BEYOND BOSTON
Draft- October 7, 2011
Civic Engagement Plan for Beyond Boston:
A Transit Study for the Commonwealth
Introduction
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Office of Transportation Planning
(OTP) is preparing a comprehensive evaluation of the Commonwealth’s regional transit system.
The study – Beyond Boston: A Transit Study for the Commonwealth - will identify ways
transit service can be improved to be more efficient and provide new or expanded service.
MassDOT will work closely with the RTAs, their operators and communities to gather
information; look at transit operations, uses and trends; and examine ways to improve service
and finances. The result will be a recommended plan for future improvements to the transit
system and a strategy for accomplishing these goals.
MassDOT is committed to a civic engagement process that is creative, transparent and
meaningful. A high level of involvement by the RTAs is key to a successful project as their
knowledge, experience and ideas will help MassDOT develop a more efficient and cost-effective
system. The RTA’s, stakeholders and the public will be invited to review and comment on the
draft findings and recommendations. The final report will be made available in electronic and
print versions.
Stakeholder Engagement
The Beyond Boston study primarily relates to policy development, therefore, stakeholder
participation will largely take place through the RTAs, a study advisory group, and meetings and
briefings with groups who have an interest in transportation around the state. The team will
also pay particular attention to working with stakeholder groups who represent traditionally
underserved populations. Stakeholders outreach will include a number of activities:
The Study Advisory Committee will review study products, findings and advise MassDOT
and the team throughout the study. In particular, this group will be charged with reviewing and
discussing major project findings; validating data and information collected during interviews;
helping to guide and execute the focused stakeholder and public outreach; reviewing the key
deliverables for each stage of the study; and eventually, be the owners and supporters of action
recommendations that are the result of the study.
The members include representatives of the RTAs, MassDOT Planning, Rail & Transit, and Civil
Rights staff, the MBTA, regional planning agencies and the Executive Office of Health and
Human Services. A full list of members is included in Appendix A. (to come when members are
confirmed)
Beginning in October 2011, the Advisory Committee will meet approximately monthly
throughout the course of the study. Meeting dates, times and locations will be posted on the
project website at least two weeks prior to every meeting. Notes of the meetings will be posted
to the project web site no later than ten business days after the meeting.
Regional Transit Authority (RTA) staff members will work closely with the project team
throughout the study. Members of the team will visit each RTA at least once and work with staff
on an ongoing basis to assess opportunities and challenges. Conversations held as part of these
site visits will be conducted in confidence and resulting findings will be anonymous. The study
team will also work with RTAs to collect essential data, information on finances and operations,
and other key issues to the study. As noted above, they will also be represented on the Study
Advisory Committee.
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Interviews with Stakeholders and Stakeholder Groups will be conducted over the
course of the study. The goals of interviews will be to assess the participants’ perspectives and
priorities with regards to development of local and regional public transportation systems.
Stakeholders may include representatives of other state agencies, individuals associated with
regional organizations and institutions, contracted service providers and other community
leaders. Similar to interviews with RTA staff, all interviews will be conducted in confidence and
results will be presented anonymously.
Study Briefings will be prepared at key intervals in the study to communicate study progress
and findings. These briefings will consist of written materials that may be communicated to
elected officials and study stakeholders, as well as presentations to select interested groups.
These presentations may include meetings with groups with a unique or strongly vested interest
in statewide transit planning, such as Environmental Justice populations, business leaders and
groups, regional planning organizations, elected officials, economic development groups and
older adults.
The General Public will have access to participate directly in the Beyond Boston study
throughout the process through the project website (see below). Members of the general public
will also be invited to participate in a centrally located public meeting towards the end of the
study when draft recommendations are available for public review.
Project Database
The study team member will develop a “contacts” database for the project. This database will
include individuals who have expressed an interest in the study, either by participating in one of
the stakeholder groups, visiting the website or otherwise contacting the project staff. The
database will be used to announce meetings, briefings or events; to send email blasts; to
announce the availability of documents and information; and to solicit comments and ideas
from stakeholders and the general public.
Website and Media Relations
The project team will provide content and regular updates for the MassDOT web page for the
Beyond Boston study. Project materials, meeting or briefing announcements and other
products will be posted on the site for review and comments by stakeholders.
The team will also provide draft media materials to MassDOT for distribution to announce
meetings and significant project milestones.
Accommodations
MassDOT is committed to nondiscrimination in all of its programs and activities and a copy of
its Title VI Nondiscrimination Policy Statement is included in the Appendix. This statement
explains the agency’s grievance process and services that will be included in this project,
including access to oral interpreters, written language services, and translation of vital
documents.
To make participation in meetings and other study efforts accessible to all, MassDOT commits
to the following policies:
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All meetings will be held in facilities that are accessible to persons with disabilities
Access to language interpreters or assisted listening devices at meetings, and providing
translations of key project documents, on request; other services in accordance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act and Limited English Proficiency regulations
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Provision of key documents in alternate formats, such as Braille, large print, etc.
Ensuring the full and fair participation in the study process by all potentially affected
communities
Outlining a complaint procedure for anyone who feels she or he has been aggrieved by an
unlawful discriminatory practice (further information and forms can be obtained by calling
MassDOT at (617)973-7171 or (617)973-7306 (TTY) or via the website at
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us.
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APPENDIX A
(to be added)
List of Study Advisory Group Members
Copy of MassDOT’s Title VI Nondiscrimination Policy Statement
Media list
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