Draft Memorandum for the Record
Community Advisory Council Meeting
November 3, 2025, Meeting Minutes
2:00 PM–3:30 PM, Zoom
Caitlin Allen-Connelly, Chair, representing TransitMatters
Meeting Agenda
1. Introductions
Members attending the meeting introduced themselves. (See
attendance list beginning
page 3.)
2. Chair’s Report—Caitlin Allen-Connelly, TransitMatters
Caitlin Allen-Connelly, TransitMatters, provided takeaways from the October MPO board meetings, which include development updates to project funding and delivery, the Vision Zero Action Plan, and community engagement.
3. Public Comment
There were no public comments.
4. Approval of Meeting Minutes
A motion to approve the minutes of the September 4, 2025, meeting was made by A Better City (Scott Mullen) and seconded by 495/MetroWest Partnership (Jason Palitsch). The minutes were approved.
5. Advisory Council Member Information Sharing
Members from 495/MetroWest Partnership, MassBike, Watertown Transportation Management Association (TMA), and the Town of Natick shared projects or initiatives with the Advisory Council.
Discussion
J. Palitsch shared an overview of the 495/MetroWest Partnership and areas of work such as economic and workforce development, transportation, housing, and water. The organization’s transportation advocacy work is focused on roadways, commuter rail, and regional transit authority services. Galen Mook (MassBike) and J. Palitsch discussed the organization’s goals to incentivize mode shift for workforce transportation. Amir Wilson (A Better City) and J. Palitsch discussed travel patterns within the 495/MetroWest service area.
G. Mook shared an overview of MassBike’s advocacy efforts, including its current efforts related to micromobility and Vision Zero. Maha Aslam (LivableStreets Alliance) and G. Mook discussed that the micromobility commission’s recommendations related to speed and pricing are dependent on the context and jurisdiction.
Sophia Galimore, Watertown TMA, shared an overview of the Watertown TMA including its efforts to improve mobility with the City of Watertown and grant opportunities related to transportation demand management. Becky Kin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology/TransitMatters, and S. Galimore discussed strategies to promote alternative transportation options in Watertown.
Morgan Griffiths, Town of Natick, shared an overview of the development of the Town of Natick’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Network Plan. G. Mook discussed the Cochituate Rail Trail as a regional connector for recreational and transportation uses.
6. Bluebikes and MBTA Connections—Tanner Bonner, MPO staff
Tanner Bonner, MPO staff, presented an overview of the Bluebikes and MBTA Connections study. The study explored how Bluebikes and MBTA networks are interconnected and their potential interactions for users of the systems.
T. Bonner discussed strategies to improve Bluebikes and MBTA connections, including Bluebikes station siting and transit integration opportunities.
Discussion
M. Aslam and T. Bonner discussed the engagement strategies for the study including engaging with municipalities and TMAs around local experiences. T. Bonner stated the study was a limited scope exploratory data analysis study.
Wig Zamore, Somerville resident, and T. Bonner discussed available data on travel patterns and air pollution exposure to people who bike.
M. Griffiths and T. Bonner discussed payment integration to connect Bluebikes and MBTA and micromobility opportunities.
Elias Fen, TransitMatters, and T. Bonner discussed how the research can inform more efficient routes and connections. They discussed how travel patterns are influenced by available stations and the transit network.
Amir Wilson, A Better City, and T. Bonner discussed the impact of expanded micromobility options to serve local needs. A. Wilson noted the idea to create community profiles based on how residents in different municipalities may interact and use Bluebikes.
7. Members’ Items
Pete Wilson, Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA), shared that T4MA will be holding a live panel discussion on autonomous vehicles on November 17.
8. Adjourn
A motion to adjourn was made by 495/MetroWest Partnership (Jason Palitsch) and seconded by A Better City (Scott Mullen). The motion carried.
Attendees
|
Member Municipalities |
Representatives and Alternates |
|
Chelsea |
Sara Han |
|
Natick |
Morgan Griffiths |
|
Community-Based Organizations |
Attendees |
|
495/MetroWest Partnership |
Jason Palitsch, Tom Driscoll |
|
A Better City |
Scott Mullen, Amir Wilson |
|
Abundant Housing MA |
Jesse Kanson-Benanav |
|
Bike to the Sea |
Jonah Chiarenza |
|
Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corp. (CSNDC) |
Jacynda Epenshade |
|
Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) |
Paulina Muratore |
|
LivableStreets Alliance |
Maha Aslam |
|
MassBike |
Galen Mook, Alexis Hosea-Abbott |
|
Mystic River Watershed Association |
Karl Alexander |
|
Mystic Valley Elder Services |
Meg von Lossnitzer, Sheila Buckland |
|
Prevention Research Center (PRC) on Nutrition and Physical Activity, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health |
Angie Cradock |
|
Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA) |
Pete Wilson |
|
TransitMatters |
Caitlin Allen-Connelly, Will Palmer |
|
Watertown Transportation Management Association (TMA) |
Sophia Galimore |
|
Other Attendees |
Affiliation |
|
Hosu Chang |
Conservation Law Foundation |
|
Sam Downes |
Town of Brookline |
|
Elias Fen |
TransitMatters |
|
Becky Lin |
MIT DUSP/TransitMatters |
|
Jonathan Mishara |
Conservation Law Foundation |
|
Robert Warren |
|
|
Wig Zamore |
|
|
MPO Staff |
|
Tanner Bonner |
|
David Hong |
|
Jia Huang |
|
Meghan O’Connor |
|
Gina Perille |
|
Ibbu Quraishi |
|
Sean Rourke |
|
Sam Taylor |
|
Tegin Teich |
|
CIVIL RIGHTS NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Welcome. Bem Vinda. Bienvenido. Akeyi. 欢迎. 歡迎.
For additional information or to file a civil rights complaint, visit www.bostonmpo.org/mpo_non_discrimination.
To request accommodations at meetings (such as assistive listening devices, materials in accessible formats and languages other than English, and interpreters in American Sign Language and other languages) or if you need this information in another language, please contact:
Boston Region MPO Title VI Specialist 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150 Boston, MA 02116 Phone: 857.702.3700 Email: civilrights@ctps.org
For people with hearing or speaking difficulties, connect through the state MassRelay service, www.mass.gov/massrelay. Please allow at least five business days for your request to be fulfilled. |
