CMRPC Newsletter

December 2022

Transportation Staff Members Lead Walk Audit on Belmont Street, Worcester 

Members of the CMRPC’s Transportation Department organized and conducted a Walk Audit of Belmont Street in Worcester on Sunday, November 20th. CMRPC Transportation staff members Eric Gemperline, Greer Jarvis and Faye Rhault made up the CMRPC team for “Walk Audit Academy”, a program run by WalkBoston and WalkBike Worcester that teaches people how to conduct safe and productive Walk Audits. Before the Walk Audit on Belmont Street, the CMRPC team led a virtual introductory meeting on Wednesday, November 16th. This meeting included background information about why the CMRPC team was conducting this audit, an overview of the route and its crash data, and a refresher of some terms relevant to pedestrian safety and walkability.  

Besides the CMRPC team, seven people made it out to Bell Hill Park on the cold, windy Sunday morning. Among these attendees were Steve Rolle, the Commissioner for the City’s Transportation and Mobility Department, Deb Bolz from the Green Hill Neighborhood Association, and Liz Myska, founder of Visions Consulting L3C, as well as an advocate for Visually Impaired People (VIP). With Myska were four certified, sighted guides: Ronit Avadhuta, Jon Cili, Erin Swift, and John Russell. Due to the number of guides present in the group, people were encouraged to be blindfolded for the Walk Audit to experience being a pedestrian with a visual impairment. The City of Worcester’s Steve Rolle and CMRPC’s Greer Jarvis both volunteered to be blindfolded for the walk, with the help of the fantastic guides. 

There were several issues along the corridor that raised concerns among the group, mainly the speed of traffic and lack of updated accessibility infrastructure. Specifically, the group noticed that many of the tactile warning pads were outdated and damaged, and that the crosswalks did not have consistent signals. Moreover, with obstacles such as trash receptacles, unlevel sidewalks and randomly designated lamp posts and telephone poles, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments would likely not feel safe or comfortable being a pedestrian along this corridor. Not to mention the absence of a bike lane on either side of the road due to four lanes of traffic and on-street parking.

For more information about this Walk Audit or inquiries about any of the materials mentioned, please email CMRPC’s Public Outreach Coordinator, Greer Jarvis, at gjarvis@cmrpc.org. 

CMRPC Awarded Funds to Hire Regional Housing Coordinator

In a short period of time we’ve seen housing availability and affordability elevate from a concern to a genuine crisis. With a recently announced Efficiency and Regionalization grant award, CMRPC can fund a new full-time Regional Housing Coordinator to help implement community-approved Housing Production Plans and encourage increased housing of all types to bring down the cost of housing. In Worcester County, 47.1% of renters are Cost Burdened, a rise of 7.4% in just one year (ACS, 2021). Additionally, 22.7% of owner-occupied households are cost-burdened, representing a year-over increase of 4.4% (ACS, 2021). This has a crippling effect on residents’ budgets, the impact of which ripples out through the local economy.

The communities participating in this program have completed or will soon complete Housing Production Plans. The Towns have identified commonsense goals and objectives through these community-wide strategic planning processes to help tackle this crisis. This grant award is critical because municipal staff capacity is stretched so thin. It will allow a specialized planner to dedicate time to each community, providing technical assistance to their Housing Committees, Partnerships, Planning Boards, and Affordable Housing Trusts. Having an individual rooted in Central Massachusetts will help create meaningful relationships with residents, decision-makers, and developers in our communities. We are excited to be able to confront this housing crisis head-on.



If your community is interested in utilizing a Regional Housing Coordinator, contact Connor Robichaud at crobichaud@cmrpc.org.

Calendar Year 2023 DLTA Funding & Solicitation

The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) is pleased to announce that the Massachusetts General Assembly (Legislature) has once again provided funding for the District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) Program for Calendar Year 2023. Since 2006, this program has enabled CMRPC to provide technical assistance to member communities on eligible projects. This year CMRPC received approximately $265,000 to support our communities. 

Please find the solicitation HERE

An Information session will be held on January 5^th at 4pm via Zoom, click the button below to register.

For more information please email Trish Settles at tsettles@cmrpc.org

Road Safety Audits

This fall, CMRPC attended two Road Safety Audits (RSAs) within our region. Stakeholders came together to assess potential safety improvements for one intersection in Uxbridge and one intersection in Sutton. Representatives from the local DPW, town police departments, fire departments, and MassDOT came together with engineers, designers, and urban planners to discuss data on crashes within the intersections and what changes we could make to increase both pedestrian and driver safety. The audit team then travelled to the site to observe traffic and pedestrians to augment our original discussion. Engineering consultants subsequently prepared reports containing all pertinent information and potential safety enhancements. Safety enhancements are scored on their safety benefit, estimated construction cost, and estimated time frame required to complete. Jurisdiction is included for each potential safety enhancement to help determine possible funding sources for each project. 

