Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning

Organization

Federal Fiscal Years 2023 to 2027

Transportation Improvement Program

Draft Report

April 2022

Prepared by the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission

This document was prepared in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation. (under Contract # 114679 with MassDOT) The views and opinions of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Massachusetts Department of
Transportation or the U.S. Department of Transportation.
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Table of Contents

Title VI Notice to Beneficiaries .............................................................................................. 1
Endorsement Page for Federal TIP - Signatures .................................................................. 5
Certification of the Merrimack Valley MPO Transportation Planning Process ...................... 7
310 CMR 60.05: Global Warming Solutions Act – Signatures .............................................. 9
Part A. Introduction....................................................................................................... 11
Part A. 1. TIP Development Process .................................................................................. 11
Part A. 2. Performance Measures ...................................................................................... 15
Part A. 3. Prioritization ........................................................................................................ 52
Part A. 4. Public Participation ............................................................................................ 66
Public Participation Plan (PPP) Stakeholders 67
Part A. 5. Amendment/ Adjustment Procedures ................................................................ 69
Part A. 6. High Priority Projects ......................................................................................... 71
Part A. 7. Advance Construction......................................................................................... 73
Part A. 8. Transportation Funding Programs ...................................................................... 74
Highway Projects.............................................................................................. 74
Transit Projects ................................................................................................ 77
Organization of Project Listings – Highway Projects ........................................ 79
Part B. Project Listings ...................................................................................................... 83
Highway Projects.............................................................................................. 83
Transit Projects ................................................................................................ 91
Summary of Highway Project Listings by Town................................................ 97
Part C. Federal Requirements .........................................................................................103
Part C.1. Highway Program Financial Plan.......................................................................104
Highway Program Financial Plan Table .........................................................112
Summary of Highway Funding Categories .....................................................114
Part C. 2. Transit Program Financial Plan ........................................................................123
Transit Program Financial Plan Table ............................................................124
Summary of Transit Funding Categories ........................................................129
MVRTA Transit Operations and Maintenance Summary Table ......................130
Part C. 3. Status on Implementation of FFY 2022 TIP Projects ........................................133
FFY 2022 Highway Project List ......................................................................133
Part C. 4. Air Quality Conformity.......................................................................................136
Part C. 5. Special Efforts - ADA ........................................................................................142
Part C. 6. Environmental Justice ......................................................................................142
Part C. 7. Equity Analysis .................................................................................................143
Appendix...........................................................................................................................171
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Title VI Notice to Beneficiaries

The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) operates its programs, services and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related statutes and regulations. Title VI prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs and requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin (including limited English proficiency) be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal assistance. Related federal nondiscrimination laws administrated by the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, or both, prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, sex and disability. These protected categories are contemplated within MVPC’s Title VI Program consistent with federal interpretation and administration. Additionally, MVPC provides meaningful access to its programs, services, and activities to individuals with limited English proficiency, in compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation policy and guidance on federal Executive Order 13166.
MVPC also complies with the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law, M.G.L. Chapter
272, Sections 92a, 98, and 98a prohibiting making any distinction, discrimination, or restriction in admission to or treatment in a place of public accommodation based upon race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or ancestry. Likewise, MVPC complies with the Governor’s Executive Order 526, Section 4 requiring that all of its programs, activities, and services provided, performed, licensed, chartered, funded, regulated, or contracted for shall be conducted without unlawful discrimination based upon race, color, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, disability,

veteran’s status (including Vietnam-era veterans), or background.

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Additional Information

To request additional information regarding Title VI and related federal and state nondiscrimination obligations, please contact:
Title VI Program Coordinator
Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization c/o Merrimack Valley Planning Commission
160 Main Street
Haverhill, MA 01830-5061 (978) 374-0519, extension 15 [email protected]

Complaint Filing

To file a complaint alleging a violation of Title VI or related federal nondiscrimination law, contact the Title VI Program Coordinator (above) within one hundred and eighty (180) days of the alleged discriminatory conduct.
To file a complaint alleging a violation of the Commonwealth’s Public Accommodation Law,
contact the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination within three hundred (300)
days of the alleged discriminatory conduct at:
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) One Ashburton Place, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02109 (617) 994-6000
TTY: (617) 994-6196

Translation

English

If this information is needed in another language, please contact the MVMPO Title
VI/Nondiscrimination Coordinator at 978-374-0519 ext. 15.

Spanish

Si necesita esta información en otro idioma, por favor contacte al coordinador de MVMPO
del Título VI/Contra la Discriminación al 978-374-0519 ext. 15.

Portuguese

Caso estas informações sejam necessárias em outro idioma, por favor, contate o
Coordenador de Título VI e de Não Discriminação da MVMPO pelo telefone 978-374-
0519, Ramal 15.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 2

Chinese Simple

如果需要使用其它语言了解信息，请联系Merrimack Valley大都会规划组织（MVMPO）《 民权法案》第六章协调员，电话978-374-0519，转15。

Chinese Traditional

如果需要使用其他語言瞭解資訊，請聯繫Merrimack Valley大都會規劃組織（MVMPO）《 民權法案》第六章協調員，電話978-374-0519，轉15。

Vietnamese

Nếu quý vị cần thông tin này bằng tiếng khác, vui lòng liên hệ Điều phối viên Luật VI/Chống phân biệt đối xử của MVMPO theo số điện thoại 978-374-0519, số máy nhánh 15.

French Creole

Si yon moun vle genyen enfòmasyon sa yo nan yon lòt lang, tanpri kontakte Kowòdinatè kont Diskriminasyon/MVMPO Title VI la nan nimewo 978-374-0519, ekstansyon 15.

Russian

Если Вам необходима данная информация на любом другом языке, пожалуйста, свяжитесь с Координатором Титула VI/Защита от дескриминации в MVMPO по тел: 978-374-0519, добавочный 15.

French

Si vous avez besoin d'obtenir une copie de la présente dans une autre langue, veuillez contacter le coordinateur du Titre VI/anti-discrimination de MVMPO en composant le 978-
374-0519, poste 15.

Italian

Se ha bisogno di ricevere queste informazioni in un’altra lingua si prega di contattare il
coordinatore del MVMPO del Titolo VI e dell'ufficio contro la discriminazione al 978-374-
0519 interno 15.

Mon-Khmer, Cambodian

ប្រសិនបរើបោក-អ្ន កប្រូវការរកប្ប្រព័រ៌មានបនេះ
សូ មទាក់ទងអ្ន កសប្មរសប្មួលជំពូ កទី6/គ្មា នការប រសើ
978-374-0519 រចភ្ជា រ់បៅបលខ 15។
បអ្ើងររស់ MVMPO តាមរយៈបលខទូរស័ពទ

Arabic

طيطختلا ةمظنمل عباتلا زييمتلا عنمل ةسداسلا ةرقفلا قسنمب لاصتلاا ىجرُي ،ىرخأ ةغلب تامولعملا هذه ىلإ ةجاحب تنك اذإ

.15 ماقرلأا طغضا مثو 978-374-0519 :فتاهلا ىلع يلاف كاميريم يف يرضحلا

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Endorsement Page for Federal TIP - Signatures

Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization Endorsement of the

FFYs 2023-2027 Transportation Improvement Program

Whereas, the Merrimack Valley MPO has completed its review in accordance with Section
176(c) (4) of the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 [42 U.S.C. 7251 (a)], and hereby certifies that the FFYs 2023-2027 TIP is financially constrained and that the
implementation of the Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization 2020 Regional
Transportation Plan satisfies the conformity criteria specified in both 40 CFR Part 51 and
93 (8/15/1997) and 310 CMR 60.03 (12/30/1994).
Therefore, in accordance with 23 CFR Part 450 Section 322 (Development and content of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan) of the March 16, 2007 Final Rules for Statewide and Metropolitan Planning, the MPO hereby endorses the FFYs 2023-2027 Transportation Improvement Program.

Signatory Certification: Date: May 25, 2022

Jamey Tesler
Secretary/ CEO MassDOT
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Certification of the Merrimack Valley MPO Transportation Planning Pro- cess

The Merrimack Valley Region Metropolitan Planning Organization certifies that its conduct of the metropolitan transportation planning process complies with all applicable require- ments, which are listed below, and that this process includes activities to support the de- velopment and implementation of the Regional Long-Range Transportation Plan and Air Quality Conformity Determination, the Transportation Improvement Program and Air Qual- ity Conformity Determination, and the Unified Planning Work Program.
1. 1. 23 USC 134, 49 USC 5303, and this subpart.
1. 2. Sections 174 and 176 (c) and (d) of the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 USC 7504,
7506 (c) and (d) and 40 CFR part 93 and for applicable State Implementation Plan projects.
1. 3. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 USC 2000d-1) and 49
CFR Part 21.
1. 4. 49 USC 5332, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, or age in employment or business opportunity.
1. 5. Section 1101 (b) of the Fast Act (Pub. L. 114-357) and 49 CFR Part 26 regarding the involvement of disadvantaged business enterprises in U.S. DOT-funded projects.
2. 6. 23 CFR part 230, regarding implementation of an equal employment opportunity program on Federal and Federal-aid highway construction contracts.
1. 7. The provisions of the US DOT and of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 USC 12101 et seq.) and 49 CFR Parts 27, 37, and 38.
1. 8. The Older Americans Act, as amended (42 USC 6101), prohibiting discrimination on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.
1. 9. Section 324 of Title 23 USC regarding the prohibition of discrimination based on gender.
10. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC 794) and 49 CFR Part 27 re- garding discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
11. Anti-lobbying restrictions found in 49 USC Part 20. No appropriated funds may be expended by a recipient to influence or attempt to influence an officer or employee of any agency, or a member of Congress, in connection with the awarding of any federal contract.
May 25, 2022

