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SRPEDD Newsletter

January 2019TOPForReal

IN THIS ISSUE:



MassDOT's GeoDOT Open Data Portal and MaPIT Project Intake Tool
 









 
  
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Green Community Awards Announced 
for SRPEDD Region  First


The SRPEDD Municipalities of Dighton, Fairhaven, Marion, Seekonk, and Wareham were 5 of 30 recently announced new Green Communities by the MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER). With the designation, the communities received initial grants, which ranged from $132,672 to $204,952 to make investments in municipal facility energy improvements and renewable energy projects.
 
These five communities are now part of the 240 Green Communities across the Commonwealth, bringing the total number of Green Communities in the SRPEDD region to eleven. Existing communities include Acushnet, Dartmouth, Lakeville, Middleborough, New Bedford, and Plainville. By participating in the program, cities and towns gain eligibility to apply for up to $20 million made available annually through DOER. Participants commit to a 20% municipal energy use energy reduction goal over five years, enacting energy performance standards for new construction, setting energy efficient vehicle policies, and streamlining permitting for clean energy projects.
 
With a Municipal Energy Technical Assistance (META) Grant through SRPEDD, these five towns that received grants were able to complete the required 5-year Energy Reduction Plan and apply for the Green Community designation. In 2019, SRPEDD will be working with additional SRPEDD communities as they begin energy reduction planning and consider future applications for Green Community designation.

To learn more and find out how your community can participate, please contact Eric Arbeene at  earbeene@srpedd.org  or visit:  http://www.srpedd.org/Green-Communities.

 North Attleboro Bicycle & Pedestrian Integrated Mapping  
Second

This spring, SRPEDD, at the request of theTown of North Attleborough, will be assisting with developing an integrated map of the town's ambitious bicycle and pedestrian related projects. The plan will incorporate work from several sources, including but not limited to, the Complete Streets Prioritization Plan, the Open Space and Recreation Plan, the 69 Line Utility Plan, the most recent Master Plan, and all relevant SRPEDD Regional Plans (such as the Regional Transportation Plan, Regional Bicycling Plan and Regional Pedestrian Plan). The Plan will consolidate information from each of these documents into a single map series with project descriptions and prioritization, preliminary cost estimates and prospective funding sources, and and approximate timetable for completion.
 
The overall aim of the project, in addition to presenting the consolidated vision of a completed bicycle and pedestrian network in North Attleborough, with inter-connected town-owned open space, is to incorporate each of the envisioned individual projects into one instrument, providing for more streamlined coordination between departments.

MassDOT's GeoDOT Open Data Portal and MaPIT Project Intake Tool
Third
MassDOT's GeoDOT Open Data Portal provides the public with access to the most up-to-date Geographic Information Systems (GIS) transportation data. It also enables metropolitan planning organizations and municipalities the ability to initiate, prioritize, and find funding for their projects, including Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Safe Routes to School (SRTS) initiatives.

The Massachusetts Project Intake Tool (MaPIT) was similarly created to assist municipalities through the TIP process, including Project Initiation Forms (PIF) and Project Needs Forms (PNF). These forms typically require site specific details obtained via GIS . The process can be complex as MaPIT requires information on safety, such as vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian crash data; environmental concerns, such as wildlife habitats, wetlands, and vernal pools data; and permitting requirements. It enables applicants to clearly detail their projects, and also automatically fills in a significant amount of the required information upon creation.

New MaPIT work flows are presently being created.  One of them, Safe Routes to School, went live this November with workflows for Maintenance, Bridge, Pavement, MBTA, and Chapter 90 expected to follow shortly.

Moving forward, the Road Inventory File (RIF) will be integrated with the MaPIT Project Intake Tool . Since Chapter 90 is based on the number of road miles in a community, the RIF encourages municipalities to participate in data maintenance, including updates and the addition of newly accepted roads, which will hopefully lead to an increase in in Chapter 90 funding.

Other data that is available on the portal includes access to the Capital Investment Plan, and Highway Project Viewer which displays project related data in an interactive mapping tool. Equity data available includes Community Contacts and Accessible Meeting Locations. Additionally, there is further data associated with roadways, including Park n' Ride lots, Electric Charging Stations and a map displaying all bridges in the state.