For more information about RSA's, please contact Adam Wriggins at awriggins@cmrpc.org

Grant Applications Open for Digital Equity Planning

For municipal officials and employees to understand how internet connectivity - or lack thereof - impacts citizens of their community, digital equality planning will be a crucial step. The Municipal Digital Equality Planning Program aims to enable municipalities to participate in digital equity planning activities and close the digital gap. To identify the community's needs, interests, and critical assets and to provide a framework for future municipal decision-making, MBI has prequalified planning consultants like CMRPC to help communities develop Digital Equity Plans.

Two objectives will be achieved by the municipal digital equity planning activities: guide municipal spending and decision-making toward boosting internet access, adoption, and usage among those groups most affected by the COVID-19 epidemic; Prepare local governments to submit grant applications to ongoing or upcoming state or federal programs to fund initiatives to advance digital equity. Municipalities participating in this program will receive expert advisement on the determining factors of digital access, including​​​​ Internet Availability and Affordability, Device Access, and Digital Skills.

Municipalities interested in this digital equity planning opportunity can apply through MBI’s online application form. MBI will review applications on a rolling basis.

Environmental Stakeholders Help Guide the Long-Range Transportation Plan Priorities

On the morning of Friday, November 18th, CMRPC Transportation staff members met with Environmental Stakeholders to discuss the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and ways to make it more sustainable. This stakeholder meeting was a part of the public participation effort for the LRTP, an effort that is coming to an end as CMRPC Transportation staff begin planning and drafting the final document.

The Environmental Stakeholders in attendance included Massachusetts DEP’s JoAnne Kasper-Dunne, the town of Princeton’s Environmental Action Committee’s Phil Gott, and former Regional Environmental Council staff member Christine Tosti. Following introductions, CMRPC Transportation staff delivered their LRTP presentation.



Following the presentation, stakeholders were asked three different questions to prompt a variety of conversations and potential feedback. Overall, attendees responses focused on accessibility, public transit and congestion mitigation. The first question was “what is the most pressing environmental issue or challenge related to transportation today?” Kasper-Dunne stated that there is a lack of connectivity across the region in terms of public transportation, and that if we really want people to give up their cars, we must make it convenient for them to do so. Gott mentioned that inconsistent transit schedules further deters ridership. Tosti added that accessibility is a major issue, from public transit to pedestrian infrastructure, there is room for vast improvements.



The next question posed to the group was “Do you have an environmental project, service or study that you would like to pursue to improve transportation if the financial resources became available?” Tosti mentioned she would love to see more electric buses with the WRTA. Kasper-Dunne brought up the point that although decarbonization is important, people are not going to be interested in coming into Worcester if there is nowhere to park. Gott mentioned that he noticed there is only parking available in downtown Worcester, and that parking is arduous beyond downtown. Gott believes this has a negative impact on bus ridership, as people would rather park on the outskirts of the city and bus in than vice versa.  

Lastly, attendees were asked “what is your transportation-related environmental big idea?” Kasper-Dunne promptly responded that she would like to see trains used more to transport people and goods. Gott echoed this statement, saying rail is the most efficient method of transportation, when loaded to capacity. Tosti added that she would like to see service animals be more accommodated for on public transit, as unwelcoming drivers deter a lot of riders who use public transit as their main mode of transportation. 

For more information regarding this stakeholder meeting, including access to a more extensive meeting summary, the LRTP presentation or the recording of this meeting, please reach out to gjarvis@cmrpc.org.  

CMRPC Legislative Affairs Forum & Breakfast

Dec. 6, 2022  

On the morning of December 6^th, 2022, CMRPC held its Legislative Affairs Forum & Breakfast at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Headquarters in Westborough, MA, with seven panelists and nearly 60 event attendees. The panelists included Senator Anne Gobi, MassDOT’s Peter Sutton, Blackstone Heritage Corridor’s Bob Contursi, MassBike’s Galen Mook, Rails to Trails Conservancy Tom Sexton, and Massachusetts Municipal Association’s (MMA) Ali DiMatteo and Josie Ahlberg. The forum was moderated by Legislative Affairs Committee Chair Andrew Golas.

Panelists and attendees alike enjoyed a catered breakfast while they mingled and networked until the forum began at 9:30 a.m. Following a welcome address, Golas introduced CMRPC’s Executive Director Janet Pierce who also thanked everyone for taking the time to be a part of this event. Presentations began with the MMA’s DiMatteo & Ahlberg, who provided a brief background about their department and the Legislative Division and presented information about current & upcoming state-level legislative initiatives & budgets.