Jamey L. Tesler, Secretary and Chief Executive Officer
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Chair, Merrimack Valley MPO
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310 CMR 60.05: Global Warming Solutions Act – Signatures

310 CMR 60.05: Global Warming Solutions Act Requirements for Transportation

This will certify that the Transportation Improvement Program and Air Quality Conformity Determination for the Merrimack Valley MPO Long Range Transportation Plan is in compli- ance with all applicable requirements in the State Regulation 310 CMR 60.05: Global Warm- ing Solutions Act Requirements for Transportation. The regulation requires the MPO to:
1. 310 CMR 60.05(5)(a)1.: Evaluate and report the aggregate transportation GHG
emissions impacts of RTPs and TIPs;
2. 310 CMR 60.05(5)(a)2.: In consultation with MassDOT, develop and utilize proce- dures to prioritize and select projects in RTPs and TIPs based on factors that in- clude aggregate transportation GHG emissions impacts;
3. 310 CMR 60.05(5)(a)3.: Quantify net transportation GHG emissions impacts result- ing from the projects in RTPs and TIPs and certify in a statement included with
RTPs and TIPs pursuant to 23 CFR Part 450 that the MPO has made efforts to min-
imize aggregate transportation GHG emissions impacts;
4. 310 CMR 60.05(5)(a)4.: Determine in consultation with the RPA that the appropriate planning assumptions used for transportation GHG emissions modeling are con- sistent with local land use policies, or that local authorities have made documented and credible commitments to establishing such consistency;
5. 310 CMR 60.05(8)(a)2.a.: Develop RTPs and TIPs;
6. 310 CMR 60.05(8)(a)2.b.: Ensure that RPAs are using appropriate planning as- sumptions;
7. 310 CMR 60.05(8)(a)2.c.: Perform regional aggregate transportation GHG emis- sions impact analysis of RTPs and TIPs;
8. 310 CMR 60.05(8)(a)2.d.: Calculate aggregate transportation GHG emissions im-
pacts for RTPs and TIPs;
9. 310 CMR 60.05(8)(a)2.e.: Develop public consultation procedures for aggregate transportation GHG emissions impact reporting and related GWSA requirements consistent with current and approved regional public participation plans;
10. 310 CMR 60.05(8)(c): Prior to making final endorsements on the RTPs, TIPs, STIPs, and projects included in these plans, MassDOT and the MPOs shall include the aggregate transportation GHG emission impact assessment in RTPs, TIPs, and STIPs and provide an opportunity for public review and comment on the RTPs, TIPs, and STIPs; and
11. 310 CMR 60.05(8)(a)1.c.: After a final GHG assessment has been made by MassDOT and the MPOs, MassDOT and the MPOs shall submit MPO-endorsed RTPs, TIPs, STIPs or projects within 30 days of endorsement to the Department for
review of the GHG assessment.

Jamey Tesler, Secretary and CEO
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT);
Chair, Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (OCMPO)

May 25, 2022 Date

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Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization FFYs 2023-2027 Transportation Improvement Program Draft Report prepared April 2022

Part A. Introduction

Part A. 1. TIP Development Process

Federal transportation authorization legislation establishes funding categories for transportation projects that may be eligible for Federal funding and sets maximum funding levels per category for each year of the legislation. Projects in this TIP are planned to be primarily funded through the federal transportation act titled “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)” that was signed into law November 15, 2021, Public Law 117-58, also known as the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” (BIL). The IIJA funds $550 billion dollars for transportation, water infrastructure, resilience and broadband for Federal Fiscal Years (FFYs)
2022 through 2026.
The previous legislation “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21)” established planning factors known as the “MAP-21 eight planning factors” and the “FAST Act” added two new planning factors (I and J in the list that follows), continuing in the BIL stipulates that the metropolitan planning process...
“provide for consideration of projects and strategies that will-

A) support the economic vitality of the metropolitan planning area, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity and efficiency;

B) increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users;

C) increase the security of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users;

D) increase the accessibility and mobility of people and for freight; E) protect and enhance the environment, promote energy
conservation, improve quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and State and local planned growth and economic development patterns;
F) enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes, for people and freight;
G) promote efficient system management and operation;
H) emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system;
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 11
I) improve the resiliency and reliability of the transportation system and reduce or mitigate stormwater impacts of surface transportation; and
J) enhance travel and tourism.”
It is the responsibility of the Federal mandated, State designated, regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to carry out the Federal transportation planning process in their respective urbanized areas and prepare many Federal transportation documents, including the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). This process, and the MPOs themselves, were established with the intention to include local and regional input into the Federal transportation planning process.
Based on Federal regulations any transportation project funded through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), or the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) must be listed in the appropriate region's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). MassDOT combines the 13 regional MPO TIPs with statewide projects to produce the Statewide TIP (STIP) from which Federal-aid highway and transit projects are chosen. Without such a listing, Federal Highway funds cannot be expended by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) on local or State projects. Similarly, the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA) can only receive federal funds for projects listed in the TIP and STIP.

Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MVMPO)

The MVMPO was first created by the Governor of Massachusetts in 1972. The MVMPO covers the same 15-community geographic area that defines the MVPC region and the MVRTA
service area. The current MVMPO membership is as follows:

• Secretary of MassDOT –Jamey L. Tesler

• MassDOT Highway Division Administrator –Jonathan L. Gulliver

• Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) Director –Jerrard Whitten

• Administrator/CEO Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority –Noah Berger

• Mayor of Haverhill –James Fiorentini

• Mayor of Lawrence –Brian A. De Peña

• Representing Region 1 (Amesbury, Newburyport, Salisbury) –Neil Harrington

• Representing Region 2 (Newbury, Rowley, West Newbury) –Robert Snow

• Representing Region 3 (Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac) –John Cashell

• Representing Region 4 (Andover, Methuen, North Andover) –Paul Materazzo

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Ex officio, non-voting members of the MVMPO include:

• Federal Highway Administration –Massachusetts Division –Jeff McEwen

• Federal Transit Administration – Region I – Peter Butler

• Rockingham Planning Commission MPO (NH), Chairman RPC – Richard McDermott

• Boston MPO, President MAPC –Erin Wortman

• Northern Middlesex MPO, Chairman NMCOG –Andrew Deslaurier

• Nashua MPO (NH), Chairman NRPC –Timothy Tenhave

The TIP has been prepared in accordance with 23 CFR 450.326.
The development of the TIP starts with the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The MVMPO’s RTP is a twenty-year plan for transportation projects that can be programmed for implementation with Federal funds. The RTP is fiscally constrained and lists potential future projects in five-year blocks. Projects were chosen for the RTP based on MAP-21 transportation planning factors, meeting performance measure targets, existing roadway conditions,
problems identified through ongoing pavement, congestion, and safety analyses conducted by the MVMPO, local and state project priorities and fiscal factors. Each year, the MVMPO programs projects from the RTP that are ‘ready-to-go’ into its five-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Only those projects that are specifically identified in the RTP, or are consistent with its recommendations, can be programmed in the TIP. The planning tasks conducted in developing the RTP and the TIP are included in the region’s Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) which is produced for public review annually. The UPWP includes additional transportation planning activities such as intersection and roadway analyses and studies.
Projects from the RTP first two-time bands of years (i.e., 2020 to 2024 and 2025 to 2029) are programmed in the TIP. An inconsistency with spending shown in the RTP is that when the MVMPO’s FFY 2020 RTP was developed, it was assumed the construction of North Avenue in Haverhill would occur in the FFYs 2020 to 2024 time-band. The estimated project cost for this project and for the North Andover Route 114 project have increased significantly to the point where fully programming both of these projects in the 2023 to 2027 TIP is not financially feasi- ble. Neither project would be ready to advertise until 2024 or later. The Route 114 project has
a TEC score of 12.42, the Haverhill North Avenue project has a TEC score of 8.58. In addition, the North Andover Route 114 project is further along in the design process, therefore the North Andover Route 114 project is programmed to start in FFY 2024 and then consumes all the re- gional target funding in FFYs 2025 and 2026 and will also need some of the FFY 2027 funding before funding is available for Haverhill North Avenue. North Avenue is programmed to begin
in 2027, it is a three-year project, so it will be AC’d 2027 to 2029. Also, two sections of the Bor-
der-to-Boston Rail Trail were slated for 2020 to 2024, the Georgetown-Newbury Northern
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 13
Georgetown to Byfield section is programmed for Statewide funding in 2026, the other section is programmed in 2024 as it was in the RTP. Additionally, the Lawrence Reconstruction of Amesbury Street is in the 2030 to 2034 band, but this project has received earmark/discretion- ary funding which is available for this TIP.
Projects that appear in the TIP were initiated and selected from a number of sources. Bridge projects have been selected and developed by MassDOT's Bridge section largely based upon the results of their ongoing bridge maintenance program. MassDOT has made it a priority to develop projects that would correct problems in “Structurally Deficient” (SD) bridges. The region’s Congestion Management Process is used to identify intersections and roadways where significant congestion exists and measures the levels of congestion at these locations. This information has been used by local communities to develop roadway projects that are programmed in the TIP. Similarly, locations identified as having safety problems in the region’s Safety Monitoring System or identified as a "crash cluster" by MassDOT, are used by the Department and local communities to develop TIP projects. Projects that help meet Performance Measures targets are programmed in the TIP.
Bicycle and pedestrian paths and accomodations on roadways and bridges are part of the Massachusetts 2019 Statewide Pedestrian Transportation Plan and 2019 Statewide Bicycle Transportation Plan which strive to consider pedestrians and bicyclists at “the same level of importance as drivers in planning, design and maintenance” including incorporating the safety of these users in projects. MassDOT’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Update 2021 illustrates some of the projects MassDOT has completed since releasing the Plans in 2019. These projects help meet the Plans’ goals “to increase the percentage of everyday trips made by biking and walking while eliminating fatalities and serious injuries”. These Plans also conduct analyses which locate areas with Potential for Everyday Biking, Gaps in the High Comfort Bikeway Network, Potential for Walkable Trips, Transit Route, and High Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash locations used to initiate projects as well as score projects for the Massachusetts Capital
Investment Plan (CIP). All TIP projects are part of the (CIP) which has a category of Expansion Projects which include projects that “expand bicycle and pedestrian networks to provide more transportation options and address health and sustainability objectives”. Many bicycle and pedestrian projects are initiated by a municipality because the State provides funding for these
projects in the Complete Streets, Shared Use Path, and the Safe Route to Schools Programs.
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Part A. 2. Performance Measures

