Current advocacy efforts: 

The Partnership recently provided comment on both the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Regional Transportation Plan RTP and the Central Massachusetts MPO’s RTP.  Click here to read the Boston MPO RTP comment letter.  Click here to read the Central Massachusetts MPO RTP comment letter. 

PARTNERSHP RESPONSES TO TRANSPORTATION CONSTRAINTS:

• DEVELOPING REGIONAL PRIORITY LIST OF ‘TOP TEN TRANSPORTATION NIGHTMARES’ through public nominations with MetroWest Daily News and Community Newspapers to increase public support for responses and develop consensus on top needs.
• ADVOCATING FOR REGIONAL PRIORITIES in transportation planning and budgeting efforts, such as the Governor’s statewide transportation plan A Framework for Thinking – A Plan for Action; the Legislature’s Transportation Bond legislation; Metropolitan Planning Organizations’ Transportation Improvement Plans and Unified Planning for Work Programs; and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Capital Investment Plan.
• DISTRIBUTING ANALYSES OF REGIONAL IMPACTS from transportation planning and budgeting efforts, via Arc Issue Briefs to provide summaries and details; Arc Alerts to notify regional leaders of opportunities to provide input to these efforts; and sample correspondence on regional needs.
• ENDORSING LEGISLATION TO ALLOW ACCESS TO REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY (RTA) SERVICES for those municipalities current served by the MBTA with commuter rail, but are blocked by state statute from joining or starting another RTA.
• DEVELOPING ANALYSIS OF NEED FOR IMPROVED REGTIONAL TRANSIT SERVICES with the MetroWest/495 Transportation Management Association, so that regional organizations and leaders would have comprehensive analysis of prior studies and talking points to support legislative advocacy.
• CONVENING A WORKING GROUP ON THE I-495/MASS TURNPIKE INTERCHANGE charged with developing short and long term improvements, endorsed by Secretary of Transportation John Cogliano, with the participation of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, Massachusetts Highway Department, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, area legislators, and the towns of Hopkinton and Westborough.
• WORKING WITH POLICYMAKERS in the Legislature and Romney Administration to develop responses to regional transportation needs.
•  SECURING STATE LINE ITEM FUNDING FOR SUBURBAN TRANSIT programs such as Local Inter-Framingham Transit (LIFT) Bus and bus services for Boston commuters.
• PROVIDING REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON I-495 TRANSIT STUDY convened by the Boston MPO in response to regional need for further action to address transportation service.
• SERVING AS A RESOURCE TO PARTNERSHIP PARTICIPANTS, such as municipalities, chambers of commerce, and regional employers on issues involving transportation services and infrastructure.