Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization

Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
Name	Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
Founded	1973
Headquarters	Boston, Massachusetts
Region served	Greater Boston
Key people	David Mohler (Chair)
Parent organization	Metropolitan Area Planning Council
Website	http://www.bostonmpo.org

Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization. It is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) responsible for comprehensive transportation planning and federal funding allocation for the Greater Boston area. Established under the requirements of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1962 and subsequent federal transportation legislation, the organization develops the long-range Regional Transportation Plan and shorter-term Transportation Improvement Program. Its planning area encompasses 101 cities and towns within the Interstate 495 corridor, coordinating with agencies like the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

History

The organization was formally created in 1973 following federal mandates that required continuous, cooperative, and comprehensive transportation planning in urbanized areas. Its formation was closely tied to the creation of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, which serves as its parent agency and provides staff support. Early work focused on managing the region's response to the construction of the Interstate Highway System, including projects like the Central Artery and the Southwest Corridor. Over the decades, its mandate expanded with legislation such as the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, requiring greater emphasis on air quality conformity, public transit, and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

Governance and structure

The organization is governed by a voting board composed of representatives from state agencies, regional transit authorities, municipalities, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Key members include the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and the Massachusetts Port Authority. The board is chaired by the Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation, a position held by officials such as David Mohler. Advisory committees, including the Regional Transportation Advisory Council and the Boston Region MPO's Congestion Management Process committee, provide technical and public input on planning activities and project evaluations.

Planning responsibilities

Its core responsibilities are mandated by the United States Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. These include developing and maintaining the federally required Regional Transportation Plan, which outlines a 20+ year vision, and the four-year Transportation Improvement Program, which lists projects slated for federal funding. The organization also conducts the Congestion Management Process, analyzes environmental justice impacts, and ensures plans conform with the Clean Air Act standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It performs extensive data analysis and modeling, often in collaboration with the Central Transportation Planning Staff.

Key projects and initiatives

Notable initiatives developed or endorsed by the organization include the Green Line Extension into Somerville and Medford, major modernization projects for the MBTA Red Line and MBTA Orange Line, and the Transit Modernization Program. It has played a key role in planning for the South Coast Rail project to connect Fall River and New Bedford to Boston. The organization also prioritizes Complete Streets designs, the expansion of the Bluebikes bike-share system, and initiatives to improve access to Logan International Airport and the Seaport District.

Funding and finance

The organization does not directly construct projects but is critical in programming federal transportation funds from sources like the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration. It allocates funds from the Surface Transportation Block Grant program and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program. Major projects often involve complex funding partnerships between MassDOT, the MBTA, and municipal governments. Its planning work is financed through federal planning grants, state appropriations, and contributions from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

Member municipalities and agencies

The planning area includes 101 cities and towns within the Boston metropolitan area, ranging from urban cores like Boston, Cambridge, and Quincy to suburban communities such as Framingham, Woburn, and Plymouth. Key agency members, beyond those previously mentioned, include the Brockton Area Transit Authority, the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority, and the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority. Each state representative district within the region has a municipal voice on the advisory committees that influence the planning process.

Category:Transportation in Massachusetts Category:Organizations based in Boston Category:Regional planning organizations in the United States