Federal legislation requires states to develop a Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) that includes Performance Measures for NHS roadways and bridges as part of the as- set management process. MassDOT Highway Division submitted an initial TAMP to FHWA on April 30, 2018, the TAMP was finalized in September of 2019.

Beginning with the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), continuing in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), that was signed into law November 15, 2021, State DOTs and MPOs are required to establish performance measures, and targets for these measures, to be used in assessing the transportation system and pro- gramming projects for Federal funding categories provided in the Acts. The Final Rules estab- lishing these measures were released in three separate rule makings. PM1: "HSIP and Safety Performance Management Measures", PM2: "Pavement and Bridge Condition Performance Measures", and PM3: "System Performance/ Freight/ CMAQ Performance Measures". These Rules define the measures to be used in each of the categories.

The PM1 HSIP and Safety Performance Measures apply to all public roads. The PM2 Pave- ment and Bridge Performance Measures apply only to NHS (National Highway System) roads and bridges. PM3 Performance Measures apply to various facilities as defined below.

MassDOT has established targets based on these performance measures and the MPOs have worked with MassDOT in either a) choosing the same targets, b) adapting them to the specific region, or c) choosing new targets as goals for the MPO. The MVMPO has adopted all of the targets established by MassDOT. MassDOT and the MPOs will work cooperatively to ex- change data and performance targets and measures as required by the legislation.

MassDOT’s Tracker https://www.massdottracker.com/wp/ contains annual performance man- agement reports. These performance targets and corresponding actuals are contained in the reports.

The following are the performance measures, divided into three categories, as defined by the

Final Federal Rules:

HSIP and Safety Performance Management Measures to be applied to all public roads

(PM1):

• Number of Fatalities

• Fatality rate per 100 million vehicle-miles traveled

• Number of Serious Injuries

• Serious injury rate per 100 million vehicle-miles traveled

• Number of non-motorized fatalities and non-motorized serious injuries

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Pavement and Bridge Condition Performance Measures (PM2):

• Percentage of Pavements of the Interstate System in Good condition

• Percentage of Pavements of the Interstate System in Poor condition

• Percentage of Pavements of the non-Interstate NHS in Good condition

• Percentage of Pavements of the non-Interstate NHS in Poor condition

• Percentage of NHS bridges by deck area classified as in Good condition

• Percentage of NHS bridges by deck area classified as in Poor condition

MassDOT has submitted a draft NHS Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP), as re- quired by MAP-21, to address pavement and bridge conditions on the NHS system. The TAMP was finalized in September 2019.

System Performance/ Freight/ CMAQ Performance Measures (PM3):

• Percent of the Person-Miles Traveled on the Interstate that are Reliable

• Percent of the Person-Miles Traveled on the non-Interstate NHS that are Reliable

• Truck Travel Time Reliability (TTTR) Index on the Interstate System

• Annual Hours of Peak Hour Excessive Delay Per Capita

• Percent of Non-SOV Travel on the NHS System

• Total Emission Reduction of all projects funded with CMAQ in areas designated as non- attainment or maintenance for ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), or particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5)

MassDOT collects data for and establishes targets for each of the performance measures and presents these to the MPO. The MVMPO then votes on whether to adopt the MassDOT tar- gets, or establish their own. Projects are programmed for funding with consideration of meeting the targets established for each measure. The performance measures are incorporated into

the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Transportation Evaluation Criteria (TEC) in the scoring categories as indicated in the TEC Scoring Criteria Chart in Section A.3. of the TIP.

Targets are set by examining historic trends in the data and considering future plans for poten- tial improvements.

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 16

Safety Performance Measures (PM1)

The Merrimack Valley MPO at its January 26, 2022 meeting chose to adopt the statewide safety performance measure targets set by MassDOT for Calendar Year (CY) 2022.

Total Fatalities: Per Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidance, the CY22 target setting process began with a trend line projection based on the most recent available data.

Due to reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT) related to the pandemic, actual 2020 fatalities did not follow this trend, so CY21 projections were based on trends from CY19 with CY20 data disregarded given the unique circumstances surrounding data from that year. CY22 projections are based on a 2.5% reduction in fatalities from CY21 resulting in a five-year average fatalities projection of 340. It is projected that fatalities will decrease based on MassDOT efforts in the areas of speed management and safe systems, among other safety strategies. As always, MassDOT’s overarching goal is zero deaths and this goal will be pursued by implementing Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) strategies.
The Merrimack Valley Region number of fatalities averaged over the five years from 2016 to
2020 is 21, an increase of 3 over the previous 2015 to 2019 average which was 18. This large increase in the 5-year average can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic anomaly year when 28 fatalities occurred in the Merrimack Valley, CY 2016 had 20, CY 2017 had 19, CY
2018 had 18 and CY 2019 had 19. The open crash data for 2021 shows 19 fatalities in the re- gion.

Fatality Rate: The fatality rate represents five-year average fatalities divided by five-year average VMTs. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted VMT, causing fatality rates to spike in 2020 with significantly lower VMT and slightly higher fatalities. The 2022 projection is now

0.56 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled for 2022 (five-year average of 2018-2022). The long-term goal is towards zero deaths, so the long-term fatality rate target is 0 fatalities per
100 million VMTs.
The Merrimack Valley Region fatality rate increased from 0.47 fatalities per 100 million Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) averaged over 2015 to 2019 to 0.58 averaged from 2016 to 2020, which is slightly above the Statewide rate of 0.57 fatalities per 100 million VMT from 2016 to 2020.

Total Serious Injuries: It is anticipated that there will be an overall decrease in the number of serious injuries due to a continual downward trend line as well as the implementation of countermeasures that are being developed as part of the 2018 SHSP. MassDOT projections in this category have used CY19 as a base to reflect changes in VMT due to the pandemic, and the CY22 target of 2,504 was set to reflect this trend. Due to unpredictable fluctuations

between 2019 and 2020 data and an overall decreasing trendline, a 3% reduction in annual serious injuries from 2018 to 2021, and a 4% annual reduction from 2021 to 2022, were
assumed to calculate the CY22 target.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 17
The Merrimack Valley Region Total Serious Injuries decreased slightly from 147 averaged from 2015 to 2019 to 146 serious injuries averaged from 2016 to 2020.

Serious Injuries Rate: Similar to the fatality rate, it is anticipated that the downward trend line will result in a drop in the rate of serious injuries from 4.28 per 100 million VMT between 2017–

2021 to 4.11 between 2018–2022. Five-year VMT data were used between 2018 – 2022 to calculate this rate.
The Merrimack Valley Serious Injury Rate per 100 million VMT increased from 3.9 averaged over 2015 to 2019 to 4.1 from 2016 to 2020, but remains lower than the State average of 4.28 from 2016 to 2020.

Total Number of Non-Motorized Fatalities and Serious Injuries: In 2020, during the

COVID-19 pandemic, Massachusetts experienced a steep decline in both non-motorized fatali- ties and serious injuries. Because of the high fluctuations in the data, to establish MassDOT’s CY22 target, CY21 non-motorist fatalities and suspected serious injuries were set to be equal
to the average of CY17, CY18 and CY19 data. To project the non-motorist fatality and serious injuries for CY22, a 2% reduction was estimated. Overall, this translated to a CY22 5-year av- erage of 471 fatalities and serious injuries combined for non-motorists.
It is important to note that the inclusion criteria have changed for non-motorists. This year, the non-motorist type “not reported” was removed because, based on manual inspection, it ap- pears that many of the persons in this category were not actually pedestrians or bicyclists but were bystanders (e.g. people who were in buildings when the building was struck by a vehi- cle). However, due to data quality and the ability, need and resources to manually review crashes, this field may continue to evolve.

Note: The fatality and serious injury data contained here was developed to align with the data included within MassDOT's annual Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) report. As such, historical data may be different from what was reported in prior years.

