Project Selection
Advisory Council
September 16, 2014
Springfield, MA
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| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
September 16, 2014
PSA Council Meeting #8
Since July 29: Developed objectives, metrics,
scoring guidance, and weights and ran a set of
projects through the formula.
Today’s Goal: To respond to proposed
prioritization formula and provide feedback on
outstanding items and next steps
Agenda
• Review Proposed Metrics and Scoring Guidance
• Results and Observations
• Remaining Schedule
• Asset Categories and Project Costs
• Next Steps
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| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
September 16, 2014
Criteria
Objectives
Metrics
To what extent does the project address strategies in
Strategic Highway Safety Plan for identified problems
along the corridor? (includes reducing collisions involving
Safety/Security
pedestrians, cyclists, truck/bus)
Does the project improve an identified issue along
Improve evacuation route
evacuation route or strategic corridor?
To what extent does the project support mode shift from
Support mode shift
single occupancy vehicles?
To what extent does the project improve the reliability of
Mobility
Improve reliability
the transportation system?
Does the project efficiently increase persons per hour
Improve efficiency
capacity?
To what extent does the project support smart growth
Support sustainable development development?
Economic Development
To what extent does the project support efficient
Ensure efficient movement freight movement of freight vehicles?
To what extent does the project benefit an Environmental
Equity
Targeted underserved communities Justice community or Title VI populations?
What is the estimated change in GHG emissions?
Reduce GHG
To what extent does the project have the potential to
Reduce incidents of chronic disease increase physical activity in areas with high levels of
Health/Environment
obesity?
To what extent does the project reduce exposure to
Reduce incidents of chronic disease noise, air, and water pollution in areas with high
exposure levels?
Ensure maintenance of existing
How cost effective is the system preservation investment
(based on PSI, PONTIS, SOGR database, etc.)?
infrastructure
Preservation
Does the project address future climate change resiliency
Ensure resiliency
planning measures?
Reduce frequency and severity of
collisions for all modes
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www.mass.gov/massdot
September 16, 2014
Explanation of Selected Metrics
Mode Shift: To what extent does the project
support mode shift from single occupancy
vehicles?
System Preservation: How cost effective is
the system preservation investment (based
on PSI, PONTIS, SOGR database, etc.)?
System Efficiency: Does the project
efficiently increase persons per hour
capacity?
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| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
September 16, 2014
Scoring Guidance
Improve Efficiency
+ 3 = Project significantly increases persons per
hour capacity on the existing transportation
network
+ 1 = Project moderately increases persons per
hour capacity using existing facilities or improves
persons per hour capacity by expanding the existing
network
0 = Project has no impact on travel speed or
efficiency
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| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
September 16, 2014
Scoring Guidance
Reduce exposure to noise, air, and water pollution
+3 = Project significantly reduces exposure to noise, air and
water pollution in an area with high exposure levels
+2 = Project moderately reduces exposure to noise, air and
water pollution in an area with high exposure levels
0 = Project has no impact on noise, air and water pollution either
because of no significant changes or because negative impacts
have been mitigated with trees or other exposure mitigation
efforts
-2 = Project increases exposure to noise, air, and water
pollution
-3 = Project significantly increases exposure to noise, air, and
water pollution
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September 16, 2014
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September 16, 2014
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| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
September 16, 2014
Project
Illustrative Project Scores
Project Type
Location
Score
Reconstruction of Causeway
On-Road Bike/Ped
Boston
66.33
New DMU Service
Transit
Lynn/Chelsea
57.33
Bus Rapid Transit
Transit
Springfield
47.33
Twin City Rail Trail
Off-Road Bike/Ped
Fitchburg/Leominster
46.00
Route 2
Safety/Roadway Realignment
Erving
45.00
Ferry Street/Elm Street
Traffic Calming
Everett
44.33
FRTA Maintenance Facility
Transit – Maintenance
Greenfield
42.67
Route 24/Route 140
Interchange Reconstruction
Taunton
28.33
Fenway Multi-use Path
Off-Road Bike/Ped
Boston
24.33
East Street
Roadway Widening
Pittsfield
17.33
I-495/Route 1A
New Ramp Construction
Wrentham
9.00
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| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
September 16, 2014
Illustrative Project Analysis:
Bike/Ped Projects
Causeway Reconstruction vs. Fenway Multi-use Path
Propensity for mode shift
Potential reliability improvements
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September 16, 2014
Illustrative Project Analysis:
Highway Expansion Projects
Rt 2 Erving vs. East Street, Pittsfield
Potential impact of pedestrian improvements
Range of improvements: safety, reliability for all users
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| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
September 16, 2014
Illustrative Project Analysis:
Examples of Scoring Inflexibility
Interchange Projects – Route 140/24, 495/1A
• Proposed system is not currently structured to
rate auto-centric projects highly
Non-Revenue Transit Facilities – FRTA Garage
• Transit projects without a service improvement
component may have an upper limit to how
high they can score (benefits are more indirect)
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| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
September 16, 2014
PSA Council Schedule
September 24 – Haverhill – Merrimack Valley Planning Commission
October 20 – Hyannis – Cape Cod Commission
October 31 Draft Report
November 12 – Worcester – Union Station (Union Hall)
December 31 Final Report
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| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
September 16, 2014
Other Considerations:
Asset Categories - Optional Consideration
weMove Massachusetts asset categories already
developed
Additional established funding sources: Strategic
Highway Safety Program; etc
Project Costs - Required Consideration
When and how should it be considered?
Total Cost or Cost/Benefit?
What role should designated funding sources
play?
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| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot
September 16, 2014