The North-Central Berkshire Access Study is a Major Investment Study (MIS) examining transportation access in the north and central Berkshires. The 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act made Major Investment Studies an integral part of area-wide planning. These studies provide decision-makers with important information before investment decisions are made.

Major Investment Studies provide focused analysis and evaluation of access and mobility needs and related problems. They typically yield a group of transportation alternatives aimed at solving identified transportation problems, and recommend an alternative for implementation. Alternatives may recommend investment in various modes of transportation or policy changes. The outcome of the North-Central Berkshire Access Study will be considered by the Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization in the update of the Regional Transportation Plan.

Cooperation and collaboration are integral to Major Investment Studies. Public agencies work together with citizens, private and non-profit organizations, and various levels of government. Public participation is an essential part of the North-Central Berkshire Access Study.

Study Goal. The goal of the North-Central Berkshire Access Study is for the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to decide which alternative or project, if any, it will include in its long-range transportation plan to meet the transportation and mobility needs identified in the study. The North-Central Berkshire Access Study will identify transportation access problems north of the Massachusetts Turnpike and develop alternative solutions that will be economically and environmentally viable.

Public Participation Goal. The goal of the public participation process is a well-informed public that contributes to decisions in a meaningful way. Reasonable effort will be made to reach consensus, but agreement is not required. ("Public Participation Process for Transportation Planning," Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, endorsed by Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization, August 1996.)

Overview of the Study Phases. The North-Central Berkshire Access Study is set up in phases, with tasks within each. These are summarized briefly below as an overview and explained in the Study Design. Opportunities for public input and review are built in throughout the study. They are briefly noted in the Study Design, and further details are shown in the Study Design and Public Participation Table. Towards the end of each phase, the effectiveness of public participation efforts will be assessed and the details for the next phase planned with public input (see Public Participation Plan).

Level of Effort - 520 hours, or 10% of total available consultant hours

Task 1 Development of Study Design and Public Participation Plan

The Technical Steering Committee (TSC), the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) and the consultant will draft a proposed study design and a public participation plan that address the study goals and incorporates Major Investment Study approaches.

Task 2 Conduct Berkshire Transportation Forum Meeting

A public meeting will be held to present the goals of the study, explain the proposed study design and public participation plan, solicit comments, and invite interested participants to join the Regional Study Committee.

Task 3 Conduct Initial Regional Study Committee Meeting

An organizational meeting of the Regional Study Committee will be held to establish groundrules for the committee and to discuss the proposed study design and public participation plan.

Task 4 Incorporate Study Design and Public Participation Plan Comments and Submit to MPO

Comments gathered on the study design will be incorporated with TSC guidance and the revised study design and public participation plan will be submitted to the MPO agencies for acceptance. Upon acceptance, the study design will be distributed to interested individuals.

Phase 0 Product – Finalized Study Design and Public Participation Plan Document and a memorandum for agency files that explains how public comments were incorporated.

Level of Effort - 520 hours, or 10% of total available consultant hours

Task 5 Prepare List of Previously Identified Transportation Access Problems and Goals

A listing of previously identified access problems will be prepared using existing historical information, previous studies, and TSC guidance. Additionally, existing information will be used to characterize community goals related to transportation including such aspects as economic development, land use, environmental perspectives, and social issues. The summary prepared in Task 5 will serve as a starting point for discussions aimed at creating an exhaustive problem list.

Task 6 Identify Additional Transportation Access Problems and Goals

Additional current access problems will be identified through interaction with the RSC and local community representatives, as determined with TSC input. These interactions will also be used to define community goals related to transportation including such aspects as economic development, land use, environmental perspectives, and social issues.

Task 7 Prepare Comprehensive Transportation Access Problems List

A list of all of the transportation access problems identified will be prepared with review by the TSC and the RSC. (BTF review of this information occurs in Task 11.)

Phase I Product – Technical Memorandum including the comprehensive list of transportation access problems, the information sources used to compile the list, and a summary of public participation occurring in the phase.

Level of Effort – 1040 hours, or 20% of total available consultant hours

Task 8 Gather Baseline Data

Existing traffic and environmental data will be reviewed and anticipated baseline data needs will be developed. An initial effort to gather baseline data will be undertaken to meet needs associated with developing transportation forecasts of future conditions and with verifying or quantifying transportation access problems identified in Phase I. The results of recent and ongoing transportation improvements will be examined. Additional transportation and environmental data will be gathered as needed to support alternatives development and analysis.

Task 9 Prepare Transportation Forecasts of Future Conditions

Transportation forecasts describing future conditions will be prepared and used to evaluate whether the identified transportation access problems will remain static, worsen, or improve in the future. These forecasts may uncover additional problems, which will be added to the list described in Task 7.

Task 10 Propose Transportation Access Problems Subject to Further Consideration

Using the information prepared in Tasks 8 and 9, along with TSC guidance, the consultant will prepare a proposed list of transportation access problems to be addressed by the alternatives proposed in Phase IV.

Task 11 Public Review of Study List of Transportation Access Problems

The proposed list of transportation access problems to be addressed by the study will be reviewed by the RSC and the BTF.