Golas introduced the panelists, and each spoke on the subject of the day: Trails. The five speakers offered a variety of perspectives and a wealth of information on the subject. Among other things, Sen. Gobi discussed of the importance of outdoor recreation to local culture and economy; Mr. Sutton spoke of the successes and opportunities available through MassTrails; Mr. Contursi described the challenges and accomplishments of grass-roots advocacy and taking advantage local knowledge; Mr. Mook acknowledged the Commonwealth’s progress in bicycle infrastructure, but stressed the need for actions that advance equity and allow for local conversations; Mr. Sexton discussed his long history with trails across East Coast, and in particular, that when creating this infrastructure it’s necessary to consider and plan for design, long-term maintenance, and upkeep in order for people to thoroughly enjoy the trails.

The meeting closed out with audience questions for the panelists.

Thanks to all our speakers and everyone who attended, we hope to see you at the next event.

For any additional information or questions, please email Ethan Melad at emelad@cmrpc.org.

Calling All Green-Minded Groups

Does your town have an energy, sustainability, or environmental action committee? Is there interest in your town to form a committee of this kind? Let us know! There’s a lot of great programs and resources available through the state and federal government that our towns can tap into, and we’d love to help you sort through the different opportunities. This includes state programs such as Green Communities and Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness, state energy incentives both existing and new, and federal offerings through the Inflation Reduction Act. Also as part of Imagine 2050, we’d love to sit down with your committees to discuss a number of topics, ranging from climate resiliency and energy to potentially new topics such as net-zero.

Please reach out to Ian McElwee at imcelwee@cmrpc.org with contacts for existing committees, if your town is interested in forming one, or would like information on any number of program offerings. 

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a federally-mandated requirement for all Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). The TIP is a prioritized listing of all federal-aid transportation investments in an MPO’s planning area for the next 5 federal fiscal years. On October 1^st the federal fiscal year 2023 started and the 2023-2027 TIP is currently active.

The TIP development process for the 2024 – 2028 TIP starts in December 2022. Communities with potential candidate projects will be invited to the January CMMPO meeting to present their project to the board members. These projects are then screened by staff and scored by the CMMPO Advisory Committee before being accepted and eventually programmed by the CMMPO. The project prioritization and selection process combine an analysis of project information and evaluation of project importance. Performance Management criteria used by staff are intended to measure the likely results of TIP investments in the transportation network. The criteria reflect the range of goals from US DOT’s Transportation Planning Factors which include reducing congestion, improving pavement condition, and increasing safety. Further, projects that encourage the use of public transit, bicycling and walking are sought for inclusion in the Central Massachusetts TIP.

The CMRPC transportation staff, working with the MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning (OTP) and the Highway Division District #2 & #3 offices, reviews engineering design, right-of-way acquisition and environmental status information for each candidate project. If necessary, community officials and/or engineering consultants are also contacted to obtain design status updates and, at times, to provide a presentation to the CMMPO about the status of a project. Throughout the development of the TIP, the CMMPO oversees an extensive outreach effort, following the established Public Participation Program (PPP), which provides numerous opportunities for stakeholder and public involvement.

Once endorsed by the CMMPO in May 2023, the TIP is forwarded to MassDOT OTP where it is combined with the TIP listings produced by each of the state’s 13 planning regions. The resulting document, the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), is then forwarded to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their review and approval.

Please contact Kevin Krasnecky, kkrasnecky@cmrpc.org, if you have any questions related to the TIP.

Environmental Opportunities Abound

Despite the colder weather, it's never too early to start thinking about protecting our natural resources or expanding our recreational opportunities! Take advantage of these funding opportunities to improve open space, recreation, trails, and climate resilience in your town: the FY23 Conservation Assistance for Small Communities Grant Program, FY23 MassTrails Grant Program, and Expression of Interest (EOI) for MVP FY24 Action Grant.

The FY23 Grant Round for Conservation Assistance for Small Communities is now open and accepting applications on a rolling basis. Administered by the Division of Conservation Services, this grant provides financial assistance to small communities for the preparation of an Open Space and Recreation Plan, the appraisal of the value of the fee simple interest or a conservation restriction, other planning assistance to facilitate conservation projects, or some combination of these projects. Municipalities with a population of 7,000 people or less, according to the 2020 US Census, are eligible to apply. You can view more details about the grant program, a sample application, and eligible municipalities in the grant bid document located on the Division of Conservation Services website. For approved projects, the grant will provide an 80% reimbursement in the following amounts:

• Up to $5,000 for an appraisal
• Up to $15,000 for an OSRP
• Up to $6,000 for other plans.