In the Merrimack Valley region the total number of non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries in the most recent 5-year periods is 21 for the 2015 to 2019 and the 2016 to 2020 five year av- erage. The total number of non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries was 20 from 2014 to
2018.
In recent years, MassDOT and the Merrimack Valley MPO have invested in “complete streets”, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, intersection and safety improvements in both the Capital Investment Plan (CIP) and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) to address increasing mode share and to incorporate safety mitigation elements into projects. Moving for-
ward, Merrimack Valley MPO, alongside MassDOT, is actively seeking to improve data
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 18
collection and methodology for bicycle and pedestrian VMT counts and to continue analyzing crash clusters and crash counts that include both motorized and non-motorized modes in order
to address safety issues at these locations.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 19

Figure 1 Statewide Total Fatalities and Fatal Crash Rates (5-Year Averages)

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Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April2022 20

Figure 2 Merrimack Valley Total Fatalities and Fatal Crash Rates (5-Year Averages)

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Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 21

Figure 3 Statewide Total Serious Injuries and Serious Injury Crash Rates (5-Year Averages)

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Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April2022 22

Figure 4 Merrimack Valley Total Serious Injuries and Serious Injury Crash Rates (5-Yr Averages)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 23

Figure 5 Statewide Total Combined Non-Motorized Injuries & Fatalities

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Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 24

Figure 6 Merrimack Valley Total Combined Non-Motorized Injuries & Fatalities

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Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 25

Bridge & Pavement Performance Measures (PM 2)

On October 24, 2018 the Merrimack Valley MPO chose to adopt the 2-year (2020) and
4-year (2022) statewide bridge and pavement performance measure targets set by MassDOT. MassDOT was required to adopt a statewide target by May 20th, 2018, with MPOs either adopting the statewide target or establishing their own by November 2018. In setting these targets, MassDOT has followed FHWA guidelines by measuring bridges and pavement condition using the 9-point National Bridge Inventory Standards (NBIS); the International Roughness Index (IRI); the presence of pavement rutting; and the presence of pavement cracking. 2-year and 4-year targets were set for six individual performance measures: percent of bridges in good condition; percent of bridges in poor condition; percent of Interstate pavement in good condition; percent of Interstate pave- ment in poor condition; percent of non-Interstate pavement in good condition; and per- cent of non-Interstate pavement in poor condition. All of the above performance measures are tracked in greater detail in MassDOT’s Transportation Asset Manage- ment Plan (TAMP), which was finalized in September 2019. It is posted here: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/massdot-asset-management.
Targets for bridge-related performance measures were determined by identifying which bridge projects are programmed and projecting at what rate bridge conditions deterio- rate. The bridge-related performance measures measure the percentage of deck area, rather than the total number of bridges.
Performance targets for pavement-related performance measures were based on a sin- gle year of data collection, and thus were set to remain steady under the guidance of FHWA. These baseline measures were revisited at the 2-year mark (2020) and reported by MassDOT in the 2020 Mid-performance report. (See table on next page.) The deci- sion was made in the Mid-performance report to keep the pavement condition targets
the same.
MassDOT continues to measure pavement quality and to set statewide short-term and long-term targets in the MassDOT Performance Management Tracker using the Pave- ment Serviceability Index (PSI), which differs from IRI. These measures and targets are used in conjunction with federal measures to inform program sizing and project selec-
tion.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 26

Reliability, Congestion, & Emissions Performance Measures (PM3)

On October 24, 2018 the Merrimack Valley MPO chose to adopt the 2-year (2020) and
4-year (2022) statewide reliability, congestion, and emissions performance measure tar- gets set by MassDOT. MassDOT was required to adopt a statewide target by May 20th,
2018, with MPOs either adopting the statewide target or establishing their own by No- vember 2018.
MassDOT followed FHWA regulation in measuring Level of Travel Time Reliability (LOTTR) on both the Interstate and non-Interstate NHS as well as Truck Travel Time Reliability (TTTR) on the Interstate system using the National Performance Manage-
ment Research Dataset (NPMRDS) provided by FHWA. These performance measures
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 27
aim to identify the predictability of travel times on the roadway network by comparing the average travel time along a given segment against longer travel times. For LOTTR, the performance of all segments of the Interstate and of the non-Interstate NHS are de- fined as either reliable or unreliable based on a comparison between the 50th percentile travel time and the 80th percentile travel time, and the proportion of reliable segments is reported. For TTTR, the ratio between the 50th percentile travel time and the 90th per- centile travel time for trucks only along the Interstate system is reported as a statewide measure. As this data set has but one year of consistent data, FHWA guidance has been to set conservative targets and to adjust future targets once more data becomes available. To that end, MassDOT’s reliability performance targets are set to remain the same. These baseline measures were revisited at the 2-year mark (2020) and reported by MassDOT in the 2020 Mid-performance report. (See table on next page.) The deci- sion was made in the Mid-performance report to keep the LOTTR and TTTR perfor- mance targets the same.
The Merrimack Valley MPO, an agency whose planning area includes communities in the Boston Urbanized Area (UZA), and as a signatory to the 2018 Boston UZA Memo- randum of Understanding (Boston UZA MOU)—has also adopted 2-year (2020) and 4- year (2022) Boston UZA-wide congestion performance measure targets. These perfor- mance measures are the percentage of non-single occupancy vehicle (SOV) travel and the Peak Hour Excessive Delay (PHED). Targets were developed in coordination with state Departments of Transportation and neighboring MPOs with planning responsibility for portions of the Boston UZA.
The percentage of non-SOV travel is approximated using the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) Journey-to-Work data. In the Boston UZA, the proportion of non-SOV travel has been steadily increasing and is projected to continue increasing at a rate of 0.32% annually. The 2016 baseline measure was revisited at the
2-year mark (2020) and reported by MassDOT in the 2020 Mid-performance report. (See table on next page.) The decision was made in the Mid-performance report to develop new targets for this measure for 2022. The new data for 2017 showed that the share of Non-Single Occupancy Vehicle Trips was 34.1%, which is higher than the
33.9% figure previously predicted by MassDOT for that year. Similarly, the 34.6% share of trips measured in 2018 was higher than the 34.2% share that was previously projected. As a result, MassDOT increased the target for 2022 to 35.8%. Technically the Merrimack Valley MPO does not have to adopt this target because we are an
Attainment Area. However, since the MVMPO supports the idea of increasing the percentage of non-single occupancy vehicle travel in the region, the MVMPO adopted the new 2022 target of 35.8% for percentage of non-SOV travel measure on June 23,
2021.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 28
PHED is measured by totaling the number of hours spent in excessive delay (defined as travel time at 20 miles per hour or at 60% of the posted speed limit, whichever is
greater) in peak hours (between 6:00 am and 10:00 am, and between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm) divided by the total UZA population. As of target-setting, there was only one year of data available. As such, the performance targets have been set flat until further data is available. This baseline measure was revisited at the 2-year mark (2020) and reported by MassDOT in the 2020 Mid-performance report. (See table on next page.) The deci- sion was made in the Mid-performance report to keep the PHED target the same.
Emissions reduction targets are measured as the sum total of all emissions reductions anticipated through CMAQ-funded projects in non-attainment or air quality maintenance areas (currently the cities of Lowell, Springfield, Waltham, and Worcester, and the town of Oak Bluffs) identified in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). This anticipated emissions reduction is calculated using the existing CMAQ processes. The Merrimack Valley MPO does not have any communities in Non-Attainment and therefore does not need to adopt the emissions reductions targets. They are included at


the end of the table below for information.

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 29

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 30

MassDOT/ Adopted by MVMPO Performance Measures/ Targets Summary Table

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 31

MassDOT/ Adopted by MVMPO Performance Measures/ Targets Summary Table (Cont.)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 32

MassDOT/ Adopted by MVMPO Performance Measures/ Targets Summary Table (Cont.)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 33

MassDOT/ Adopted by MVMPO Performance Measures/ Targets Summary Table (Cont.)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 34

Regional Target Projects’ Relationship to Regional Planning Efforts and Performance Management

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 35

Regional Target Projects’ Relationship to Regional Planning Efforts and Performance Management (Cont.)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 36

Regional Target Projects’ Relationship to Regional Planning Efforts and Performance Management (Cont.)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 37

Regional Target Projects’ Relationship to Regional Planning Efforts and Performance Management (Cont.)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 38

Regional Target Projects’ Relationship to Regional Planning Efforts and Performance Management (Cont.)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 39

Regional Target Projects’ Relationship to Regional Planning Efforts and Performance Management (Cont.)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 40

Performance Target(s) Project Will Help Meet

(2023 to 2027 Statewide and Regional Target Funds)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 41

Performance Target(s) Project Will Help Meet

(2023 to 2027 Statewide and Regional Target Funds) (Cont.)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 42

Performance Target(s) Project Will Help Meet

(2023 to 2027 Statewide and Regional Target Funds) (Cont.)