Phase II Product – Technical Memorandum including the comprehensive list of transportation access problems to be addressed by the study and a summary of public participation occurring in the phase.

Level of Effort – 520 hours, or 10% of total available consultant hours

Task 12 Develop Evaluation Criteria

Proposed criteria will be developed that will be used to evaluate alternative solutions to transportation access problems. The criteria will include qualitative and quantitative considerations, such as regulatory requirements, community concerns and values, economic and environmental concerns, impacts of growth stimulated by transportation improvements, and transportation engineering and safety. Quantitative measures of transportation improvement will be included as evaluation criteria and will include such measures as travel time, delay, travel speed, and level of service. Criteria will also include, but not be limited to, capital cost, maintenance cost, social aspects, safety, job creation and preservation, land use, and economic development.

The criteria will be developed with input from the RSC, be supplemented by other sources as determined by the TSC, and be subject to several iterations if necessary. The criteria will be suited for both gross and detailed screening, with the levels of screening being characterized by the level of data detail used. The consultant will propose one or more methods of prioritizing or weighting the evaluation criteria which will be considered as tools for use in analyzing the alternatives. The proposed methods will be refined and incorporated into the evaluation criteria with RSC input and TSC guidance.

Task 13 Conduct Public Meeting to Review Evaluation Criteria

A public meeting of the BTF will be held to review the evaluation criteria and to gather comments.

Phase III Product – Technical Memorandum including a list and explanation of evaluation criteria, their sources, and a summary of public participation occurring in the phase.

Level of Effort – 520 hours, or 10% of total available consultant hours

Task 14 Catalog Techniques

A catalog of transportation techniques including the pros and cons of applicable modes and methods will be prepared, and a review of transportation techniques in general will be provided for the RSC and the TSC and will be offered to the BTF. It will be provided as a workshop open to all of these groups, with the second half of the workshop devoted to generating a list of all suggested applications of the information as MIS alternatives. Techniques include, but are not limited to, widening existing roads, proposing new roads or bypasses, improving intersections and signal timing, improving mass transit or introducing additional transit modes, changing traffic patterns in downtown areas, and managing travel demand. The selected techniques will serve, in various combinations, as the bases for developing alternative solutions to transportation access problems.

Task 15 Develop Proposed Alternatives

A complete set of alternative solutions to the identified transportation access problems will be developed utilizing the techniques from Task 14. These alternatives will include previously proposed alternatives and other new approaches or combinations of solutions. The proposed alternatives will be defined through iterative discussions with the TSC and the RSC, followed by BTF review.

Phase IV Product – Technical Memorandum listing all alternatives including a summary of public participation occurring in the phase.

Level of Effort – 1560 hours, or 30% of total available consultant hours

Task 16 Perform Initial Screening

The alternatives identified in Phase IV will be screened on a gross basis to yield a short list of alternatives to be studied in detail. Application of the screening criteria developed in Phase III will be used with TSC guidance and RSC input. The no-build and transportation system management alternatives will be included in the short list. The short list will be developed using Federal Major Investment Study guidance documents.

Federal guidance includes the following issues:

• Include all reasonable modes and alignments
• Include options designed to address differing goals and objectives
• Include all options that have a reasonable chance of being the preferred alternative
• Provide fall-back options when questions remain on feasibility of specific alternatives
• The number of alternatives should be manageable
• Alternatives must be within the limits of technology
• Alternatives must respond to the transportation problem identified
• Alternatives should be refined to optimize performance in the corridor
• Policy setting in which the alternatives are defined and analyzed must be unbiased and consistent across all alternatives
• Each alternative should be significantly different from other alternatives
• To the extent possible, alternatives should be designed from the start with environmental considerations in mind

Task 17 Examine and Refine Alternatives

The short list of alternatives will be examined to provide adequately detailed traffic and engineering analysis, environmental impact and permit assessment, cost and right-of-way impacts, as required to apply the evaluation criteria. Additional data gathering will be performed as necessary. The implementation sequencing for each alternative will be considered. For alternatives that may be suited for implementation as needed in a number of steps over time, determining factors should be identified to indicate when action on a particular step should begin. Results of examining the alternatives will be discussed with the TSC and the RSC, and the alternatives will be refined through an iterative process to better meet the goals.

Task 18 Present Short List of Alternatives for Public Review

The short list of alternatives along with the information for each alternative resulting from Task 17 will be presented at a BTF meeting and public comment solicited. The alternatives will be modified or amended in response to public input and TSC guidance, and a final short list prepared.

Phase V Product – Technical Memorandum including the final short list of alternatives and the evaluation information for each, including a summary of public participation occurring in the phase.

Level of Effort – 260 hours, or 5% of total available consultant hours

Task 19 Rank Alternatives

The short list of alternatives will be ranked through application and weighting of the evaluation criteria. The TSC and the consultant will perform the ranking. The RSC will propose for public review a recommended alternative.

