The Concord Transportation Advisory Committee on Dec. 19 approved a revised request that asks consultant Stantec to study public‑transit options, gather route‑level ridership and cost information from comparable communities, and report on funding and accessibility considerations.

Chair Mark Gales told members Stantec had completed a field review of pavement and sidewalk conditions under the committee’s ongoing contract and that the draft request is tied to Task 3b — “five‑year transportation solutions.” “Concord’s Transportation Advisory Committee serves to advise the town manager and select board on policies and initiatives related to transportation for Concord residents, workers, and visitors,” Gales read aloud while presenting the document for member edits and approval.

The committee framed the work as a staged effort, starting with a discovery phase to collect evidence from comparable communities (members cited Lexington, Acton and Bedford), then developing models for possible local pilots and, eventually, options for implementation. Members asked Stantec to provide route maps, hours and frequency (including early/late weekday and weekend service), any discontinued services and reasons, ridership levels (ideally by route), start‑up and ongoing funding details, fare administration and discounts, and planning‑level cost estimates. Members also requested analysis of whether other towns adopted zoning or parking‑policy changes to support transit and asked for evidence of benefits to underserved groups.

Committee discussion added specificity on partners and finance: funding partners should be identified by type (businesses, cultural organizations, developers, institutions) and the consultant should report actual dollars spent on comparable services when possible. The committee also asked Stantec for recommendations on ADA accessibility requirements and intermodal interfaces — the practical connections between trains, buses, bike/ped facilities and stops.

During the meeting Gales highlighted operational notes from regional planning discussions, including a report that the MBTA will run extra commuter trains for Concord’s April 19, 2025 event beginning about 4:45 a.m., and that those trains will not allow bicycles; members discussed shuttles and remote parking arrangements that remain unresolved.

Public comment raised concerns about process and scope. Linda Nieman of Mallard Drive asked how earlier Stantec survey findings and pedestrian and bicycle safety needs from July would be integrated with the transit focus. Nieman said the current draft “seems very different from the feedback that was given in July to Stantec.” Committee members replied that Stantec was selected to avoid conflicts of interest with service providers and that the second contract is intended to move closer to implementation for sidewalks and corridor work.

A member moved to approve the amended document and forward it to the Planning and Land Management staff; Mark Gales seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote with affirmative responses recorded from Alan, Nick, Dan, Phil, Mariana and Chair Mark Gales. The committee directed staff to send the approved request to town planning and to coordinate next steps with the staff member managing the Stantec contract.

The committee also received updates that Stantec has completed its pavement and sidewalk field review and that staff were meeting Stantec traffic engineers to begin a MassDOT route‑corridor review. Liaison reports noted an engineering/police discussion about a pilot speed‑control treatment on a Route 62 corridor, a nearly $500,000 Complete Streets grant application for a sidewalk project, and an increase in a Safe Routes to School grant award noted by members.

The committee adjourned at 3:37 p.m.; the approved request will be transmitted to Planning and Land Management for contract administration and follow‑up with Stantec.