* Haverhill North Avenue is AC’d FFY 2028 and 2029 = $ 17,802,740 Total Project Cost =$23,600,997
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 43

Performance Target(s) Project Will Help Meet

(2023 to 2027 Statewide and Regional Target Funds) (Cont.)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 44

Performance Target(s) Project Will Help Meet

(2023 to 2027 Statewide and Regional Target Funds) (Cont.)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 45

Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan Performance Management Targets

The MVRTA revised its TAM Plan July 8, 2021. The TAM Performance Management Tar- gets were adopted by the MVRTA Advisory Board on July 8, 2021. The Merrimack Valley MPO adopted these targets at its July 28, 2021 MPO meeting.
The following information is from the MVRTA Transit Asset Management Plan

Annual Performance Targets and Measures

As a recipient of Federal Transit Administration funds, the MVRTA is required to develop and maintain a Transit Asset Management Plan per FTA’s Final Rule at 49 CFR Part 625. As defined by the Rule, Transit Asset Management (TAM) is the strategic and systematic practice of processing, operating, inspecting, maintaining, rehabilitating and replacing transit capital assets to manage their performance, risks and cost over their life cycles to provide safe, cost effective and reliable public transportation.
The preparation of the TAM is based on identifying the transit assets which the MVRTA
owns and has direct Capital responsibility for and the performance measures included in the Final Rule that relate to these identified assets.

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 46

Using these Performance Measures leads to the setting of targets against the defined Use- ful Life Benchmark (ULB). Which FTA defines as:
The expected lifecycle of a capital asset for a particular Transit Provider’s operating environment, or the acceptable period of use in service for a particular Transit Provider’s op-
erating environment.
The MVRTA has defined the ULB as presented in FTA circular C 5010.1E for buses and vans:

Minimum Service-life for Buses and Vans

For TAM Plan revised 7/8/2021, the MVRTA has prepared the following targets:

Transit TAM Targets

Percent of revenue vehicles that have met or exceeded their useful life benchmark:

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 47

Non-revenue vehicles - percent of service vehicles that have met or exceeded their useful life benchmark:

Facility - percent of facilities rated below 3 on the FTA condition scale:

Passenger/ Parking facilities 0% (McGovern Center, Gateway Surface Parking, Haverhill Intermodal Parking, Costello Center)
Administrative/ maintenance facilities 0% (85 Railroad Ave. HQ)
Updates to these targets will be done in conjunction with the preparation of the next TAM Plan and the FY 2023-2027 Capital Plan.

On July 28, 2021 the Merrimack Valley MPO voted to adopt the transit TAM performance measure targets set by MVRTA for FFY 2021 through FFY 2024.

The following table lists the transit projects programmed in this TIP that help meet the
Transit TAM Performance Measures.

TAM Performance Measures Transit Projects Help Meet

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 48

TAM Performance Measures Transit Projects Help Meet (Cont.)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 49

TAM Performance Measures Transit Projects Help Meet (Cont.)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 50

Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP)

The MVRTA, as a recipient of FTA Urban Area Funding Grants, is required to develop a plan to implement a Safety Man- agement System (SMS) that includes safety performance targets. The MVRTA adopted the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority Safety Plan on November 10, 2020 and Revised it January 15, 2021 and transmitted the targets to the MVMPO 2/28/2021. The Merrimack Valley MPO adopted the MVRTA Safety Plan Targets on July 28, 2021. The MVRTA revised its Safety Plan with regard to personnel and responsibilities April 5, 2021, but did not change any targets.

Transit Safety Performance Targets

The following is from the MVRTA Safety Plan:

Safety Performance Targets have been set for each of the 3 modes of transit service. They are based on the safety performance measures established by MVRTA over the last 3 Fiscal Years. All goals are expressed in

number of occurrences per 100,000 miles. Below are the goals set by the MVRTA for our service.

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 51

Part A. 3. Prioritization

The FFYs 2023-2027 Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) contains Federal-aid project programming information for five years. For each year, gross estimates of project costs are listed in the federal fiscal year (FFY) of the proposed advertise date. Federal fiscal years begin on October 1 and run through September 30. For example, FFY 2023 begins on October 1,
2022 and ends on September 30, 2023. The advertising dates shown for roadway projects were determined based on information provided by the Capital Expenditure and Program Office within MassDOT, the MassDOT District 4 Office, and MVMPO member communities. The MVRTA and MassDOT's Rail and Transit Division determined programming dates for transit projects.
Projects are programmed in the region’s TIP based on a number of factors. These include the project’s score based upon the MPO’s Transportation Evaluation Criteria (TEC), pro- ject cost and the availability of STBG funding in the years covered in the document. Most of the time the community is responsible for funding the design of a project and therefore their priorities greatly influence which projects will be far enough along in the design pro- cess to be programmed in the TIP. The MPO process solicits community project priorities
when developing the RTP and, when annually developing the UPWP, the communities are asked what transportation studies they would like the MPO to conduct for them. These of- ten but not always are related to the project priorities that were identified in the RTP.
These studies become the beginning of many locally generated project proposals.
Road and bridge project selection is also largely dependent upon the current and expected design status for each project, which can be affected by such factors as environmental permitting and Right-of-Way (ROW) status. When it comes to programming projects in the TIP, readiness becomes paramount, because the project needs to be through the 100% design process to be able to be advertised for construction.
For bridge projects, information from MassDOT's Bridge section is given primary consider- ation when scheduling projects.

Transportation Evaluation Criteria

In 2003, the MPOs worked with the then Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works (EOTPW) to develop objective evaluation criteria that could be applied
to transportation projects in the Commonwealth. Early in 2004, EOTPW asked planning
staff from the then MassHighway Planning, the MassHighway district offices and the
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 52
regional planning agencies to apply these criteria to projects within their respective Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). Application of these criteria include not only an evaluation of the magnitude of improvement in the condition, mobility, and safety of transportation projects, but also an evaluation of their community effects and support, the land use and economic development impact, and the environmental effects. A score valued from -3 to 3 is assigned to each of the criteria. In fact, there is at least one score associated with each of the FAST Act ten planning factors. The scores within each category are averaged and then the category averages are added together to reach the total score. The following chart illustrates the data and scoring criteria for each TEC element as well as the planning factors considered in each element, and which TEC elements relate to the performance measures.
Consideration of whether a project contributes to Climate Resiliency was added to the TEC process for the MVMPO 2021 to 2025 TIP in the Environmental Effects section of the evaluation form, under the Air Quality/Climate Effects scoring component. The project receives one point under this criteria if the project involves widening a culvert and the project receives one point if it raises a facility (for example a bridge, roadway or trail) in a flood prone area.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not impacted the project scoring for this TIP. While the changes to travel patterns caused by the pandemic are certainly dramatic, it was not deemed necessary to change project scores or the transportation evaluation criteria at this time. The changes to travel patterns that have been observed in the Merrimack Valley and elsewhere in Massachusetts and New England, under total lock down, phased re-openings of the economy, and now with restrictions eliminated, but continued working from home, and virtual meetings it remains to be seen exactly how travel patterns will settle out. Consequently, it was considered inadvisable to change project scores or plans based on a temporary condition. The MVMPO will continue to monitor traffic counts and travel time reliability, but it will likely take a few years for travel patterns to settle into the “new normal”, whatever that is going to be.
The RITIS platform is a primary data source used to inform the Merrimack Valley MPO’s Congestion Management Process (CMP). The data generated by the CMP on travel times and travel reliability on the region’s NHS roadways is then considered in the roadway and trail project scoring system to evaluate the degree to which the magnitude and duration of congestion on the transportation network will be reduced through the construction of the
proposed improvements.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 53
The MVMPO’s CMP currently considers RITIS travel time reliability and travel time data collected through the year 2020. As the RITIS data is slightly different than previously available travel time data, there are only a few years of this newer data to compare and it shows that there had not been much change in travel time reliability, or change in travel patterns. However, now that travel patterns have changed dramatically due to the COVID-
19 pandemic and are likely to continue changing as travel reaches its “new normal” in a few years, we will then be able to examine how congestion and travel patterns have changed using the RITIS platform.
The following table provides the TEC scoring guidelines for each element scored and the
Planning Factors and Performance Measures related to each scoring element.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 54

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The resulting Transportation Evaluation Criteria (TEC) scores for selected projects in the Merrimack Valley region that were derived by applying these criteria are shown in Appendix C. It is the goal of the MVMPO that these criteria ratings, along with information related to the readiness of projects, will make the planning process, and more specifically, the selection and prioritization of projects, more transparent to the general public. A sample project evaluation sheet showing the various criteria is in Appendix D.
The use of these TEC scores also allows the Merrimack Valley MPO to meet BIL require- ments for programming Transportation Alternatives (TA) funding (similar to TAP funding from the previous legislation). TA funding is a set-aside of Surface Transportation Block Grant Programming (STBG) through a competitive process and, in general, helps to man- age performance by focusing available funding on the highest regional priorities. It also helps to draw attention to the reader that BIL is a very Performance Measure -oriented piece of legislation.

Part A. 4. Public Participation

The principal objective of this document is the provision of an additional point for public access to and review of the transportation planning process. This FFYs 2023-2027
Transportation Improvement Program was developed in accordance with the Public Participation Process established for the Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MVMPO). The MVMPO amended its current Public Involvement Process in March of 2017, it is contained in the MVMPO Public Participation Plan as Amended through March 2017 on the MVPC website under Transportation Reports. The Process
applies to the development of the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). The Public Involvement Process endorsed by the MVMPO is also used by the MVRTA as its public involvement process for its program of projects. The notice of public involvement and time established for review and comment for the development of this TIP satisfies the Program
of Project requirements established by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
The Merrimack Valley MPO’s Public Participation Plan as amended through March 2017, reflects the consultation requirements identified in the federal transportation legisla- tion at the time and prior federal transportation authorizations, and the existing transportation planning regulations developed by the U.S. Department of Trans- portation for the development of Regional Transportation Plans and Transportation Im- provement Programs. This document identifies a number of stakeholders to be consulted in developing these documents. In developing the Draft FFYs 2023-2027 Transportation Im-
provement Program, all MVMPO stakeholders were given notice that the process of
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 66
developing the FFYs 2023-2027 TIP was beginning. Stakeholders were also notified of the availability of the draft document for public review and comment.

