When it comes to transportation, everyone can get involved

Find out what you can do to make a difference

What agencies and individuals are involved in transportation projects?
Transportation projects are developed and implemented by a wide range of public and private sector stakeholders—including citizens, groups, local officials, agencies and businesses. These stakeholders’ roles vary. In the MVPC region, they are most frequently involved in the development and maintenance of roadways, bicycling and walking trails, sidewalks, and passenger rail facilities and services. To a lesser extent, the region’s stakeholders are also involved in planning for air and water transportation. Regional stakeholders also participate in reviews of utility transportation, i.e. power lines, pipelines and transmission facilities.

Local, regional and state projects
In the MVPC region, transportation projects are usually initiated by community officials. However, regional planning agencies and Commonwealth of Massachusetts (state) agencies may also initiate a transportation project. Most local and some regional projects are developed by the communities, either through their engineering department, department of public works or their planning and community development offices.

• Local projects are frequently neighborhood or central business district traffic studies, street redesigns, roadway and sidewalk repair or construction.
• Regional projects are commonly initiated and developed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA) and include roadway, bridge, bus and passenger rail and multi-use trail projects.
• State projects in the MVPC region are most often developed by the MassDOT, MBTA and MAC. State project examples involve the region’s interstate highways, state-numbered highways and most bridges; most railroad corridors and facilities.

Federal Role in Transportation Project Development
Federal transportation legislation requires that Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and states conduct a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive (“3C”) transportation planning process. MVPC is a member of the Merrimack Valley MPO (MVMPO), which represents MVPC member communities while coordinating with regional, state and federal transportation interests. Collectively, the MVMPO oversees the transportation project planning and the programming of projects in the RTP and the TIP, and also monitors the status of the necessary design, engineering and permitting work.

This process involves continuous interaction among the following agencies:

• Federal Highway (FHWA) and Transit Administrations (FTA)
• MassDOT
• MBTS and MVRTA
• Employer-sponsored transportation organizations, i.e. the Merrimack Valley Transportation Management Association and The Junction Transportation Management Association
• Officials of the MVMPO and adjoining MPO regions
• MVMPO community elected officials and municipal department staffs
• Local citizens, business and environmental interests

Source: FHWA www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/decisionmaking/citizen8.htm

If a project requires federal transportation funds:
Projects to be funded in whole or part with federal transportation funds must be programmed by the MVMPO. This is a continuous process and involves consultation among MVMPO members and the public. Please refer to Part A of the MVPC FFY 2011-2014 Transportation Improvement Program for a detailed overview of this process.

If a project does not require federal transportation funds:
Projects not funded with federal transportation funds (i.e. state, local) are not required to be programmed by the MVMPO, however, MVPC provides assistance with the development and implementation of these projects as part of its general transportation planning activities. There are also certain transportation projects that are converted from federal to state funds at some point during the project development process—the MVMPO tracks these projects as part of its coordination responsibilities.

Massachusetts communities undertake many local transportation projects using other sources of funds, such as M.G.L. Chapter 90, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grants and bond issues.

What project types require conformity with MassDOT policies and procedures?

• Projects which require MassDOT funding and/or MassDOT administration of other funds, i.e. federal or state
• Projects involving MassDOT-owned facilities
• Projects for which MassDOT is a proponent

MassDOT transportation project policies and procedures are detailed in its Project Development Guidebook, available at www.massdot.gov.

I have a transportation issue and want to get it addressed. How do I do it?
Your role in the process is very important.* Without your ideas and input your ideas, State and local governments cannot develop a full understanding of your community’s needs.

Although some people may think that transportation officials can gather all necessary information on their own, that is not actually the case. You may know information that is more current or detailed than is available to transportation professionals. You may also see things in a different way than transportation officials. This is why it is so important for you to be involved.

The transportation-planning process is ongoing, so there are several ways to make transportation planners aware of your needs and concerns, and to help develop transportation solutions. To make sure that you are following the latest developments, you can:

• Put your name on a mailing list to receive newsletters, updates, and other information from MassDOT, the MBTA and MVPC.
• Participate in the Merrimack Valley Transportation Committee where many transportation matters are discussed.
• Contact your local selectmen/city councilors and describe your concerns.
• Attend meetings of State and regional transportation boards.
• Provide your input on local and regional transportation plans and programs.
• Volunteer to serve on a focus group or advisory committee.
• Ask a transportation official to attend a meeting of your Rotary Club, American Association of Retired Persons, Kiwanis Club, or other community or civic organization. Ask that official to explain the transportation-planning process to you and your neighbors.
• Find out what specific public-participation opportunities are available in your area by contacting your MPO, State DOT, transit agency, and local government agency.

*Source: FHWA

Where can I find a detailed overview of the federal transportation planning and programming process?

• See Federal Highway Administration, A Citizen’s Guide to Transportation Decisionmaking, www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/decisionmaking

What Internet-based resources are available to learn about current transportation policies and projects relevant to the Merrimack Valley region?

• www.mvpc.org – Merrimack Valley Planning Commission
• www.mvrta.org – Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority
• www.mbta.com – Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
• www.massdot.gov – The Commonwealth’s Department of Transportation site. Consult Chapter 2 of the MassDOT Project Development and Design Guide for a complete overview of the roadway transportation project development process at www.mhd.state.ma.us/downloads/designGuide/CH_2_a.pdf
• www.fhwa.dot.gov and www.fta.dot.gov – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration
• www.mvtma.org – Merrimack Valley Transportation Management Association
• www.jtmo.org – The Junction Transportation Management Association

See a complete list of resources and Transportation Industry Advocates on our Transportation Links page.