Consistent with MetroFuture’s emphasis on public engagement and communication, the Boston MPO should seek opportunities to broaden diversity of membership and depth of participation.  Meeting the region’s complex transportation needs requires consideration of many disparate issues: mobility for underserved and disadvantaged populations, economic growth, environmental resources, and municipal finance.  An MPO that draws voting membership from similarly diverse constituencies will be well-equipped to represent and evaluate the region’s multidimensional transportation needs and sometimes divergent interests.

Membership on the MPO is currently limited to state agencies, MAPC, four cities, and three towns.  The Regional Transportation Advisory Committee provides a formal mechanism for participation of other interest groups and advocacy organizations, but does have voting rights at the full MPO.  Furthermore, the workings of the MPO can seem opaque to many stakeholders, who may not understand how to participate or may feel that such participation is futile.  

The MPO should consider expanding its membership to include business, labor, institutional and/or non-profit representatives; state environmental, economic development, and housing officials; as well as the representation of Environmental Justice constituencies.  Such an expansion would bring a greater diversity of perspectives to the MPO and would help to demystify the programming process among many important stakeholders.  

Substantively, several improvements could assist the MPO process, such as the election of officers and committee chairs by the full MPO, delivery of materials and action items with more lead time, greater clarity about the MPO process to members of the public and local officials

4.a    The MPO should establish a commission to investigate expanding and diversifying membership

Add Comment