SRPEDD staff is available to assist with any of GeoDOT's online tools .  To access these tools, please visit:  http://massdot.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html

Source: UMass Transportation Center
Along with UMass-Dartmouth and the South Coast Bikeway Alliance, SRPEDD will be hosting a dockless bikeshare RFP information session on Tuesday, January 15, at 10:00 AM at UMass-Dartmouth. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an overview of bike sharing systems, report on the history and experience of pilot communities, identify a set of interested communities, determine a timeline to issue the RFP (with expected program launch of Summer 2019), and solicit members for the proposal evaluation committee.
 
Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, and UMass-Dartmouth each successfully piloted dockless bike share programs this past year. These programs are a new way of making inexpensive, self-serve bike rental available in multiple locations across a city, neighborhood, or campus. These programs provide an alternate transportation option - at no cost to participating communities - that can fill gaps in the transit network, help residents commute by bike more conveniently, and introduce others to recreational biking.
 
Participants in pilot programs have reported very positive experiences - so much so that SRPEDD is initiating a regional procurement effort. As with any such procurement, response to a regional RFP is anticipated to result in a greater number of qualified proposals.
 
If you have any questions about the program, would to learn more about how your community can participate in the upcoming regional procurement, please  contact Eric Arbeene at  earbeene@srpedd.org.
Traffic Data Collection
This program is designed to provide technical assistance as needed and requested by SRPEDD member communities on local transportation issues that do not need a comprehensive planning study . These projects are typically completed using existing or minimal data collection by way of   a T echnical M emorandum (Tech Memo) to the community which provides an overview of an issue and recommends s hort - term / low -cost solutions.

Among other eligible projects: a Traffic Signal Warrant Analysis or Multi-Way Stop Evaluation to determine if an intersection needs a traffic signal or additional traffic control; isolated Neighborhood Traffic Issues such as speeding, excessive truck or cut-through traffic on local streets; a Line of Sight or Road Issues Assessment to address issues of restricted sight distance or other factors that might contribute to a potential safety problem; and Pedestrian/Bicycle Assessments to assess isolated issues with existing accommodations for safer pedestrian and bicycle access to a street network.
 
The Tech Memo provides alternatives to initiate a solution to resolve the issue, advises the community with a course of action on developing a project, and funding options available. The Tech Memo will also include copies of any data collected to assist with any engineering and design going forward.
 
Community Technical Assistance is open to all 27 SRPEDD communities. The community is required to submit an application by a community official for consideration by the SRPEDD staff review team. Requests are prioritized and selected based on the budget set within the Unified Planning Work Program, which is necessary due to the volume of requests SRPEDD receives annually. Once selected, SRPEDD contacts the community to discuss details of the issue including data collection, field observation assistance, and timeline for completion.
 
For communities interested in submitting a request, this application form should be used.  (One form per location please.) For more information, please contact SRPEDD Transportation Planning Manager Paul Mission at 508-824-1367.
  

SRPEDD will be hosting a  Lunch & Learn session on Housing on Tuesday, February 5, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. The Lunch & Learn series is an opportunity for area Planners, local community officials and interested others from across the region to get together, enjoy a free lunch, and engage in the discussion of a variety of timely planning topics, with invited experts in their respective fields.

The featured speakers at the upcoming February 5, 2019, Lunch & Learn are Katherine Lacy, AICP, from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership who will discuss the ongoing Survey of Inclusionary Housing Programs in Massachusetts, and Chris Kluchman, FAICP, from the Department of Housing and Community Development who will discuss the Housing Choice Initiative program. 

Registration required.  

To RSVP for the upcoming session please contact SRPEDD Principal Planner and CPO Eric Arbeene at 508-824-1367 or   earbeene@srpedd.org  by Wednesday, January 30.
 
ATIRC Training
Homeland Security ATIRC & Vigilant Guard  Trainings
 
 Seventh 

The Southeast Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council (SRAC) recently hosted two trainings. The first was a 3-day, 24-hour Active Threat Integrated Response Course (ATIRC) at the St. Mary's Church Parish Center in Norton, MA.  ATIRC is a program provided by the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training at Louisiana State University, in this case sponsored by SRAC and MEMA. Over 40 law enforcement and fire department personnel from southeastern Massachusetts participated in the training that focused on integrated response to active shooter events. The integrated response is key to allowing rapid deployment of protected medical assets in an active shooter scenario, maximizing lives saved.

