning Staff Certification transportation meetings open to the public are listed Activities Group at (617) 973-7119 (voice), on the Boston MPO Web site, at www.bostonmpo.org. (617) 973-7089 (TTY), (617) 973-8855 (fax), or [email protected] (e-mail).

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TRANSREPORT is published monthly by the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization to disseminate information on current transportation projects and issues within the Boston region. Comments and requests to be added to 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 Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.