GAME'S OVER!!! MPO voted today


 Yesterday, Leino said “all roads lead to the MPO” but all the roads lead to a dead end.  There is zilch, nada, zip, zero dollars from the MPO!

 MPO concluded its TIP 22-26 programming just now (11:30 am).


**GOOD NEWS**: no new projects such as the Belmont Community Path will be programmed!   In this TIP cycle, they will only have money ($20.3M) left umprogrammed in 2026.   Those $20.3M potentially could  be used for new projects in 2026.  BUT, the Board took the vote at 11:20 am to leave the money un-programmed!!  This means that the MPO will not take on new projects as far out as 2026!

We still have a problem with Brownsberger and MassBike*  in that both seemed to be ordering the CPPC to continue forging ahead (read CPPC meeting 033121 - to be linked soon).  If they continue with eminent domain, they will tie down our properties with liens that will affect selling, mortgaging, etc. and who knows what other pointless moves they will make that will negatively impact us. 
 
We may have to continue countering their moves until reality sinks in that the town will not have MPO funding for at least the next 6 years.  Maybe, then, the killing of the trees with herbicide will also stop.
 
In closing: this past months, it has been amazing seeing how deftly Chair Mohler - aided by his able staff and Board - has maneuvered this behemoth along a very narrow channel into budgetary safety (EverGiven, take note!).  In this cliffhanger process, I have indeed become fond of (besides the very wise Mr. Mohler and Mr. Genova) of Mr. Diggins, (seemingly gruff) Mr. Kane, Ms. Linnell and Ms. Teich.
 
My thanks to all - staff and Board - for setting an example of how to run a state agency well!





(* MassBike Coalition boils down to ~6 people from Sudbury, Wellesley, Boston, Brockton.)
 
 




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