Advisory Board Meeting - October 1, 2025

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Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of October 1, 2025

The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) Advisory Board met on October 1, 2025, at 9:30 AM at the call of Michael Tusino, Advisory Board Chair/Framingham.

A roll call of members present was conducted; in attendance were: Ed Burman/Ashland-Vice Chair, Michael Tusino/Framingham-Chair, Debbie Dupois/Holliston, Kristina Johnson/Hudson left 10:22 AM, Heather Gutierrez/Marlborough, Michael Walsh/Milford, Morgan Griffiths/Natick, Robert Wolff/Sherborn, Sam Stivers/Southborough, Nickole Boardman/Sudbury, Joseph Nolan/Wayland-Clerk, and Sheila Page/Wellesley.

Also in attendance: Jim Nee/Administrator, Mark McClanan/Deputy Administrator of Operations, John Glynn/CFO, Patrick Moynihan/General Counsel, Daniel Fitch/IT Consultant, Linda Murtagh/Executive Assistant & HR Manager, Joy Glynn/Grants Manager, Jeff Coletti/Grants Assistant, Paula Doucette/Accounts Payable, Tyler Terrasi/Government Affairs Officer, Cameron Sullivan/Procurement Specialist, Emily Van Dewoestine/Manager of Fixed Route & Marketing, Zach Jones/Route Planner, Manuela Evans/Manager of Travel Training & Community Outreach, Sadie Simone/MetroWest Center for Independent Living, and Lauren Lynch/ Transit Planner & Project Manager, AECOM.

Board members absent: Kevin McCabe/Dover, Carole Mullen/Hopedale, Shahidul Mannan/Hopkinton, and Jean MacQuiddy/Weston.

With a quorum declared present, the meeting was called to order at 9:31 AM with Mr. Tusino presiding.

Public Questions/Comments: No public comments were presented.

Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes – June 26, 2025: A motion was made by Mr. Stivers of Southborough: Approve the minutes of June 26, 2025. Second by Mr. Walsh of Milford. The motion carried by majority vote with Ashland, Sherborn, and Hudson abstaining.

Administrator’s Report – Discussion: Mr. Nee reported on the following items

• Year-to-year ridership increased 21% throughout FY2025, totaling 500,000 riders. MWRTA expects to serve 1 million riders throughout its system in the coming years.

• MWRTA received $4M from the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Transit Transformation Program for the purchase of larger capacity Gilligs. The next shipment of Gilligs is expected to arrive before the end of the calendar year. Mr. Nee and Mr. Juppe (Fleet Director) will travel to Gillig headquarters in San Francisco to observe the new buses as they make their way through the production line.

• MWRTA has approximately $15M in state and federal discretionary and formula funds for its Blandin Hub expansion project. Mr. Sullivan will update the Board regarding the current status of the project and required Board action later in the meeting agenda.

• Required public comment period remains ongoing for the MWRTA’s fixed route network redesign initiative. This redesign will promote a more reliable and efficient service. Public comments will be accepted for the next 6-12 months.

• MWRTA has an additional $1.5M in state operating funds for use within FY2026. State and federal partners continue to invest heavily in MWRTA capital projects and operations.

Mr. Nee indicated that MWRTA historically utilizes between $1.5M and $2M annually for operations. The Authority is well-positioned to expend excess operating funds for capital projects. MWRTA has expended all funds awarded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Mr. Tusino of Framingham expressed positive feedback surrounding the appearance of the MWRTA’s larger-capacity buses.

Presentation/ AECOM Comprehensive Regional Transit Plan Update: Ms. Lynch of AECOM presented a status report on the MWRTA updating of its five-year Comprehensive Regional Transit Plan (CRTP) in line with guidelines provided by the Commonwealth’s Taskforce on Regional Transit Performance and Funding. CRTPs assess future statewide regional transit authority needs based on current market trends, agency services, census data, and public feedback. AECOM through its coordination of public comment has been facilitating stakeholder collaboration with MWRTA team members to develop a draft vision and goals that will shape the 2026-2030 CRTP. Public engagement events continue to take place throughout MWRTA member communities. Ms. Lynch encouraged board members to gather relevant feedback from their communities. AECOM intends to complete 2025-2030 CRTP development by March 3, 2026.

Mr. Nee stated that the MWRTA and AECOM will verify the accuracy of all data presented. , Emily Van Dewoestine MWRTA’s Manager of Fixed Route and Route Planner is ensuring the synergy of its CRTP and fixed route network redesign projects. Board members will receive regular updates surrounding the development of both initiatives.

