Memorandum
of Understanding for the
Boston Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO)
In its 2001
review, the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA),
and Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) conditionally certified
the Boston MPO based on
a number of systemic problems.
Failure to correct the
problems identified by
the federal agencies put
at risk its ability to
receive federal highway
funds.
The Boston
MPO members are: U.S.
Department of Transportation
through the Federal Highway
Administration and Federal
Transit Administration,
Massachusetts Executive
Office of Transportation
and Construction, Massachusetts
Highway Department, Massachusetts
Bay Transportation Authority,
Advisory Board to the
Massachusetts Bay Transportation
Authority, Massachusetts
Turnpike Authority, Metropolitan
Area Planning Council,
Massachusetts Port Authority,
City of Boston , City
of Everett, City of Newton,
City of Peabody, Town
of Bedford, Town of Framingham,
Town of Hopkintown, and
the Joint Regional Transportation
Committee.
As a result
of its conditional certification,
the Boston MPO initiated
a consensus process to
revise its existing Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU)
to incorporate the corrective
actions (6) and suggested
recommendations (33) required
in the Final Transportation
Planning Certification
Review Report (March 15,
2001) issued by the FHWA,
Massachusetts Division
and FTA, Region I Office.
Susan Podziba
& Associates designed
and implemented a mediation
process to meet the goals
and dynamics existing
at the Boston MPO. Since
the corrective actions
addressed working relationships
in addition to technical
planning issues, the process
design modeled opportunities
to cooperate in ways that
built on the strengths
of MPO members and its
mission. Each member was
represented at the negotiations.
The process
included three phases:
1) preparatory work: SP&A
interviewed all board
members and other necessary
parties to obtain information
to design the process
and develop the agenda;
2) facilitated meetings:
SP&A facilitated all
meetings, prepared agenda,
meeting summaries and
revised versions of the
draft MOU, and maintained
contact with all participants;
and 3) post negotiation:
SP&A consulted after
completion of the MOU
to assist with the transition.
Upon completion
of the MOU, the Federal
Highway Administration
and the Federal Transit
Administration certified
the Boston MPO for three
years.