The Conservation Assistance for Small Communities Grant Program is a non-competitive grant. Though the deadline isn’t until May 5, 2023, eligible communities are encouraged to apply early because funding is provided on a rolling, first-come, first-serve basis. To apply, you will need a completed online application form found in Attachment A of the grant bid, authorization from the Town Manager or Chair of the Board of Selectmen to designate a town representative, and a property map (if applicable). Applications must be submitted to Vanessa Farny at vanessa.farny@mass.gov. 

If you are more interested in improving trails, the FY23 MassTrails Grant is also open and accepting applications through February 1, 2023. In collaboration with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the MassTrails Grant Program provides funding to support recreational trail and shared use pathway projects throughout Massachusetts. Applicable projects include the design, engineering, permitting, construction, and/or maintenance of recreational trails, shared use pathways, and the amenities that support trails. All applications must be submitted online by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. More detailed information about how to apply can be found on the MassTrails Grant Application website. 

Examples of past grant awards include a railroad bed accessibility and stormwater drainage improvement project along the Mass Central Rail Trail in Ware River Park awarded to the Town of Hardwick, the design and engineering for a shared used path along Jordan Pond awarded to the Town of Shrewsbury, and the replacement of the Bowman Bridge over Sandra Pond awarded to the Town of Westborough. Other past award winners can be viewed on the 2020 MassTrails Grant Awards, 2021 MassTrails Grant Award, and 2022 MassTrail Grant Award webpages. 

And if you are interested in boosting your town's climate resilience, the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) team at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is currently accepting Expression of Interest (EOI) forms for FY24 Action Grant ideas. Though an optional process, the MVP team encourages potential MVP Action Grant applicants to submit an EOI in order to get feedback on their project ideas before submitting a formal application during the Request for Responses period. The MVP team is reviewing EOIs on a rolling basis, though earlier submissions will be prioritized. The deadline to submit this form for more detailed feedback is Friday, January 20, 2023, and the final deadline to submit for limited feedback is Friday, February 3, 2023. 

If you are interested in any of these funding opportunities or have questions about the application process, CMRPC can help! Please contact Dani Marini, Environmental Planner, at dmarini@cmrpc.org to learn more.

MassDER Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance (CRMA) Grant Award Now Accepting Pre-RFR Project Inquiries 

The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) is seeking proposals from municipalities interested in replacing undersized, perched, and/or degraded culverts located in areas of high ecological value. The purpose of this funding is to encourage the replacement of culverts with better designed crossings that meet improved structural and environmental design standards and climate resiliency criteria. In general, individual project awards have ranged anywhere from $25,000 to $400,000, depending on the project phases and work proposed. Awards over $200,000 are anticipated for construction projects only.  

Only projects that intend to meet the goals of the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards will be considered for funding. The use of these standards to design culverts improves river function and access for fish and wildlife, and reduces hazards to public safety, such as flooding, culvert failure, and road washout.  

The DER is now accepting Pre-RFR Project Inquiries through Wednesday, February 1, 2023. Please email DERCulverts@mass.gov to set-up a call with DER staff prior to issuance of the RFR (this step is recommended, but optional). DER staff will contact you to discuss your project’s eligibility. You will be asked to provide basic project information in advance of the call so that DER staff can be better prepared to discuss your project with you. This is a great opportunity to receive essential feedback on a project before submitting an application during the RFR period.  

Also keep in mind: 

• Grant materials, including FAQs and program summary information will be posted on COMMBUYS and other information on the DER website by mid-January, 2023.  
• Pre-RFR Grant Briefing Presentation will be held on Monday, January 30 at 1PM (more information will be posted on the DER website as the date gets closer).  
• CRMA Grant Application Deadline is anticipated mid-March, 2023.  

For more information, please email zblais@cmrpc.org.

Municipal Energy Planning Virtual Workshop Series

In June of this past year, CMRPC teamed up with the Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management to present a series of virtual workshops on how municipal leaders can improve energy efficiency and resiliency in their communities. The series consisted of 5 one-hour workshops spread out over 5 weeks, and each session was on a different topic. A region-wide survey was used to determine the 5 energy topics most important to our towns. The five topics chosen and the selected panelists were:

1.     Municipal Microgrids Revisited – featuring presentations and questions answered by panelists from Mass CEC, Schneider Electric, Citizens Energy, and GZA.

2.     Leveraging Volunteer Committees to Achieve Green Goals – featuring presentations and questions answered by panelists from Sustainable Westborough, the Town of Westborough, the Princeton Environmental Action Committee, and the Town of Princeton.

