Draft Memorandum for the Record

Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
Meeting Minutes

October 23, 2025, Meeting

10:00 AM–11:45 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 minutes of the meeting of August 21, 2025
• Release the Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 2026–30 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Amendment One for a 21-day public comment period

Meeting Agenda

1. Introductions

See attendance below.

2. Chair’s Report—David Mohler, MassDOT

D. Mohler requested nominations for the Vice Chair later to be elected at the annual meeting.

Dennis Giombetti, Metrowest Regional Collaborative, nominated Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). Jen Rowe, City of Boston, seconded the nomination.

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

T. Teich announced Adriana Fratini and Bryanna Aquino’s resignations. She also shared that Seth Asante, Mark Scannell, and Paulette Amisano are retiring.

T. Teich previewed the agenda and upcoming meetings.

4. Public Comments  

There were none.

5. Committee Chairs’ Reports

J. Rowe shared updates from the TIP Project Engagement and Readiness Committee regarding its work on the Project Cost Increase Policy updates.

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

W. Palmer announced the next Community Advisory Council meeting on Monday, November 3, 2025, 2:00 PM.

7. Action Item: Approval of August 21, 2025, MPO Meeting Minutes

Documents posted to the MPO meeting calendar

• August 21, 2025, Minutes (pdf) (html)

Vote

A motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of August 21, 2025, was made by MAPC (Eric Bourassa) and seconded by the City of Boston (J. Rowe). The motion carried.

8. Action Item: FFY 2026-30 TIP Amendment One—Ethan Lapointe, MPO Staff

Documents posted to the MPO meeting calendar

• TIP Amendment One (pdf) (html)

E. Lapointe summarized Amendment One, which includes cost increases on two FFY 2026 Regional Target projects, a delay of Stratton School Improvements project in Arlington to FFY 2026 Regional Target Program, returning unobligated earmark and discretionary grant projects, and funding source changes.

Discussion

E. Bourassa asked for clarification around the earmarks. D. Mohler answered these are earmarks that the Federal Highway Administration allows to be repurposed from projects that came in under budget or money left over from a previous project earmark.

E. Bourassa asked if the Belmont project included extending the project to the Waltham line. E. Lapointe responded he would follow up.

Brad Rawson asked about information sharing with the Department of Conservation and Recreation partners. D. Mohler responded that someone would follow up.

Vote

A motion to endorse FFY 2026–30 TIP Amendment One was made by MAPC (E. Bourassa) and seconded by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Advisory Board (Hannah Switlekowski). The motion carried.

9. A Preview of Draft TIP Project Readiness Guidelines—Ethan Lapointe, MPO Staff

E. Lapointe reviewed the current cost policy that has major interventions around design, project proponent communication to the board, and project rescoring. He explained issues with the current policy.

E. Lapointe stated the objective of the policy update is to establish new rules for scenario development so projects are funded in the years they should advertise for construction given MPO-specific data.

E. Lapointe shared the proposed framework that includes a minimum design requirement to justify programming in a given year.

E. Lapointe stated the implementation timeline including a potential vote for approval on December 4, 2025.

Discussion

D. Giombetti asked how this process compares to other MPOs in the state. E. Lapointe responded that there is too large a scale difference between Boston and other MPOs within our state.

D. Giombetti asked for clarification on what “high risk” means. E. Lapointe stated the purpose is to provide the board with information for its decision making and there are thresholds for each of the five years to identify risks.

J. Rowe asked for clarification on what the pre-25 percent design requirement meant. E. Lapointe stated it was still being worked through by staff and would be discussed at upcoming TIP Process, Engagement, and Readiness Committee meetings. John Bechard, MassDOT, clarified the goal was to get their internal team working with the town earlier to minimize scope creep.

L. Diggins asked if there was a pattern to scope creep. J. Bechard answered it was a general issue.

B. Rawson asked if MPO staff can work with DOT staff to back check scopes and budgets and if design budgets were adequate for MassDOT’s standards for pilot projects. E. Lapointe responded that the design funding mostly aligns, but there is a need for some projects that have been selected to identify further design funding. B. Rawson also asked that training mechanisms for Staff are considered to work together with consultant partners and DOT staff on project management.

Adriana Jacobsen stated the guidelines were based on past MPO project data and are malleable to further project design pace changes.

10. Vision Zero Action Plan Update—Ali Kleyman, MPO Staff

A. Kleyman summarized stakeholder engagement for the draft plan, including meetings and a public survey. She then explained how the dashboard was developed with the primary audience of municipal staff and leadership in mind.

A. Kleyman highlighted upcoming work and the project schedule, including project and strategy development, target setting, engagement, and the Final Action Plan.

Discussion

J. Rowe asked what Staff’s plan was to monitor and update the dashboard. A. Kleyman responded they would share new data with municipalities at regular intervals.

B. Rawson asked about post-project evaluation. D. Mohler agreed it was important and emphasized the importance of directing funding.

11. Members’ Items

E. Bourassa announced upcoming MPO elections.

Sandy Johnston shared that the MBTA’s Mobility Integrations Plan and the Choose Transit: Full T Ahead service priorities are live.

H. Switlekowski shared that in her time visiting town halls and city halls she heard great support for the MPO and Board Member’s work.

12. Adjourn

A motion to adjourn was made by MAPC (E. Bourassa) and seconded by the Inner Core Committee (B. Rawson). The motion carried.

Attendance

CIVIL RIGHTS NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Welcome. Bem Vinda. Bienvenido. Akeyi. 欢迎. 歡迎 .

You are invited to participate in our transportation planning process, free from discrimination. The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is committed to nondiscrimination in all activities and complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency). Related federal and state nondiscrimination laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, sex, disability, and additional protected characteristics.

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Phone: 857.702.3700

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