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Cape Cod MPO hears plan for Transportation Management Association; staff to pursue stakeholder outreach
Summary
Consultant Michelle Brooks presented a Transportation Management Association (TMA) concept to the MPO, outlining services, funding models and potential benefits for coordination during major bridge projects; staff proposed a planning workshop and stakeholder group to explore formation and grant eligibility through Mass Commute.
MPO staff and a consultant presented an exploratory briefing on Nov. 17 about the potential for a Transportation Management Association (TMA) to serve Cape Cod.
Colleen Munieros introduced Michelle Brooks of Transaction Associates, who described a TMA as a formally organized, typically public–private, long-term organization that provides member-based services such as commuter tools, vanpool coordination, shared shuttles, emergency-ride-home programs and regional outreach. Brooks said TMAs are ‘‘professionally staffed organizations’’ often supported by member dues and grant programs, and noted there are about 17 TMAs in Massachusetts.
Brooks told the board TMAs can improve mobility, reduce single-occupant vehicle trips, and coordinate shared services and messaging during major construction work. She cited the Artery Business Commission/Better City model in Boston as an example of a TMA that formed around a large infrastructure project and continued as an ongoing regional resource.
Board members asked practical and governance questions. Sean Handy (MassDOT) asked for regional examples; Brooks pointed to Poncum/Valley and urban TMAs such as the Artery/Better City and Alewife-area groups. Steve Buckley (public commenter and Chatham resident) and other members asked how a TMA would relate to existing project stakeholder groups (for example the Cape Bridges advisory group) and whether a TMA would be subject to public-meeting laws. Brooks said the legal/public-meeting obligations depend on the TMA’s chosen structure—many TMAs are 501(c)(4) nonprofits or subgroups of nonprofits, but where a TMA is formed under intermunicipal agreements it has followed open-meeting law; she added that Mass Commute recognition is required for funneling certain state grant funds.
Mark Forrest voiced support for pursuing next steps, noting the potential value of a TMA in coordinating travel demand management during major bridge construction. Staff emphasized that the current UPWP task is exploratory: staff and the consultant will do outreach, consider models appropriate to Cape Cod, and bring any specific formation proposal back to the MPO for action. Proposed next steps discussed included a half-day planning workshop and a small stakeholder group to meet two or three times to refine models and identify potential members and services.
No formal action was taken. Staff said any decision to form or endorse a TMA, or to apply for grant funding, would return to the MPO for consideration.
The consultant summarized key near-term actions as stakeholder outreach, a planning workshop and assessment of whether a TMA model fits Cape Cod’s seasonal and year-round travel patterns.