3.     Peer Experiences with Hybrids, Electric Vehicles (EVs), and EV Charging Stations – featuring presentations and questions answered by panelists from CMRPC, the Shrewsbury Municipal Light Plant, the Westborough Police Department, and the Town of Action’s Sustainability Director.

4.     Improving Energy Efficiency in Buildings/ Successes, Challenges, and Strategies – featuring presentations and questions answered by panelists from the UMass Clean Energy Extension, City of Worcester, and the City of Northampton.

5.     Energy Justice and Increasing Access for All – featuring presentations and questions answered by panelists from All in Energy, Mass CEC, and the Mass Save Community First Partnership.

Panelists’ presentation slides and full recordings of each of the sessions can be found on the Workshop Webpage here. Information about panelists, their organizations, and their contact information is also included on the workshop webpage.

Affordable Access Regional Coordination

Clean Energy Webpage and Program Finder Tool

This year CMRPC has also worked to further the Department of Energy Resources’ Affordable Access Regional Coordination (AARC) Program. CMRPC’s primary efforts were to connect residents with programs that provide advances toward energy equity and address the barriers between low-to-moderate income folks and clean energy investment. These programs include, but are not limited to, rebates and incentives for clean energy technology and energy efficiency measures, and energy bill assistance. CMRPC created a Clean Energy Webpage to put all these different programs into one webpage residents can easily navigate. If a resident was interested in one of these services, but did not know which program was right for them, CMRPC also created a Program Finder quiz. Residents can fill out the quiz with their basic information and their energy goals, and the program finder will present a program or two that the individual can look into. CMRPC went out to farmers markets, senior centers, and other community spaces through the region to connect more people with the webpage and the Program Finder. The Clean Energy Webpage can be found here and the Program Finder can be filled out here.  

Low Impact Development Bylaw Assessment

For the Town of Boylston, MA

In the past few months, CMRPC also completed a Low Impact Development assessment of the Town of Boylston’s current developmental regulations. Often, traditional development practices can result in over-clearing of natural open space and widespread use of impervious surface such as cement and concrete. This increases stormwater runoff in the community, resulting in flooding, pollution, infrastructure damage, and more threats to the community. Low Impact Development (LID) is a design practice that aims to limit the detrimental impacts development can have on stormwater by using stormwater as a resource. This includes, but is not limited to, utilizing Mass Audubon’s LID best practices, smart designs to cluster development, and encouraging the preservation of open space and green infrastructure. Using’s Mass Audubon’s bylaw assessment tool, which can be downloaded here, CMRPC reviewed Boylston’s Zoning Bylaw, Subdivision Rules and Regulations, Site Plan Review, and Stormwater Bylaw. We then selected the places in each document that can be changed/reworded to better encourage low impact development. Then, in a presentation to the Boylston Planning Board, CMRPC outlined opportunities for Boylston’s bylaws to encourage more sustainable development techniques.

For more information on LID Bylaw Assessments, please contact Julia Moore at jmoore@cmrpc.org

The CMMPO is receiving applications for the MicroProjects Program!

Deadline to apply is January 20, 2023

The MicroProjects Program is the Central Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (CMMPO) funding program for first and last mile solutions, community transportation, and other small, non-traditional transportation projects, such as bikesharing facilities.

The Microprojects Program was created by the Central Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (CMMPO) with the intent to fill the gaps in the transportation network, create first and last mile connections between transit and other modes of transportation, and to support access to essential services, including access to jobs, education opportunities, health services and healthy food.

From the public outreach and engagement activities the CMMPO heard loud and clear the need for more local transportation services. To that end, the CMMPO allocated $400,000 per year to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the MicroProjects Program. Schedule is subject to change pending cost increases or programming year changes of existing TIP projects.

The MicroProjects Program is funded with federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds. As such, all projects must demonstrate a benefit to the air quality in the Central Massachusetts region and meet other federal requirements. In other words, applicants must show the reduction in emissions by shifting trips from vehicles to cleaner alternative modes of transportation.

The Program will only cover 80 percent of the project’s capital or operating costs. Proponents should anticipate providing 20 percent local match.

For the beginning of federal fiscal year 2024 (FFY 2024) the types of projects eligible for the MicroProjects Program are: Bike-share stations and bicycles, microtransit options for community transit services, purchasing of new vehicles, vans or shuttles and for the implementation of travel demand management (TDM) strategies geared to commuters.

Visit www.cmrpc.org/microprojects for more information or email Yahaira Graxirena, Transportation Project Manager: ygraxirena@cmrpc.org