Public Engagement

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Continuous public engagement helps the Boston Region MPO build and maintain relationships with stakeholders—including advocates, community leaders, and all members of the public—and bring new perspectives to the planning process. In all its planning work, the MPO strives to hear, value, and consider the needs and views of all people in the Boston region and incorporate their input in decision-making.

The MPO’s Public Engagement staff coordinate with the Community Transportation Access Program to ensure that populations that have been traditionally underserved by the transportation system and lacked access to the decision-making process have meaningful and accessible opportunities to participate in the planning process that shapes the Boston region’s transportation network.

The Community Advisory Council provides a forum for members of the public and representatives of advocacy, interest, professional, and community-based organizations to engage directly in the MPO’s work. The Community Advisory Council’s mission is to create space for knowledge-building and productive discussions about regional transportation issues, advise the MPO board and staff, and ensure that planning and policy decisions are responsive to public priorities and consistent with the MPO’s long-range vision and goals. 

Learn more about the Community Advisory Council and get involved at bostonmpo.org/advisory-council. 

Public Engagement Plan

The Public Engagement Plan was endorsed by the MPO board in August 2026. The Public Engagement Plan outlines the policies, procedures, and methods through which the MPO engages the public in its work. The Plan is periodically updated to reflect changes in the MPO’s practices.

Public Engagement Plan (PDF)
Public Engagement Plan (HTML)
Public Engagement Plan Executive Summary in English (PDF)
Public Engagement Plan Executive Summary in Kreyòl Ayisyen, Português,  简体中文, 繁体中文,  Español, Tiếng Việt

(PDF) (HTML) 

A Guide to Participating in Transportation Planning and Decision-Making in the Boston Region (PDF) (HTML) provides quick, easy access to information on the MPO’s transportation planning work and how to get involved.

Public Engagement Dashboard

The Public Engagement Dashboard provides a unified and dynamic space to view public engagement data organized by key themes, priorities, geographic distribution, changes over time, and emerging trends.

Data in the dashboard comes from a variety of sources, including:

  • Engagement at community events
  • Comments received by email
  • Surveys
  • Meetings with advocacy and community organizations
  • MPO board and committee meetings

Explore the Dashboard 

Program Evaluation

Between federal fiscal years (FFY) 2022 and 2025, MPO staff documented the engagement activities conducted each year in order to assess the impacts of the Public Engagement Program’s efforts over time. Each year, staff presented a memorandum documenting key metrics and goals to the MPO board. As of FFY 2026, engagement data and analysis are captured in the Public Engagement Dashboard, which is updated quarterly.

Previous Program Evaluation Updates

FFY 2024 Engagement Evaluation Memo (PDF) (HTML)

Summary of FFY 2023 Public Engagement Activities (PDF) (HTML)

Summary of FFY 2022 Public Engagement Activities (PDF) (HTML)

Previous Engagement Updates

 

October 2025—March 2026 Engagement Update (presented to the MPO board May 7, 2026)

January 2025—September 2025 Engagement Update (presented to the MPO board October 9, 2025)

August 2024—December 2024 Engagement Update (presented to the MPO board January 16, 2025)

October 2023—July 2024 Engagement Update (presented to the MPO board September 19, 2024)

More Information

Contact

Michaela Grenier
Senior Planner, Public Engagement
mgrenier@ctps.org