TransReport January 2000

4 Pages·0.32 MB·English

by  Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization

JANUARY 2000
TRANS
REPORT
TRANSPORTATION NEWS FROM THE BOSTON METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
Legislature Approves MBTA Forward Funding System and Expanded MBTA District
The commonwealth of met by revenue from the sales tax. The
Massachusetts’s fiscal commonwealth will dedicate a portion of See page 3 for additional legisla-
year 2000 budget was the sales tax (one cent per every dollar of tive action on the fiscal year
passed by the legislature sales) to the new Massachusetts Bay 2000 budget and a map of the
new MBTA district.
and approved by the Transportation Authority State and Local
governor in November. Contribution Fund. In fiscal years where
One major result of the budgetary process sales tax revenue is insufficient to cover
Amendments to the MBTA’s enabling leg-
is that the Massachusetts Bay Transporta- the base revenue amount, the common-
islation also require that an annual report
tion Authority will now receive its fund- wealth will credit to the fund the amount
on the projected operating-investment-per
ing from the commonwealth at the start of necessary. Assessments from cities and
passenger-mile ratio be prepared by the
each fiscal year. This new system, known towns in the MBTA service area will also
MBTA and forwarded to the governor and
as forward funding, replaces the prior be credited to this new fund.
the General Court. Beginning in 2006 the
arrangement, in which the common- The number of cities and towns in the MBTA will be encouraged to keep this
wealth reimbursed the MBTA at the end MBTA service area was increased from 78 ratio below 20 percent, provided that this
of each fiscal year. The forward funding to 110. The service area now stretches to target alone does not require fare increases
system does not begin until July 1, 2001. the New Hampshire and Rhode Island or reductions in service. Nothing in the
At that time the base revenue amount of borders and as far west as Paxton. Among legislation precludes the MBTA from rais-
$645 million will be forwarded to the the cities and towns added are all munici- ing fares, other than the restriction that
MBTA. This amount will increase in each palities with stations in the commuter rail they can not be raised if annual ridership
subsequent fiscal year by the inflation rate, network that formerly were not in the on the system declined by more than four
provided that the increase is not greater MBTA district (except Providence, Rhode percent in the preceding 12 months.
than three percent. This obligation will be Island).
Boston-Region Transportation Plan Gets Underway with
Opportunities for Public Input
At its December 9 meeting the Boston conditions, reviewing historical financial
Metropolitan Planning Organization’s information, modeling base-case and
Sub-Signatory Committee approved the future-year no-build scenarios, developing
work program for the development of the alternative land-use scenarios, developing
2000 Transportation Plan for the Boston and modeling alternative future trans- INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Region. The transportation plan will be a portation scenarios, and proposing a draft
MPOactivities update . . . . . . . . . . . 2
comprehensive and multimodal look at set of projects and proposals for adoption.
transportation with a 25-year time frame. Big Dig artifacts exhibit . . . . . . . . . . 2
Throughout the development of the plan
It is expected that the MPO will adopt
there will opportunities for public input State launches AirBeat . . . . . . . . . . . 2
the new plan by October 1, 2000. Federal
and involvement. Between now and
FY 2000 state budget enacted . . . . . . 3
regulations require each region to update
October 1, there will be several ways to
its transportation plan every three years. EOEA addresses sprawl through Com-
get involved in this planning process. A
munity Preservation Summits . . . . . . 3
The work involved in developing a new series of public hearings and meetings will
plan will consist of documenting existing be announced in the near future, there Meeting calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
(cid:2) continued on page 4
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 RegionalTransportation Committee • Massachusetts Bay Transportation
Authority • Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Advisory Board • Massachusetts Highway Department • Massachusetts Port Authority • Massachusetts Turnpike
Authority • Metropolitan Area Planning Council • Town of Bedford • Town of Framingham • Town of Hopkinton
Big Dig Artifacts on Display
BOSTON METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES
at Commonwealth Museum
SUB-SIGNATORY COMMITTEE ACTION ITEMS
In the course of bringing future improve-
On December 9 the Boston MPO’s Sub-Signatory Com-
ments to Boston’s highway network, the
mittee (SSC) approved for distribution thereport, Recon-
Central Artery/Tunnel project has uncov-
naissance Study of the Saxonville Branch Right-of-Way.The
ered a good deal of the city’s past. Since
study, which was conducted by the Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS)
1987, field workers under the direction of
at the request of the towns of Natick and Framingham, explored issues related to
the Office of the State Archaeologist have
rail use and trail feasibility along the 3.8-mile railroad branch extending from Nat-
recovered numerous relics from seven sites
ick Center to the Saxonville section of Framingham.
that were identified through research and
The SSC also approved two work scopes in addition to the Regional Transporta-
a digital mapping survey of the 7.5-mile
tion Plan (see page 1 article). The first is for a survey of passengers on the MBTA’s
highway corridor. This research project
ferry services. The survey will collect information such as trip purpose, transfer pat-
complies with the National Historic
terns, passenger demographics, and rider assessments of service quality and safety.