Public Participation Plan (PPP) Stakeholders

Many categories of interested individuals, organizations and other stakeholders (Interested Parties) are identified by the MVMPO in the PPP. They are defined based on the individual groups identified in previous federal transportation authorizations.
The MVMPO continues to add individuals, organizations or other stakeholders to this list from the BIL and the existing transportation planning regulations developed by the U.S. De- partment of Transportation. Their addition is not considered an act requiring the formal amendment of the PPP. Similarly, any of the individuals or organizations may request to be removed from the mailing list and such action does not necessitate a formal PPP amend- ment.
The notices were sent directly to over 500 email addressees representing these groups. Notices were put in newspapers and on cable community television directing the public to the MVPC website which contained the notice and the materials for review.
In addition to these direct mailings, and in accordance with this process, public notice of the Draft FFYs 2023-2027 Transportation Improvement Program was published in the Law- rence Eagle Tribune, Newburyport Daily News, Haverhill Gazette (Published Weekly) and Rumbo News informing the public of its right to comment on the document which would be available on the MVPC website from May 4, 2022 through May 24, 2022. It said that com- ments would be received through May 24, 2022 and that two separate Virtual public hear- ings on the document would take place on May 18, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The meetings were held Virtually due to COVID-19 Virus pre- cautions and the fact that Virtual meetings are more accessible to more people. In addition, another Virtual Public Involvement (VPI) tool was used to allow public comments to be pro- vided through a “Provide Comments Now”” button on the MVPC website in the Transporta- tion MVMPO section. The MVMPO will summarize relevant comments that are received during the 21-day review and comment period and will include this summary in the Final
FFYs 2023-2027 TIP.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 67
Public input in developing the TIP was sought at the following meetings in 2022:

• January 26, 2022, February 23, 2022, March 23, 2022, April 27, 2022 and May

25, 2022 MVMPO Meetings (all held Virtually due to COVID-19 Virus precautions and accessibility to more people)

• February 3, 2022 and March 3, 2022 MVRTA Advisory Board meetings (all held as Hybrid (In-person and Virtual)) meetings

• January 13, 2022, March 10, 2022 and April 14, 2022 Merrimack Valley

Transportation Committee (MVTC) meetings (all held Virtually due to COVID-19
Virus precautions and accessibility to more people)

• February 17, 2022, March 17, 2022, and April 21, 2022 Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) meetings (all held as Hybrid (In-person and Virtual)) meetings

• March 2, 2022 and April 6, 2022 Merrimack Valley DPW/ Stormwater

Collaborative meetings (all held Virtually due to COVID-19 Virus precautions and accessibility to more people)
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 68

Part A. 5. Amendment/ Adjustment Procedures

Adjustments

Minor adjustments to the TIP do not require formal MPO action and can be made via the administrative action of the Merrimack Valley MPO. These minor adjustments are limited to:

• Changing the scope and description of a project as long as they are minor changes;

• Changing funding amounts that are less than a ten percent increase in project cost if project cost is more than $5 million dollars;

• Changing funding amounts that are an increase of less than $500,000 if project cost is $5 million dollars or less;

• Changing funding sources.

Amendments

Major changes continue to require MPO action through the formal amendment process. Major changes would require a twenty-one-day public review and comment period that includes a public hearing. These changes include, but are not limited to:

• Moving a currently programmed project earlier or later than an originally programmed year;

• MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning (OTP) approved ten percent or more increases, or decreases, in the construction cost estimate for a project costing more than $5 million dollars;

• MassDOT OTP approved project cost increase, or decrease, of $500,000 or more, in the construction cost estimate for a project costing $5 million dollars or less;

• Adding a new project;

• Deleting a project;

• Major change in project scope large enough to necessitate an additional review by MassDOT’s Project Review Committee (PRC) – typically accompanied by major project cost change;

• Exceptions

Although the MVMPO typically holds a 21-day public comment period for amendments, in the event of extenuating circumstances beyond the agency’s control, the comment period may be shortened or waived in consultation with FHWA Division Office and/or the FTA Regional Office. Additionally, MassDOT may make exceptions to the procedures outlined above and treat amendments as adjustments and/or adjustments as administrative modifications, but these exceptions will also require coordination with and concurrence by MassDOT’s
federal partners and the affected MPO.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 69
The above Adjustments and Amendments align with MassDOT’s definitions of Adjustments and Amendments. One difference from the MassDOT State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Project Revision Definitions and Procedures is that MassDOT defines an “Administrative Modification: A revision to the STIP that is minor enough in nature to re- quire neither a public process nor FHWA/FTA approval, but that does involve a notification to federal partners.”
This document does not have an “Administrative Modification”. The only items that MassDOT defines as Administrative Modifications are minor changes to Project Description and a change in any item listed in the “Additional Information” column of the STIP not cov- ered in any Amendment or Adjustment procedure. The MVMPO must use the Project De- scriptions provided by MassDOT, the only time a Project Description changes is if MassDOT changes it, this would be considered an Adjustment to this document. Any changes to “Additional Information” not listed in the Amendment/ Adjustment procedures
above would be coordinated with MassDOT and would not require action by the MVMPO.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 70

Part A. 6. High Priority Projects

SAFETEA-LU contained a number of earmarked transportation projects that were to receive federal funding. Specific funding amounts were obligated to each of these projects, but no additional funding was included in SAFETEA-LU to complete them. Consequently, states with these projects must implement them within the annual federal authorization limits established in the legislation. The Merrimack Valley region contains eleven such
projects which are shown below along with their status:

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 71

Part A.6. High Priority Projects (Continued)

Regionally Significant Projects

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 72

Part A. 7. Advance Construction

Advance Construction is a Federal-aid fund management tool, which as described by the
Federal Highway Administration website:
“…allows states to begin a project even in the absence of sufficient Federal-aid obligation authority to cover the Federal share of project costs. It is codified in Title 23, Section 115. Advance construction eliminates the need to set aside full obligational authority before starting projects…At some future date when the state does have sufficient obligational authority, it may convert an advance-constructed project to a Federal-aid project by obligating the permissible share of its Federal-aid funds and receiving subsequent reimbursements.”
In other words, the state pays for the project with non-Federal-aid funds to begin with and can later seek reimbursement of the Federal share of the funding category’s project cost by obligating Federal-aid funding in future years.
Projects must meet the following criteria before they can be designated to use the Advanced
Construction (AC) funding mechanism:
1. The project’s estimated Federal participating cost exceeds the total regional annual target (i.e. sum of HSIP, CMAQ, TA and Non HSIP/CMAQ/TA), and
2. Construction, based on an engineering review of the project, will take place during all the years for which federal funding is programmed.
The following projects are programmed in the FFY 2023-2027 TIP using this Advance
Construction (AC) method:
North Andover- Corridor Improvements on Route 114, between Waverly Road & Willow/Mill Street
Haverhill- Bridge Replacement, H-12-040, I-495 (NB & SB) over Merrimack
River
Haverhill- Bridge Replacement, H-12-007 & H-12-025, Bridge Street (SR 125)
over Merrimack River and the Abandoned B&M RR
Haverhill- Roadway Reconstruction on North Avenue, from Main Street (Route
125) to Plaistow, NH (# 608788) (Funding for FFY 2027 included in this TIP is AC year one of the three-year project.)
Andover- Bridge Rehabilitation, A-09-036, I-495 over St 28 (SB), A-09-037, I-
495 over B&M and MBTA, A-09-041, I-495 over St 28 (NB) Lawrence- Lawrence-Manchester Rail Corridor (LMRC) Rail Trail Salisbury- Reconstruction of Route 1 (Lafayette Road)
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 73

Part A. 8. Transportation Funding Programs

Projects listed in the TIP must show the sources of funding that will be used to complete the project. The projects in the FFYs 2023 -2027 TIP are slated to use funding from the following Federal-aid funding programs identified in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Pub. L. 117-58 (November 15,
2021). Projects may also receive non-Federal Aid funding which is shown in the project listings for informational purposes.

Highway Projects

Bridge Formula Program ((BFP) (New in the BIL)) to replace, rehabilitate, preserve, protect and construct highway bridges. Sets aside 15% of a state’s apportionment for use on “off- system” bridges.

Funding: Varies, Federal - 80%, State - 20%, but locally owned “off system” bridges
funding Federal = 100%

Bridge Investment Program ((BIP) (New in the BIL)) Competitive Grant Program to replace, rehabilitate, preserve, protect bridges and culverts.

Funding: Varies, Federal - 80%, State - 20%, but locally owned “off system” bridges
funding Federal = 100%

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) (New

Highway Apportionments to the Commonwealth)- a subset of HIP funds to address COVID-

19 impacts related to the HIP program.
Funding: Federal - 100%

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program ((CMAQ) (continued in the

BIL)) funds projects that reduce congestion and improve air quality.

