Cover of the 2012 Regional Transportation Plan

The Regional Transportation Plan is a comprehensive evaluation of the Southeastern Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization (SMMPO) transportation system.  Examining all aspects of our transportation system in relation to the region's population and economic growth allows the SMMPO to determine what existing and future transportation improvements are necessary under environmental and financial constraints.  Furthermore, the plan is the framework for maintaining and building a sustainable transportation system that allows the region to flourish economically while protecting the environment and developing more livable communities. 

The plan will be ready for release on July 26, 2011 by the SMMPO for a 30-day public comment period.  The plan will be made available on the SRPEDD website. (A draft version is already available on the website.)  In addition, the public will be able to read the plan at their local public library in either hard copy or digital (PDF) format. Digital copies will be available to the public upon request to the SRPEDD office.  Once the 30-day comment period is complete, the plan will be up for endorsement at the SMMPO meeting in late August 2011. Everyone is encouraged to read this document and help us move to a more efficient transportation system in our future. 

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Joanne Bouchard

Joanne Bouchard, Vice President of Operations for SEED Corporation, passed away on June 30 at the age of 54 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Joanne was a staff member at SRPEDD for 11 years and maintained her friendships with the SRPEDD family after she transferred to work for SEED Corporation. We remember her most for her earthy laugh and her generous smile. Joanne, we miss you already.

You may read more about Joanne and send condolences to her loved ones from this link.

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Kristina Egan

As a local newspaper so aptly put it, "South Coast Rail Loses its Engine."  Kristina Egan, Project Manager for over four years, has stepped down.  No replacement has been named.

SRPEDD has worked closely with Kristina since she was named by Governor Deval Patrick in 2007.  Her persistence and persuasiveness advanced the project considerably over that time and her accomplishments are many.  During her tenure, the state named a preferred route after an exhaustive analysis of numerous alternatives, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the state initiated the technical assistance program, the award-winning Corridor Plan was completed, the Governor issued Executive Order 525, and detailed planning was undertaken around each station site, including a design competition in New Bedford.

We are a lot closer to achieving the long held regional goal of commuter rail service to the region because of her hard work, but she will probably be best remembered for the grace and good cheer that she always showed despite often very trying circumstances.  We at SRPEDD wish her the best and hope to see her helping us in other areas in the future.

Kristina Egan (third from left, in orange) tours the Hockomock Swamp

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Commissioners are sworn in at the 2011 Annual Meeting

Randall Kunz, representing the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen, was elected Chair of the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) for the 2011-2012 term.  The meeting was held at UMass Dartmouth on May 26, 2011.

Other officers for the 2011-12 term elected at the meeting were:

·   Jean C. Fox, Freetown Board of Selectmen, Vice Chair;

·   Joan Marchitto, North Attleborough Board of Selectmen, 

   Secretary;

·   Martin Newfield, Raynham Board of Selectmen, Treasurer;

·  Joseph Callahan, Berkley Board of Selectmen, Assistant 

    Treasurer; and

·  Susan Peterson, Rochester Board of Selectmen, Past Chair.

Newly re-elected Chair Kunz vowed to continue to guide SRPEDD to help Southeastern Massachusetts become a more sustainable region.

Chancellor Jean MacCormack was the evening's guest speaker and spoke about the university's important role in the region's development.

A tribute to Roland Hebert, longtime SRPEDD staff member who passed away this year, was delivered by Stephen C. Smith, SRPEDD's Executive Director.

Special Recognition Awards were presented at the meeting.  They were awarded to:

·  State Representative Stephen Canessa, for his hard work on 

    behalf of Southeastern Massachusetts and regionalization;

·  Susan Jennings, Director of the UMass Sustainability 

    Initiative and Co-Chair of the Southeastern Massachusetts 

    Council on Sustainability; and

·  Officer Lance Lawson for his tireless work to advance the 

    cause of traffic safety in the town of Mansfield and across 

    the region.

SRPEDD Commission Awards were presented to Jean Fox as Commissioner of the Year and Raymond Fleurent for Distinguished Service.

