HAVERHILL — Members of the public are invited to participate in two virtual public hearings to discuss a number of proposed actions regarding the region’s transportation plan.
The virtual hearings will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 1 p.m. for public hearing #1 and at 8:15 p.m. for public hearing #2.
The Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MVMPO) will be accepting comments from the public. Comments may also be submitted directly by email to the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission at transportation@mvpc.org.
No formal presentations will be given, however, staff will be available to discuss the actions and receive comments. Comments will be provided to the MVMPO Board to inform its consideration of the actions.
The MVMPO includes representatives from MassDOT, the advisory board of MeVa, the mayors of Haverhill and Lawrence, and members appointed from Region 1, Amesbury, Newburyport and Salisbury; Region 2, Newbury, Rowley and West Newbury; Region 3, Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland and Merrimac; and Region 4, Andover, Methuen and North Andover.
The proposed actions include amendments to the Transportation Improvement Plan proposed by MeVa (Merrimack Valley Transit). The TIP is a five-year capital plan of projects located within the region that are anticipated to receive federal aid. Officials said that anytime there are significant cost changes to the TIP program it must go out for public comment as the changes can impact how federal funding is used.
The five amendments to the FY24-FY28 TIP include the following changes:
The number of transit buses being purchased has increased from 8 to 14, but with eight buses to be taken out of service, MeVa’s current fleet of 58 buses will increase by six and will be in operation in a year to 18 months from now depending on the supply chain.
Officials say the change addresses two critical needs: To better meet the needs of transit riders, MeVa has utilized additional MassDOT operating assistance to significantly increase the frequency of stops and increasing the hours of operation and days of service, resulting in a need for increased equipment; and due to an issue starting in 2025 with the lack of availability of Cummins clean diesel engines that meet the CARB standards, MeVa is ordering some of the new buses this year, one year earlier than planned.
MeVA has already put in place some of the enhancements to its service schedules with more to come, said MeVA Administrator Noah Berger.
A project for acquiring eight crossover SUVs to be used in paratransit revenue service has been added to the TIP. This will allow MeVa to be more nimble in deploying right-sized vehicles based on rider need and number of passengers in the vehicle. The current paratransit fleet consists of vans with lifts and carry 12 passengers.
“We’re going to diversify our fleet by adding these crossover SUVs,” Berger said.
The budget for the McGovern Transportation Center project in Lawrence has been increased to add scope to the project for sandblasting and painting the metal beams on the first floor, as determined necessary following a full assessment of current conditions.
“This will address structural integrity needed to move the Lawrence bus hub from the Buckley Center on Common Street to the McGovern Center,” he said. “The advantage will be we will have a bus station at the train station and will allow us to grow.”
The design for the expansion of MeVa’s Admin/Maintenance facility on Railroad Avenue in Haverhill has been decreased and split into a feasibility study with preliminary design moved in FY25.
“We know we need more space and right now we have no place to install charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in the future,” Berger said.
Align the TIP with the actual schedule of activities for FY24.
How to access the virtual hearings:
Link to Zoom Hearing #1: us06web.zoom.us/j/81958455407?pwd=DZbaJKIPPweUYaN17bXteJ04L9omJ7.1
Meeting ID: 819 5845 5407; Passcode: 913470
Link to Zoom hearing #2: us06web.zoom.us/j/83523878127?pwd=JVoIqFS5HpHbPNjS5EGaWAiSF1WlEK.1
Meeting ID: 835 2387 8127; Passcode: 739771
For language accommodations, please contact the MVMPO Title VI/Anti-Discrimination Coordinator at 978-374-0519, ideally two weeks in advance of the hearing date.