Preservation Act of 1966, which requires
The second work scope is for a study of the Newton Lower Falls/Wellesley subarea
federally funded projects to take measures
that will provide a profile of existing traffic volumes and traffic patterns in the
to preserve cultural resources. Eventually,
study area and will assess how these conditions may change in the future, given
excavated objects will be cataloged and
growth within the region.
housed at the University of Massachusetts
JRTC UPDATE at Boston. For now, the general public has
At the December 8 meeting of the Joint Regional Transportation Committee, former the opportunity to glimpse some of these
JRTC chairmen Domenic D’Eramo and Andrew McClurg and former MPO execu-
artifacts firsthand at the Commonwealth
tive secretary Robert Sloane participated in a panel discussion on the JRTC from a
Museum. Items are on display Monday
historical perspective and offered insights on goals and objectives for the future.
through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
CTPS staff discussed the JRTC’s role in development of the Regional Transportation
and Saturdays from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Plan, and JRTC citizen advisory organizations designated Ben Haynes of the Brook-
The museum is located at the Massachu-
line Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities and Malcolm Davis of WalkBoston as
setts Archives at 220 Morrissey Boulevard
voting members of the JRTC’s Steering Committee. See the calendar on page 4 for
information about the next JRTC meeting. in Dorchester.
AACT UPDATE The locations of the archaeological dig
sites range from Spectacle Island in
At the December 2 meeting of the Access Advisory Committee to the MBTA
Boston Harbor (the repository of much of
(AACT), members reported on progress made on issues such as RIDE service
improvements, the Stop Announcement Monitoring program, and other fixed-route the soil excavated by the Big Dig) to the
service concerns. The chair reminded everyone that, beginning in January, all AACT North End. Archaeologists have deter-
meetings, including the subcommittee meetings, will be held at the State Transporta- mined that Spectacle Island, a former city
tion Building (see the calendar on page 4). He also announced that the nomination dump, was visited by Boston’s original
process for AACT officers will open in January for an election to be held in April. Native American inhabitants as early as
Interested candidates should contact Janie Guion at [phone] (voice) or (617) 500 A.D. Sites in Paddy’s Alley in the
973-7089 (TTY).
North End have yielded remnants of the
city’s pre–Revolutionary War period,
including household items like glazed cups
State Launches Real-Time Air Monitoring System
and bowls.
In November the state’s Department of AirBeat was created in collaboration with
For additional information about the Big
Environmental Protection (DEP) unveiled community groups concerned about the
Dig, call the Central Artery/Tunnel proj-
the installation of an AirBeat monitoring increased incidence of asthma cases in
ect office at [phone] or visit
station at Dudley Square urban areas. The Dudley
www.bigdig.com.
in Roxbury. The air moni- Square station is the first of
toring system, the first of five PM2.5 monitors
its kind in Massachusetts, continuously planned for the Boston area. Said DEP
measures and reports levels of ozone and Deputy Commissioner Ed Kunce, “This is
fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollutants a precedent-setting project with cutting-
commonly linked to respiratory illness. It edge technology pioneered by community
is expected that AirBeat will determine to work. The power of grassroots work to
what extent Roxbury’s high asthma rate have a statewide effect should not be
can be attributed to air pollution. underestimated.”
TRANSREPORT 2 JANUARY2000
Fiscal Year 2000 State
Amesbury
Budget Enacted Merrimac Salisbury
Newburyport
Haverhill NeWwebsutry
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Hamilton
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RHODE ISLAND Halifax
performance; a feasibility study on restruc- AttlNeobrtorhough Norton Bridgewater PlymptonKingston
turing the regional transit authorities; and LEGEND Attleboro Raynham
a study of the area surrounding the New MBTA district Taunton Middleborough Carver Plymouth
MLinBeT Ast’ast Wionoso. dAlalnsod ianncdlu Rdeivde irnsi dthe eG bruedegnet (F1o1rm0 ecrit MiesB aTnAd dtoiswtrnics)t boundary Seekonk Rehoboth Dighton Berkley Lakeville
(78 cities and towns) Wareham
is legislation authorizing “forward funding” MBTA commuter rail Swansea Somerset Freetown Rochester
of the MBTA and expansion of the line and station Fall River Acushnet Marion Bourne
New
MBTA transit district (see article on page Bedford
1 and map on this page). Cities and towns in new MBTA district, with former district boundary
A copy of the fiscal year 2000 budget may
be downloaded from the state legislature’s
Web site at www.magnet.state.ma.us/legis.