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Proposed Regional Emergency Communication Center (RECC) Coverage Areas

In response to the current local government financial crisis SRPEDD is offering assistance to cities and towns to deliver goods and services on a regional basis.  This initially involved a Regional Cooperative Purchasing Program which involved office supplies to large equipment, but will expand into helping regionalize other municipal services, such as 911 operations.  Since every municipality has its own call center, public safety communications operations are duplicated throughout the region. This results in limited staff and expertise available at each location. A feasibility study has been reviewing if these 911 services can, and should be shared.

The study found that the 19 entities participating (18 municipalities and one university) can be consolidated into two Regional Emergency Communications Centers (RECC). The two RECC facilities should be located in the region yet geographically separated to provide an appropriate backup. Each RECC would serve as backup or alternate PSAP facility during service interruption. The RECCs would serve as the primary PSAP for all wire line and wireless 9-1-1 callers and would perform all dispatch services for the respective communities for Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Consolidation will cause significant improvements to public safety as well as have cost benefits. Some of the improvements will be faster call processing and response times, better management during large scale incidents and natural disasters, ensured and consistent training for 911 personnel and coordination and consistency in locating addresses.

The costs of the initial consolidation will be covered by the State's 911 department and it is possible that more than $1.7 million in regional savings will result from these shared services and enhanced efficiencies. 

For an update on this feasibility study and to view a full report on the draft findings and recommendations, please visit the Municipal Services page on the SPREDD website.

Contact: Ross Perry, Municipal Management Specialist

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Where is Scott in this photo?  The first of SRPEDD's Facebook Friends (a person who "Likes" SRPEDD) to correctly respond on our wall wins a free SRPEDD Mug.

Scott Bushway spent 33 years in law enforcement retiring as Deputy Chief of Police before joining SRPEDD in April of last year.  Much of his law enforcement career was spent supervising the criminal investigation division before being promoted to administrative services, responsible for grant writing, internal affairs, firearms licensing, civil rights violations and juvenile services.

He holds a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice and has been an adjunct faculty member at MassBay Community College since 2005 and Kaplan University since 2009.

He has written several articles on various law enforcement topics for Lawyer's Weekly, Exhibit A publication, and Quinlan Publishing where he was named to their Advisory Board in 2006.   He has conducted several audio conferences for Thompson-West Publishing and edited CJ text material for McGraw-Hill Inc.

In his spare time, as a licensed amateur radio operator since 1968, he enjoys radio communication issues, Morse code and emergency preparedness - hobbies that he can incorporate into his duties at SRPEDD as the Homeland Security Grant Manager.  

Where is Scott in the above photo?  The first of SRPEDD's Facebook Friends (a person who "Likes" SRPEDD) to correctly respond on our wall wins a free SRPEDD Mug. 

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During its annual Town Meeting on Monday, June 14, Lakeville voters passed six warrant articles to begin the process of attaining the Commonwealth's Green Communities designation.  These "rigorous qualification criteria" and the Green Communities Division, itself, were created in 2008 with the goal of helping cities and towns to create "healthier communities and stronger economies" by reducing municipal energy use. 

Once Lakeville's application is approved by the state, the town will be the first South Coast community to join the 53 existing Green Communities across Massachusetts.  These qualified municipalities have access to state grant money to fund energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in municipal facilities.

The Vice Chair of the Lakeville Energy Advisory Committee, Larry Simpson, explained the process to the New Bedford Standard-Times: "The grants are performance-based contracts. A company comes in and checks the municipal buildings and says, 'We can save you X thousands of dollars,' and those savings will be used to pay for the capital expenses. It doesn't cost the town anything.  They pay for improvements out of the savings and, when the capital improvements are paid for, those annual savings stay in town."

Simpson went on to describe the town's big-picture perspective on Green Communities: "Lakeville can become a beacon on the South Coast, not because we want to save the environment or save the earth.  That's a byproduct.  We want to be leaders and spend less by reducing operating expenses. This reduces our costs and enhances property values.  And, by the way, it's the right thing to do for the environment, not the other way around."

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SRPEDD