Funding: Federal - 80%, State - 20%

Federal Lands Access Program ((FLAP) (continued in the BIL)) funds projects that improve multimodal transportation on facilities that access the Federal estate including recreation sites and economic generators.

Funding: Federal– 100%

Highway Safety Improvement Program ((HSIP) (continued in the BIL)) funds safety improvement projects at high crash locations and Railway-Highway Crossings.

Funding: Federal - 90%, State -10%
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 74

National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program ((NEVI Formula) (new in the BIL)) to provide funding to States to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and to establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability.

Funding: Federal - 80%, State - 20%

National Highway Freight Program ((NHFP) (continued in the BIL)) to improve the efficient movement of freight on the National Highway Freight Network (NHFN) and support several

goals.
Funding: Federal - 80%, State - 20%

National Highway Performance Program ((NHPP) (continued in the BIL)) funds projects on all National Highway System Roadways. New in the BIL provides support for activities to increase the resiliency of the NHS to mitigate the cost of damages from sea level rise, extreme weather events, flooding, wildfires, or other natural disasters.

Funding: Varies, generally Federal - 80%, State – 20%, but for the Interstate
System, Federal - 90%, State – 10%

Railway-Highway Crossings Program ((RHCP) (continued in the BIL)) provides funds for safety improvements to reduce the number of fatalities, injuries, and crashes at public railway-highway grade crossings

Funding: Federal = 100% in the BIL, was Federal- 80%, State- 20% under FAST Act

RAISE Grants Local and Regional Project Assistance Grants (RAISE) (continued in the BIL)) provides supplemental funding for projects that will have significant local/regional impact.

Funding: Federal - 80%, State/Local – 20%,
Funding: Federal – 100% in rural areas, historically disadvantaged communities and areas of persistent poverty

Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (RURAL) (new in the BIL)) funds highway, bridge and tunnel projects that improve freight, safety and improve access to improve local rural economies.

Funding: Federal - 80%, State/Local – 20%

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) (new in the BIL)) discretionary funding to support regional, local and Tribal initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

Funding: Federal - 80%, State/Local – 20%
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 75

Surface Transportation Block Grant Program ((STBG) (continued in the BIL)) funding for any Federal-aid highway, bridge and tunnel projects on any public road, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and transit capital projects, including intercity bus terminals.

Funding: Federal- 80%, State- 20%

Transportation Alternatives ((TA) (continued in the BIL)) is a set aside of STBG funds for projects which can be defined as transportation alternatives including bicycle and pedestrian facilities, recreational trails, safe routes to school projects, community improvements, such as historic preservation and vegetation management, and environmental mitigations related to stormwater and habitat connectivity.

Funding: Federal- 80%, State- 20%

Non-Federal Aid (NFA) - funds construction, reconstruction, and improvement projects on roads and bridges in urban and rural areas.

Funding: State- 100% (Transportation Bond Bill), or Private - 100%

Next Generation Bridge Program (NGBP)- Non-Federal Aid Massachusetts Transportation

Bond Bill funds for bridges.
Funding: State- 100% (Transportation Bond Bill)
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 76

Transit Projects

The Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA) provides local and intercity
fixed-route bus service, paratransit service for seniors and persons with disabilities, flexible Ring and Ride service is provided in some communities with no fixed route service, commuter service to Boston, weekday employment bus route from Lawrence to major employers of Raytheon and IRS, and one seasonal bus route to Salisbury and Hampton beaches.
Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, in FY 2019 (July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019) the MVRTA fixed route services’ ridership was over 1.9 million, with an additional 44,040 passengers on special routes. EZ Trans paratransit ridership was 60,397 ADA and 6,817 Non-ADA. The commuter buses to Boston carried 60,822 passengers and Ring and Ride provided service to 10,868 passengers, for a total of nearly 2.08 million rides provided by MVRTA in FY 2019.
The MVRTA went fare-free on March 1, 2022, a two-year pilot program on all fixed route and EZ Trans paratransit services. The Boston Commuter bus still has fares, but it is included in a MassDOT two-year pilot program that allows the buses to ride in the shoulder lane on I-93 between I-95 in Woburn and the HOV lane in Somerville between 6 am and 10 am southbound and between 3 pm and 7 pm northbound when the travel speeds in the other lanes are below 35 miles per hour.
Federal, State and local subsidies provide the majority of the funding for the MVRTA, for both capital and operating expenses. Any Federal funding and its match, generally State funding, is required to be listed in this TIP.
The projects in the FFYs 2023 -2027 TIP are slated to use funding from the following Federal-aid funding programs identified in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Pub. L. 117-58 (November 15, 2021). Projects may also receive non-Federal Aid funding which is shown in the project listings.
State funding for the MVRTA's operating budget is provided through an agreement with the Transit Division of MassDOT. Local funds are derived from community assessments based on the number of route miles and special services operated within each community.
The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission will provide the 20% match for the planning activities it will conduct for the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority under its Section 5307 transit planning contract with the Authority.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 77

Federal Transit Funding

Section 5307 Capital and Planning Urbanized Area Formula Program ((Section 5307) (continued in the BIL)) funds routine transit capital and operating assistance, and planning assistance in urbanized areas, job access and reverse commute projects. This is an urban formula grant program for MVRTA Preventative Maintenance and ADA costs.

Funding: Federal - 80%, State - 20% (Bond Issue Funds)
Funding: Federal - 50%, State - 50% (Bond Issue Funds) for Operating Assistance

Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Formula Grant Program ((Section 5310) (continued in the BIL) provides funds, through the State, to private non-profit corporations and organizations to assist them in providing transportation services to meet the special transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Funding: Federal - 80%, Funding Applicant - 20%

Section 5339 Buses and Bus Facilities Urbanized Area Formula Program and Competitive Grants ((Section 5339) (continued in the BIL)) provides capital funds, through the State, for bus and bus related equipment and facilities.

Funding: Federal - 80%, Funding Applicant - 20%

Section 5307 (h) Passenger Ferry Grant Program ((Section 5307(h)) (continued in the BIL))

provides competitive funding for projects that support passenger ferry service in urbanized areas.
Funding: Federal - 80%, State - 20%

State Transit Funding

Mobility Assistance Program (MAP) helps fund transportation services for seniors and peo- ple with disabilities.

Operating Assistance

State Contract Assistance (SCA) annual State funding which can be used for Federal oper- ating expenses and as part of the match for Federal transit operating funding programs.

State Capital Assistance

Regional Transit Authority Capital Assistance Program (RTACAP) annual State funding which can be used to provide the match for Federal transit capital funding programs.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 78

Organization of Project Listings – Highway Projects

The TIP includes sections that identify the MPO’s priority road and bridge projects using a format prescribed by MassDOT’s Office of Transportation Planning. MassDOT is aligning the FFYs 2023 to 2027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) with the MassDOT Capital Investment Plan (CIP). The CIP identifies three capital planning priorities: reliability, modernization and expansion investments. The STIP will now align program names with CIP investment priorities as follows:
Reliability

• Bridge program (including investments in inspections, systematic maintenance, on- system NHS bridges, on-system non-NHS bridges, and off-system bridges)

• Interstate pavement program

• Non-Interstate DOT pavement program

• Roadway improvements program

• Safety improvements program

Modernization

• ADA retrofits program

• Intersection improvements program

• Intelligent Transportation Systems program

• Roadway reconstruction program

Expansion

• Bicycles and Pedestrians program

• Capacity program

For the FFYs 2023 to 2027 TIP, the Regional Target funding amounts, distributed via statewide formula to the regions across the state, are initially programmed by the regions as STBG (also known as STP) funding category projects and MassDOT will inform regions if projects are to be partitioned by the HSIP, CMAQ and TAP categories.

Section 1A / Regionally Prioritized Projects

• Federal-Aid STBG Projects Using MVMPO Target Authority (STBG)

• Federal-Aid HSIP Projects Using MVMPO Target (HSIP)

• Federal-Aid CMAQ Projects Using MVMPO Target (CMAQ)

• Federal-Aid TAP (now set aside of STBG funding) Projects Using MVMPO Target

(TAP)
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 79

Section 1B / Earmark or Discretionary Grant Funded Projects (Provided by MassDOT)

• Federal-Aid Earmark or Discretionary Grant Funded Projects

Section 2A / State Prioritized Reliability Projects (Provided by MassDOT)

• Bridge Program / Inspections

• Bridge Program / Off-System

• Bridge Program / On-System (NHS)

• Bridge Program / On-System (Non-NHS)

• Bridge Program / Systematic Maintenance

• Interstate Pavement

• Non-Interstate Pavement

• Roadway Improvements

• Safety Improvements

Section 2B / State Prioritized Modernization Projects (Provided by MassDOT)

• ADA Retrofits

• Intersection Improvements

• Intelligent Transportation Systems

• Roadway Reconstruction

Section 2C / State Prioritized Expansion Projects (Provided by MassDOT)

• Bicycles and Pedestrians

• Capacity

Section 3 / Planning / Adjustments / Pass-throughs (Provided by MassDOT)

• Planning / Adjustments / Pass-throughs

Section 4 / Non-Federally Aided Projects (Provided by MassDOT)

• Non-Federal Aid

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 80
Each highway project in the TIP contains the following information:

Amendment/Adjustment Type– used to identify the type of amendment when changes are made to the document.