To assist with the training, 15 cadets from Massachusetts Maritime Academy served as role players in drills and exercises on the last day. The ATIRC course enhanced regional and statewide response capabilities for mass casualty incidents and was well received by all who participated.

The second training, Operation Vigilant Guard, was held in two separate locations. The first was held at Otis Air National Guard Base in Bourne. It was attended by fire services personnel from the Barnstable County Incident Management Team (BCIMT), Technical Rescue Team (TRT), as well as local fire responders with support from the Massachusetts National Guard. Responding to a vehicle borne improvised explosive device attack on a crowded barracks, first responders were confronted by a chaotic night-time scene with scattered role players requiring triage.  A command structure was rapidly established and the BCIMT developed incident action plans for the response. Regional TRTs interacted with the National Guard members and replicated treating and transporting patients to local hospitals. 

Additionally, personnel from Southeast Massachusetts TRT's participated in a simulated failure of the Harriman Dam in western Massachusetts. They established and maintained a unified and coordinated operational structure and process that integrated all critical stakeholders while supporting the execution of core capabilities of statewide TRT teams to cohesively respond. A video produced by FEMA's Massachusetts Task Force 1 showcasing the western MA events can be seen by clicking here

The Southeast Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council (SRAC) proudly serves ninety-seven communities, and has to date provided millions of dollars in U.S. Department of Homeland Security funding to members since 2004.

2019 District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) Requests Due
January 31
  Eigth
Wareham Village, looking from the Wankinco River. This photo is part of the Wareham Tremont Nail Factor and Village Drone Survey, which took place under DLTA in 2018

A new year of District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) is currently underway! 

For eligible project ideas, please visit 
www.srpedd.org/dlta-archive) to get a sense of the work that SRPEDD and member communities have completed in recent years. 

Then check out this year's brochure and application for more details including evaluation criteria, and ongoing support of the Baker-Polito Administration's Community Compact Cabinet (CCC) and Housing Choice Initiative.

We look forward to receiving your request, and another round of exciting and impactful DLTA projects in 2019! 

Please contact SRPEDD Director of Comprehensive Planning and Housing Grant King, AICP at gking@srpedd.org.

                                                                                                               
Regional Transportation Plan Public Meetings 
to be Held February 13 and 20  Ninth.
 


Simply put, the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) is the framework for how transportation dollars are spent in the SMMPO region. The recommendations included in the RTP represent the basis for the future development of southeastern Massachusetts. It contains choices and recommendations that will influence our region for decades and centuries. It is that important.

In more detail, the purpose of the RTP is to provide a comprehensive, long-term analysis of existing and future needs of the SMMPO's regional transportation system. This includes land use, socioeconomic, environmental and other considerations that largely shape transportation demand and the transportation system. The RTP provides the best information available and is intended to be used as a planning aid to provide guidance to the general public, local officials, and state and federal agencies on the allocation of resources and investments in the regional transportation system.

People who live and work in this region have an opportunity to participate in the planning process and have a say on how transportation funds should be spent across the region to improve our transportation system. So please tell us what you think.  Please click here  to take our brief survey or scan the QR code below with your smart phone. The survey only takes 5 minutes to complete. 
 
To garner feedback in person, SRPEDD staff will also be holding two upcoming public meetings or "listening sessions". We want to know where there are unsafe conditions on roads, intersections and sidewalks; where traffic congestion is worsening; when and where you'd like to see more bus service, or more areas to safely bike; and any other transportation-related issues or needs.

The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at the SRPEDD Office at 88 Broadway, Taunton, MA from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM.

The second meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at the Southworth Library at 732 Dartmouth Street in South Dartmouth, MA in the Haskell Room from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Both of these locations are accessible and located on a transit route.  

We hope to see you there!

For more information about the Regional Transportation Plan please visit  SRPEDD's Website  or  Facebook page , or forward your comments anytime to lcabral@srpedd.org.