Project Selection Advisory Council
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/planning/Main/PlanningProcess/ProjectSelectionAdvisoryCouncil.aspx
Draft Criteria
May 20, 2014
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May 20, 2014
Project Selection Advisory Council’s Proposed
Project Evaluation Criteria
The six draft criteria selected for the PSA Council’s (PSC)
proposed method for project prioritization are based on several
factors:
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MassDOT’s Mission Statement, Vision, and Goals
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MassDOT Policy Directives and Comprehensive Transportation
Plan
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Provisions of Chapter 25 of the Acts of 2009
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Provisions from Chapter 46 of the Acts of 2013

Provisions from the latest Federal Transportation Authorization Bill MAP-21
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May 19, 2014
Safety
SAFETY: The ability of the transportation system to allow people
and goods to move freely, without harm in a secure environment.
This measure is used to assess whether a project addresses,
maintains and improves safety of the system while ensuring the
security of the people and goods in transit.
Metrics
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•
•
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Identify intersection crash locations, types (car, bike, pedestrian) and
causes.
Incorporate safety elements into intersection design and
maintenance projects.
Determine if the project improves bicycling/pedestrian conditions in
locations that have experienced pedestrian and bicycle crashes.
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May 19, 2014
Mobility/Access
MOBILITY/ACCESS: The ability of a project to provide efficient movement of
people and goods between all destinations and by all modes.
This measure can be used to assess whether a project provides
transportation choices and mode shift goals and promotes more connectivity
within the Commonwealth.
Metrics
• Estimate the reduction in person-hours
of travel.
• Estimate the reduction in transit personhours of travel.
• Determine whether the project will
reduce commuting times after adjusting
for seasonal variations and for changes
in the economic activity in the region.
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May 19, 2014
Economic Development
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: The ability of a
project to facilitate or support business
development and employment.
This measure is used to assess whether a
project has the potential to generate revenue or
will support economic development.
Metrics
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•
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Use geographical analysis to determine whether
the investment is located within an economically
distressed area.
Perform analysis to determine whether the project
is located within a high-employment density area.
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5/19/2014
Social Equity and Fairness
SOCIAL EQUITY AND FAIRNESS: The assessment of a project as
it relates to existing communities and population centers and to the
ability of the transportation system to efficiently move people, goods
and services without excessive delay or inconvenience and in
accordance with state and federal laws that define protected groups.
This measure would assess whether a project supports equitable
investment in existing communities and provides community
enhancements, such as sidewalks or Safe Routes to School,
equitably by distributing both the benefits and burdens of
development among all communities.
Metrics
•
Determine whether a project is located within an area that includes
Environmental Justice (EJ) or Title VI populations.*
* See handout for complete definitions of protected groups under state and federal laws.
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5/19/2014
Healthy Transportation
HEALTHY TRANSPORTATION: Assessment of the transportation system’s
impact on quality of life, the natural environment and healthy transportation
choices with the recognition that we seek to act as better stewards of our
environment.
This criterion measures whether a project mitigates actual or threatened
damage to the environment, including but not limited to: air quality, water
quality, energy use, impacts on natural and urban environment, and impacts
to collective and personal human health.
Metrics
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•
•
•
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Does the project accommodate bicycling, transit and walking options?
Perform analysis to determine whether the project is located within a public health
distress area.
Estimate the change in Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Determine whether the project can shift people between their modes of travel.
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5/19/2014
System Preservation
SYSTEM PRESERVATION: The ability of projects to improve the physical
condition of existing transportation assets and to ensure resiliency during
extreme weather conditions.
This criterion assesses whether a project contributes towards preservation of
existing assets and the extent to which the project meets operating objectives,
as described in the comprehensive state transportation plans (CIP and WMM)
and in regional plans.
Metrics
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•
•
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Perform a Life Cycle Analysis on major infrastructure projects.
Determine if the project address future climate change resiliency planning measures.
Determine if the project addresses existing poor transport infrastructure conditions.
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5/19/2014
Discussion Points
Regional Equity
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Need for a clear and concise definition of regional equity.
Are the MPO regions or Highway District regions used in the definition?
Intended to consider the impact of a project on the equitable allocation of
funding, both across the Commonwealth and among the 13 MPO regions.
Application on a horizontal or vertical criteria level within the formula?
Determine appropriateness as criteria, metric, guideline or all three?
Existing approaches to
distribution of regional funding:
•
•
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Chapter 90 Formula
Massachusetts Association of
Regional Planning Agencies
(MARPA) Formula
5/19/2014
Discussion Points (cont.)
Land Use Planning
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Where does land use planning fit into the criteria and/or formula?
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How do we weight opportunity to leverage additional funding sources
(e.g. Public Private Partnerships)?
Universe of Projects for Evaluation and/or Prioritization
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Are these criteria applied for projects that are legal commitments or
advance adopted policy commitments?
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What is the appropriate level of complexity for the prioritization formula
and how does that impact the goal of improving transparency?
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Are regional target projects included in evaluation and prioritization?
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5/19/2014