STIP Program– STIP program names as defined in the Organization of Highway Project

Listings section above.

Year– Federal Fiscal Year in which the project is programmed.

MassDOT Project ID- project identification numbers given by MassDOT for each highway and bridge project.

MPO– identifies the Metropolitan Planning Organization within which the project is located.

Municipality– identifies the community where the project is located.

MassDOT Project Description–includes the community, or communities, in which the project is located and a brief description of work to be funded under the project. This description is exactly the same as MassDOT has input to its project information pages.

Funding Source- abbreviation for the funding category from which funding is expected. (Funding categories and abbreviations are explained at the beginning of Part A.8.).

Adjusted TFPC- the 2023 Total Federal Participating Cost adjusted for inflation by 4% for projects that start in 2024; 8% for projects that start in 2025; 12% for projects that start in

2026 and 16% for projects that start in 2027.

Total Programmed Funds- estimated cost of project in Fiscal Year in which advertising is expected*.

Federal Funds– portion of Total Programmed Funds provided by Federal Funding.

Non-Federal Funds– portion of Total Programmed Funds not provided by Federal Funding, but required as matching funds in order to receive Federal Funds.

Other Information- a) Planning / Design / Construction; b) total project cost and funding sources used; c) advance construction status; d) MPO project score; e) name of entity receiving a transfer; f) name of entity paying the non-State Non-Federal match; g) earmark details; h) TAP project proponent; i) other information.

* Inflation increases project costs and therefore the project costs have been increased by

4% each future year of the TIP.

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 81

Organization of Project Listings – Transit Projects

Each transit project in the TIP contains the following information: Division ID – Transit Project ID from MassDOT

Project Title – project title from MassDOT

Total – estimated total cost of project.

Bond Cap | State | 100% State– portion of Total Programmed Funds not provided by Federal Funding, but required as matching funds for in order to receive Federal Funds, coming from Massachusetts Transportation Bond Bill.

Bond Cap | Match | Federal Transit Discretionary Grant– portion of Total Programmed Funds not provided by Federal Funding, but required as matching funds for Federal Transit Discretionary Grant, in order to receive Federal Funds, coming from the Massachusetts Transportation Bond Bill.

Federal | FTA | Section 5307– Portion of Total Programmed Funds provided by Federal

FTA Section 5307 Funding.

Federal | FTA | Other Federal Transit– Portion of Total Programmed Funds provided by

Federal FTA Funding other than Section 5307 or a Discretionary Grant.

Federal | FTA | Federal Transit Discretionary Grant– Portion of Total Programmed Funds provided by Federal FTA Discretionary Grant.

Operating | Additional State Assistance | State Contract Assistance– portion of Total Programmed Funds not provided by Federal Funding, but required as matching funds for in order to receive Federal Funds, coming from State funding sources.

Other | Municipal and Local | Transit– portion of Total Programmed Funds not provided by

Federal Funding but required as matching funds in order to receive Federal Funds, coming from local funding sources other than State funding sources.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 82

Part B. Project Listings

Highway Projects

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 83

STIP Investments Report

Merrimack Valley Region

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 84

STIP Investments Report

Merrimack Valley Region

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 85

STIP Investments Report

Merrimack Valley Region

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 86

STIP Investments Report

Merrimack Valley Region

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 87

STIP Investments Report

Merrimack Valley Region

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 88

STIP Investments Report

Merrimack Valley Region

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 89

STIP Investments Report

Merrimack Valley Region

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 90

Part B. Project Listings (Cont.)

Transit Projects

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 91

Merrimack Valley MPO Draft 2023 to 2027 Transportation Improvement Program

Transit Projects List

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 92

Merrimack Valley MPO Draft 2023 to 2027 Transportation Improvement Program

Transit Projects List

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 93

Merrimack Valley MPO Draft 2023 to 2027 Transportation Improvement Program

Transit Projects List

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 94

Merrimack Valley MPO Draft 2023 to 2027 Transportation Improvement Program

Transit Projects List

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 95

Merrimack Valley MPO Draft 2023 to 2027 Transportation Improvement Program

Transit Projects List

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 96

Summary of Highway Project Listings by Town

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 97

Summary of Highway Projects by Town

(2023 to 2027 Regional Target Funds)

* Haverhill North Avenue is AC’d FFY 2027, FFY 2028 and 2029 = $ 17,802,740, Total
Project Cost =$23,600,997
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 98

Summary of Programmed Highway Funds by Town

(2023 to 2027 Regional Target Funds)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 99

Summary of Highway Projects by Town

(2023 to 2027 Statewide and Regional Target Funds)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 100

Summary of Highway Projects by Town

(2023 to 2027 Statewide and Target Funds) (Cont.)

* Haverhill North Avenue is AC’d FFY 2028 and 2029 = $ 17,802,740, Total Project Cost
=$23,600,997
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 101

Summary of Programmed Highway Funds by Town

(2023 to 2027 Statewide and Regional Target Funds)

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 102

Part C. Federal Requirements

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 103

Part C.1. Highway Program Financial Plan

The TIP must be financially constrained, meaning projects included in the TIP must have
an identified funding source. Funding levels for Federal Fiscal Years 2023-2027 have been developed cooperatively between the State and the MPOs as part of the TIP development process. The following tables depict the resulting financial plan for each of the five fiscal years. The tables show the “Current Obligation Authority” values from the current 2022 to
2026 TIPs based on Obligation Authorities from the FAST Act. The “Proposed Obligation
Authority” values are estimated from the new federal transportation act titled “Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)” that was signed into law November 15, 2021, Public Law
117-58, also known as the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” (BIL). There is about an 18%
increase in Authorization in the new legislation versus the previous.
MassDOT receives a funding “Apportionment” or estimate of total available federal funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) then Congress looks at the budget each year and places a limit on how much can be spent from the expected highway Apportionment resulting in the obligation limitation MassDOT can spend in federal funding each year. The Proposed Base Obligation Authority estimated is based on a 2% growth rate from the actual FFY 2022 apportionment and average Fast Act Obligation Authority of
90% through FFY 2021. The MassDOT Highway Division programs are being revised based on new Accelerated Bridge Program (ABP) Grant Application Notes (GANs) repayment schedule and the proposed Obligation Authority, no changes are being made to the MPO TIP Targets for FFY 2023 to 2027. This estimated Base Obligation Authority is listed first to which is added a “Planned redistribution request” estimated to be
$50,000,000 each year of the TIP. (Toward the end of the FFY any state that has not spent their Federal Obligation Authority returns that authority, and the Federal government redistributes those funds to the other states.) The Total estimated Federal Funds available to Massachusetts is estimated to be between approximately 778.6 million dollars and
849.5 million dollars for each of FFYs 2023 to 2027. The State then subtracts annual debt service payments for the Accelerated Bridge Program (ABP) Grant Application Notes (GANs) which range from 89.5 million dollars to more than 133.6 million dollars for each year over the five years of the TIP. Resulting in the Total non-earmarked funding available to the State ranging from 699.1 million dollars to 715.9 million dollars depending on the ABP GANS repayment schedule.
The funding for regional priorities is estimated to be 240 million dollars in 2023, 243.6 million dollars in 2024, The amount available to the regions is less in 2025, due to the increase in the ABP GANS repayment in 2025, leaving 238 million dollars in 2025. The amount available to the regions is even less in 2026, due to additional increase in the ABP
GANS repayment in 2026, leaving 233.3 million dollars. The ABP GANS repayment
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 104
remains large in 2027, leaving 245.9 million dollars. The State generally provides the 20% match required for the Federal funds resulting in estimated funds ranging from approximately 299 million dollars to approximately 415 million dollars available for regional funding priorities for each of the five years of the TIP.
This funding is then allocated to MPOs based upon the existing Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA) TIP target distribution formula. This “MARPA” formula is based mainly on each MPO’s road mileage and population. The MVMPO’s share is 4.4296%, resulting in the total funding available for MVMPO regional priorities with the 20% State match to be: $13,293,829 in FFY 2023; $13,468,779 in FFY
2024; $13,239,974 in FFY 2025: $12,916,056 in FFY 2026 and $13,612,923 in FFY 2027, an increase of approximately $2 million dollars per year compared to the FAST Act.
In FFY 2017 MassDOT ended funding for the regional major infrastructure program after the I-91 Viaduct in Springfield project had been completed. These funds will be reallocated to the Regional Target program for prioritization by MPOs across the state.
Inflation increases project costs and therefore project costs have been increased 4% per year.
Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 105

FFY 2023-2027 STIP

2023 - 2027 Regional Target Budgets (DRAFT)

Balance Obligation Authority Planned Redistribution Request Total Estimated Funding Available ABP GANS Repayment

*Base Obligation Authority based on 2.0% growth rate from actual FFY 2022 Apportionment

$799,527,245 and average of FAST Act Obligation Authority (90%) through FFY 2021.

$50,000,000 **MPO TIP Targets will be held harmless from changes in proposed Obligation Authority

$849,527,245 ***MassDOT Highway Division Programs are being revised based on new ABP Gans

-$133,620,000 schedule and proposed Obligation Authority.

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022 106

Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Program Targets

*FFY 2023-2027 Development STIP assumes 90% obligation limitation based on average of previous 5 years.

**Highway Program sizes subject to change following 2022 TIP Readiness Days Review

Draft FFYs 2023-2027 MVMPO TIP April 2022

Reported Date:

107

Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Program Targets