Discussion/Approval of Engineering Design Services Selection – Blandin Hub Operations & Maintenance Facility Expansion: Mr. Sullivan presented for consideration of the Board the selection of Weston & Sampson (WSE) to provide design and construction management services for the Blandin Hub Operations and Maintenance Facility Expansion Project. Referring to the detailed memo included in the Board packet, Mr. Sullivan stated that under the Authority’s On-Call Engineering Design Services contract with Gannett Fleming, Weston & Sampson and STV, a task order was issued seeking proposals from these firms for these services. Based on the competitive submittals provided by the firms and further negotiation with Weston & Sampson, the preferred respondent the parties agreed to a not-to-exceed fee for services of $2,090,292.30. Mr. Nee stated that WSE will handle preliminary design elements, address regulatory compliance, and ensure the project is shovel ready. The 4-phase project is expected to be completed within 3-4 years. MWRTA will construct a 3 to 4-story facility for operations contractor staff at the rear of the building, expand vehicle maintenance bays, reclaim current operator offices for administrative personnel and expand a climate-controlled customer waiting area.

MWRTA’s project scope also includes geotechnical and sight surveys required for a concurrent task order related to its Blandin Energy and Sustainable Storage Technology (BESST) Project.
A motion was made by Mr. Stivers of Southborough: Approve MWRTA’s selection of Weston & Sampson (WSE) to conduct planning and design activities for the Blandin Hub Operations and Maintenance Facility Project at the not-to-exceed fee of $2,090,292.30. Seconded by Mr. Walsh of Milford. The motion carried by majority vote.

Discussion/Approval of Agency Title VI Program: Mr. Nee summarized the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirement that transit agencies implement and update their Title VI program. This publicly accessible document outlines numerous official agency policies related to discrimination complaints, service changes, and barrier-free operations. Mr. Terrasi stated that MWRTA’s FY2026-2028 Title VI program contains up-to-date census data provided by the Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) and the American Community Survey (ACS). He also requested that advisory board members complete and submit the required Board Member Ethnicity Form attachment for inclusion in the updated document.

Mr. Fitch stated that information related to larger capacity vehicles will be included in the next Title VI update.

A motion was made by Mr. Stivers of Southborough: Approve the updated Title VI document as presented. Seconded by Mr. Walsh of Milford or Michael Tusino of Framingham. The motion carried by majority vote.

Discussion/Approval MWRTA Revised FY26 Operating Budget: Mr. Nee acknowledged the efforts of Ms. Glynn and Mr. Fitch to ensure that MWRTA’s formula and discretionary budgets remain strong. CFO John Glynn reported that the Authority has received an additional $1.5 million in state supplemental funds, as well as an additional $250,000 in ”fare free” funds, both as recently provided by the legislature in its FY 2026 state budget. This allows the MWRTA the ability to defer revenue from its 495 Connector to FY2027. The revised 495 Connector Revenue for FY 2026 is now $638,000. Cost increases of $830,000 to the revised FY2026 operating budget are the result of changes to the Authority’s fixed route, demand response, and Catch Connect MicroTransit programs, all resulting in the revised operating budget of $20,624,408.00, with a net cost of service in the amount of $17,786,836.00 . Mr. Nee noted that the MWRTA anticipates additional revenue from two MassDOT discretionary grants submitted in fall 2025.

Mr. Nee stated that cost breakdowns related to individual fixed route vs. demand response trips are contained within the required National Transit Database (NTD) reports and will be included in subsequent budget documents. In-house fueling and maintenance operations are included within the direct operating cost breakdown. MWRTA aims to decrease cost per passenger trip throughout its fixed route operations.

A motion was made by Mr. Stivers of Southborough: Approve the FY26 Operating Budget as presented. Seconded by Mr. Wolff of Sherborn. The motion carried by majority vote with Ms. Page of Wellesley abstaining.

Board Member Comments: Mr. Stivers of Southborough suggested that the Authority increase efforts to encourage public participation at hearings related to the fixed route network redesign. Mr. Nee stated that MWRTA continues to undertake a number of marketing initiatives via a local internet-based Brazilian radio station and social media. We will continue to conduct mail campaigns and engage with numerous community stakeholders via their social media channels.

Mr. Burman of Ashland thanked Mr. Nee for his assistance with ensuring participants of a recent youth program received safe transportation to Boston via the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) at no cost to the town.

Scheduling of Next Meeting: Mr. Nee stated that the next Advisory Board meeting will occur in early 2026.

Adjourn: Mr. Stivers motioned to adjourn the meeting at 10:25 AM. Seconded by Mr. Walsh of Milford.

Certificate

The undersigned, being the duly qualified clerk of the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority Advisory Board acknowledges that the foregoing minutes accurately reflect the actions taken at a legally convened meeting of the Advisory Board held on October 1, 2025.
____________________________
Joseph Nolan, Clerk

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