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Addresses Urban Sprawl Issues through
Community Preservation Summits
Bob Durand, secretary of the state’s Exec- projected commercial development, popu-
utive Office of Environmental Affairs lation, and impacts on water use are also “Having this knowledge in the
(EOEA) is in the process of conducting presented. “The analyses provide valuable hands of local decision-makers
Community Preservation Summits information that assist communities in leads to sound development and
throughout the commonwealth. The sum- planning for the future,” said Durand. environmental protection.”
mits, cohosted by Carolyn Boviard, execu- “Having this knowledge in the hands of
—EOEA Secretary Bob Durand
tive director of the Department of Eco- local decision-makers leads to sound devel-
nomic Development and Jane Willis opment and environmental protection.”
Gumble, executive director of Housing EOEA targets completing all 351 Massa-
and Community Development, are chusetts municipalities by July 1, 2000.
intended to assist communities with urban
In addition to conducting the summits,
sprawl by providing them with buildout
EOEA will be developing an Environmen-
analyses featuring GIS maps. The maps
tal Data Profile that provides information
depict what a given community may look
about each community’s environmental
like at maximum development based on
indicators, such as 21 E sites, air and water
existing zoning and state laws. Graphs of
quality, and public access sites.
TRANSREPORT 3 JANUARY2000
2000 Transportation Plan
M C
EETING ALENDAR
(cid:2) continued from page 1
The public is welcome to attend the following transportation-related meetings this month.
will be updates at monthly Joint Regional
ATTHESTATETRANSPORTATIONBUILDING, 10 PARKPLAZA, BOSTON Transportation Committee meetings, and
WALKBOSTON representatives from the MPO’s Central
Wednesday, January 5, at 5:15 P.M. Transportation Planning Staff will solicit
State Transportation Library, Second Floor input at monthly meetings of the Metro-
ACCESSADVISORYCOMMITTEETOTHEMBTA (AACT) politan Area Planning Council’s subre-
Thursday, January 6, at 1:30 P.M. gions. Future issues of TRANSREPORTwill
Conference Room 4, Second Floor
give monthly updates on work products
JOINTREGIONALTRANSPORTATIONCOMMITTEE(JRTC)
and proposed work.
Wednesday, January 12, at 3:00 P.M.
Conference Room 4, Second Floor If interested in learning more about the
BOSTONMPO SUB-SIGNATORYCOMMITTEE plan or being placed on the transportation
Thursday, January 20, at 1:30 P.M. plan mailing list, contact Terry Regan of
CTPS Conference Room, Second Floor
CTPS at [phone]. E-mail your
FIXEDROUTEACCESSSUBCOMMITTEEOFAACT
thoughts or suggestions to
Thursday, January 20, at 1:30 P.M.
Conference Room 4, Second Floor [email protected].
THERIDE SUBCOMMITTEEOFAACT
Thursday, January 27, at 1:00 P.M.
Conference Room 4, Second Floor TRANSREPORT
ATOTHERBOSTON-AREALOCATIONS PRODUCEDBYTHECENTRALTRANSPORTATION
PLANNINGSTAFF
BOSTONMPO LOCALTIP SUBCOMMITTEE
Editors Graphics
Tuesday, January 4, at 10:00 A.M. Mary Ellen Sullivan Kenneth A. Dumas
Newton City Hall
Terry Regan Kate Parker
1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton
Copyediting Contributors
ACCESSBOSTON2000–2010 CITYWIDETRANSPORTATIONPLAN Leland N. Morrison Brian Clark
Tuesday, January 18, at 6:00 P.M. Scott Hamwey
Boston Public Library
666 Boylston Street, Boston PUBLISHEDBYTHEBOSTONMETROPOLITAN
PLANNINGORGANIZATION
FENWAY-KENMORENEIGHBORHOODASSOCIATIONTRANSPORTATIONCOMMITTEE Kevin J. Sullivan, Chairman
Wednesday January 19, at 6:30 P.M. Luisa Paiewonsky, MPO Executive Secretary
Berkeley College of Music
First Floor, Room F-12
22 The Fenway, Boston
TRANSREPORTis available in accessible formats
to people with disabilities. Contact the Central
Meeting dates and times are subject to change: please call [phone] for confirmation.
Transportation Planning Staff Certification
Additional transportation meetings open to the public are listed on the Boston MPOWeb
Activities Group at [phone] (voice),
site, at www.ctps.org/bostonmpo.
[phone] (TTY), [phone] (fax) or
[email protected] (e-mail).
Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization
State Transportation Building First Class Mail
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TRANSREPORTis 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 TRANSREPORTEditor, CTPS, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150,
Boston, MA 02116, or to [email protected]. TRANSREPORTis free. The preparation of this newsletter is financed in part by grants from the Federal Highway Administra-
tion and the Federal Transit Administration.