SRPEDD Announces a 21-day Public Comment Period with a Virtual Public Meeting on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 4:00 pm to hear comments on the release of the Draft Congestion Management Process Plan and Draft Food Access and Security in Transportation Plan for Southeastern Massachusetts.
August 18, 2026 – The Southeastern Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (SMMPO)’s draft Congestion Management Process and Food Access and Security in Transportation Plans are being released to a 21-day public comment period.
Congestion Management Process Plan (CMPP): SRPEDD transportation staff have been updating the previous Congestion Management Plan that was published in 2023. Updates include an analysis of changes in primary congestion metrics including travel time reliability for interstate and non-interstate roadways, truck travel time reliability, and on-time performance for local regional transit authorities.
The plan identifies a number of roadways and intersections that fall under the previously mentioned performance goals set by the SMMPO. The update of the plan will also include goals and strategies to reduce the congestion experienced in the SRPEDD region at locations identified in the plan to address congestion at problem locations.
In addition to the ongoing efforts updating the Congestion Management Process and Plan, SRPEDD transportation staff update information on regional bottlenecks quarterly on the SRPEDD website at this link: https://srpedd.org/transportation/congestion-management/
Food Access and Security in Transportation (FAST): The food access landscape in the SMMPO region has continued to rapidly change and adapt to both new and recurring circumstances. At the same time, data reflects a growing number of Massachusetts residents experiencing food insecurity. According to the Greater Boston Food Bank’s 2026 report, 2 out of every 5 households (40%) reported experiencing food insecurity within the last year. Up 3% in just one year, more than 2 million individuals across the state remain unsure as to where their next meal would come from. Through strong public engagement efforts, core public health principles, examination of existing GIS data, and regional coalition involvement, the SMMPO Food Access and Security in Transportation (FAST) Plan provides a better understanding of the current food access landscape and provides suggestions for supporting regional food resilience and equitable healthy food access through integrated transportation investments and practices.
As the food access landscape is constantly changing, adapting, and evolving, the FAST Plan must be responsive and aware of these varying circumstances to ensure the information provided is up-to-date and reliable. At any time, food retailers may open or close, food assistance benefits may expand or shrink, and the variety of transportation services provided may change. Each of these factors, and more, will undoubtedly affect community members across the SMMPO region, with an even greater impact on those most directly affected by such significant changes.
To view additional resources, graphics, and data, view the following links:
• https://srpedd.org/transportation/food-access/
• https://srpedd.org/transportation/transit/
To view the FAST Plan document, view the following link:
• https://srpedd.org/resource/072926_fast_plan_2026_final_v1/
All of this work helps support the region’s 27 communities toward building a safer, and more accessible, connected, reliable, and resilient transportation system for all mode users.
A virtual public meeting on the draft plans will be held remotely, on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 4:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend, ask questions and offer comments, but attendance is not necessary to offer input or comment. More options to offer comments can be found below.
The meetings will be conducted through ZOOM. This link provides the information to allow participants to connect to the meeting through a computer, smart phone, or regular telephone: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697.
Register in advance for the August 31, 2026 (4 pm) webinar at this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qz6tkJA_ToysHghZCNIuJA
Both plans will have a 21-day public comment period, and final versions will be endorsed at the next SMMPO meeting which is scheduled for September 15th.
Comments are encouraged and may be offered by a variety of methods including:
• Sending an email to shilton@srpedd.org (CMPP) or Noah Soutier nsoutier@srpedd.org (FAST);
• Our general website form at https://srpedd.org/contact-us/;
• Our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SRPEDD/; Instagram @SRPEDD https://www.instagram.com/srpedd/;
• By phone call to 508-824-1367;
The SMMPO, through SRPEDD, provides reasonable accommodations, including language assistance and/or auxiliary aids and services free of charge, upon request and as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact SRPEDD’s Title VI Coordinator by phone (508 824-1367), dial 711 to use MassRelay, or by email at aduarte@srpedd.org. Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting.
PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jackie Jones at jjones@srpedd.org for more info.
SRPEDD Announces a 21-day Public Comment Period with a Virtual Public Meeting on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 4:00 pm to hear comments on the release of the Draft Congestion Management Process Plan and Draft Food Access and Security in Transportation Plan for Southeastern Massachusetts.
August 18, 2026 – The Southeastern Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (SMMPO)’s draft Congestion Management Process and Food Access and Security in Transportation Plans are being released to a 21-day public comment period.
Congestion Management Process Plan (CMPP): SRPEDD transportation staff have been updating the previous Congestion Management Plan that was published in 2023. Updates include an analysis of changes in primary congestion metrics including travel time reliability for interstate and non-interstate roadways, truck travel time reliability, and on-time performance for local regional transit authorities.
The plan identifies a number of roadways and intersections that fall under the previously mentioned performance goals set by the SMMPO. The update of the plan will also include goals and strategies to reduce the congestion experienced in the SRPEDD region at locations identified in the plan to address congestion at problem locations.
In addition to the ongoing efforts updating the Congestion Management Process and Plan, SRPEDD transportation staff update information on regional bottlenecks quarterly on the SRPEDD website at this link: https://srpedd.org/transportation/congestion-management/
Food Access and Security in Transportation (FAST): The food access landscape in the SMMPO region has continued to rapidly change and adapt to both new and recurring circumstances. At the same time, data reflects a growing number of Massachusetts residents experiencing food insecurity. According to the Greater Boston Food Bank’s 2026 report, 2 out of every 5 households (40%) reported experiencing food insecurity within the last year. Up 3% in just one year, more than 2 million individuals across the state remain unsure as to where their next meal would come from. Through strong public engagement efforts, core public health principles, examination of existing GIS data, and regional coalition involvement, the SMMPO Food Access and Security in Transportation (FAST) Plan provides a better understanding of the current food access landscape and provides suggestions for supporting regional food resilience and equitable healthy food access through integrated transportation investments and practices.
As the food access landscape is constantly changing, adapting, and evolving, the FAST Plan must be responsive and aware of these varying circumstances to ensure the information provided is up-to-date and reliable. At any time, food retailers may open or close, food assistance benefits may expand or shrink, and the variety of transportation services provided may change. Each of these factors, and more, will undoubtedly affect community members across the SMMPO region, with an even greater impact on those most directly affected by such significant changes.
To view additional resources, graphics, and data, view the following links:
• https://srpedd.org/transportation/food-access/
• https://srpedd.org/transportation/transit/
To view the FAST Plan document, view the following link:
• https://srpedd.org/resource/072926_fast_plan_2026_final_v1/
All of this work helps support the region’s 27 communities toward building a safer, and more accessible, connected, reliable, and resilient transportation system for all mode users.
A virtual public meeting on the draft plans will be held remotely, on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 4:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend, ask questions and offer comments, but attendance is not necessary to offer input or comment. More options to offer comments can be found below.
The meetings will be conducted through ZOOM. This link provides the information to allow participants to connect to the meeting through a computer, smart phone, or regular telephone: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697.
Register in advance for the August 31, 2026 (4 pm) webinar at this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qz6tkJA_ToysHghZCNIuJA
Both plans will have a 21-day public comment period, and final versions will be endorsed at the next SMMPO meeting which is scheduled for September 15th.
Comments are encouraged and may be offered by a variety of methods including:
• Sending an email to shilton@srpedd.org (CMPP) or Noah Soutier nsoutier@srpedd.org (FAST);
• Our general website form at https://srpedd.org/contact-us/;
• Our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SRPEDD/; Instagram @SRPEDD https://www.instagram.com/srpedd/;
• By phone call to 508-824-1367;
The SMMPO, through SRPEDD, provides reasonable accommodations, including language assistance and/or auxiliary aids and services free of charge, upon request and as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact SRPEDD’s Title VI Coordinator by phone (508 824-1367), dial 711 to use MassRelay, or by email at aduarte@srpedd.org. Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting.
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