Task 20 Public Review of Recommended Alternative

The results of Task 19 will be presented in a written summary for review and comment by the RSC and the BTF. Comments will be incorporated with guidance from the TSC.

Phase VI Product – Technical Memorandum describing alternatives ranking and a summary of public participation occurring in the phase.

Level of Effort – 260 hours, or 5% of total available consultant hours

Task 21 Preparation of a Recommendation Report to the MPO

A report that describes the study process, public participation meetings and main points and the study results will be drafted, reviewed by the RSC, TSC, and BTF, finalized, and presented to the MPO. The report will include the recommended alternative resulting from RSC and BTF review.

Phase VII Product – Final report document for submission to the MPO.

This table shows how the Study Design and Public Participation Plan together provide the framework for developing the information needed by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in deciding on how to address transportation access problems north of the Massachusetts Turnpike. It also indicates how public input is solicited and how drafts are made available for public comment.

Additional public participation activities may be added by the Technical Steering Committee (TSC), with discussion as needed, with the Regional Study Committee (RSC) to distribute information and/or receive additional input useful to the MPO in its decision-making role. Note that indication of RSC or BTF involvement for a task represents an agenda item to be discussed at one or more meetings as work progresses. MPO agency staff participate in all phases of the study. Updates on the progress of the study will be presented at MPO meetings during the course of the study.

The Public Participation Plan for the North Central Berkshire Access Study explains the process to include input from a wide cross-section of people who live, work, or otherwise care how the transportation needs of North-Central Berkshire County will be met. We hope that you, as a member of the Berkshire community, will be part of the process described in the study design and on the next few pages.

The goal of the public participation process is a well-informed public that contributes to decisions in a meaningful way. Reasonable effort will be made to reach consensus, but agreement is not required. The process is based on "Public Participation Process for Transportation Planning," adopted by Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and endorsed by Berkshire Metropolitan Planning Organization in August, 1996.

1. OVERVIEW

• Newspaper advertisements will be placed for Berkshire Transportation Forum meetings, and legal advertisements for Technical Steering Committee (TSC) and Regional Study Committee (RSC) meetings.
• All meeting notices will be faxed to the local media list maintained by the BRPC for use in event calendars or as a basis for coverage.
• Reasonable effort will be made to have BTF meetings videotaped and aired on public access cable television. At a minimum, BTF meetings will be tape-recorded for those unable to attend, and a meeting summary will be prepared.
• A variety of public participation techniques will be used in the study to assist all those with a stake in the results consistent with available staff support and budget resources.
• All meetings will be held in handicapped accessible locations, and assistance for special needs will be provided with 48 hours notice to the Project Manager, Diane Madden, at (617) 973-7477.
• Study documents such as draft and final phase summaries and the draft and final report will be available for public review at the BRPC, BRTA, and Massachusetts Highway Department District #1 offices during regular business hours.
• Documents subject to federal regulation, such as the draft final report, will be distributed to study area city and town halls, and a number of libraries (see list on page 21 of this section).
• You can be added to the BTF mailing list by attending a BTF meeting or by making a request to the BRPC at any of the following:

• Early and continuing opportunities in the study to provide input and feedback, including regular Berkshire Transportation Forum meetings and brief written responses to comments mailed to:

• Timely, informative meeting notices, by mail, for the BTF and any other committees in which the participant is a member.
• Opportunity to contribute toward the development of ground rules and to participate in selecting a Moderator and Vice-Moderator for their committees.
• Opportunity to participate in any RSC or BTF working group or focus groups formed to address particular topics or issues of different geographic sub-areas.
• A phase summary will be prepared for each appropriate phase of the study by the consultant with the TSC and then reviewed by the RSC. These summaries will roughly be used as draft chapters for the final report (see Study Design). They will consist of a one or two page executive summary, text (covering technical work, summary of public input and comments, and list of public participation activities), and technical appendices as needed.
• The executive summary will be mailed to the BTF as an update with a note that the full summary is available upon request.
• Input and review of the report which the MPO will consider in making its final decision.
• Opportunity to participate in continued work on implementation and transportation planning after the study is completed.

• Genuinely voice your concerns—meetings are oriented toward reviewing and commenting on the technical and policy aspects of the study in an open but timely manner with the assistance of a Moderator.
• Listen to others and really try to understand and consider their viewpoints.
• Engage in problem-solving and productive discussion. If consensus cannot be reached on technical or policy matters after a reasonable number of attempts, the process provides for differing viewpoints to be carried forward.
• Participate in setting ground rules for your committee as needed and abide by them.
• Any news releases for the study are to be coordinated between the Moderator and Technical Steering Committee. Participants asked by the press to comment should make clear that they speak as private citizens or organizational representatives and are not representing the North-Central Berkshire Access Study.
• Press inquiries should be directed to:

The reason that a positive team approach is so important is that otherwise it could take a very long time to determine whether and how access should be improved. As an illustration, the timeline below shows how long a generic major transportation construction project might take. This is solely an example and by no means suggests that the result of this study will be a major construction project. Our trust is that an open, thoughtful process will result in recommendations that benefit all of us, as part of the Berkshire region.