The Watertown Transportation Management Association (TMA) received a grant of $159,469 from the Mass Department of Transportation to analyze data on travel patterns and use findings to inform development of new mobility alternatives, all in an attempt to reduce single occupancy vehicle commuting. See details about the program provided by MassDOT, below.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration is announcing the awarding of $3 million in funding for 13 Transportation Management Associations (TMAs), one TMA membership association, and one consulting firm, to support 19 projects which encourage transportation alternatives and expand transportation options in communities across Massachusetts.
Awards include funding to operate and publicize shuttles, improve bus stop infrastructure, expand ferry service, and more. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) TMA Grant Program first launched in Fiscal Year 2025 and is now in its second year. The goals of this grant program are to reduce single occupancy vehicle (SOV) travel, reduce emissions, encourage mode shift, and expand mobility.
“Our investments in community transportation are about connecting people to jobs, schools, and services today and into the future,” said Transportation Secretary & CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “The projects supported through the TMA Program are vital to building a more reliable, resilient, and accessible transportation network. I look forward to seeing this program continue to grow and serve our communities for years to come.”
A TMA is a membership-based organization that focuses on improving transportation options and infrastructure within a specific region or community. TMAs are typically formed through collaboration between local businesses, government agencies, and community stakeholders to address the unique transportation needs of their respective regions. TMAs implement programs and initiatives aimed at promoting alternative transportation methods like carpooling, vanpooling, biking, walking, and public transit usage. They also provide transportation-related services, including shuttle programs, carpool matching services, and commuter incentives, all geared towards reducing single-occupant driving.
A list of the winning projects is available here, and more information on the TMA Grant Program is available here.
I had never heard of the Watertown TMA, so I looked it up. Its address is listed in Woburn, which I suppose is neither here nor—well, I guess it is THERE, Woburn, just not here. The only familiar name (to me) was Steve Magoon, which was reassuring. Some of the others—Katie Snider, “President”; Michael Alterella, “Treasurer”—don’t turn up at on a simple Google search. Sophia Galimore, “Watertown TMA Director”, has a LinkedIn page listing her as “Director” at TransAction Associates, Inc., at the same Woburn address. TransAction is at least in the same line of business. But she’s nowhere on the “Meet the Team” page, and the search function on site has no record of her name. I did recognize her in one photograph on the site. If it’s a mistake, it’s an odd one for the “Director”.
Last point: the link to the list of winning projects is to a press release from over a year ago, and the dollar amount is nowhere close to what the article states. (It’s reasonably close to double the amount, perhaps the first of two years(?) but not even exactly that.)
I insinuate nothing; I just don’t understand. While the goal of the grant is clear enough—to study transportation alternatives to private cars—everything else is, at best, sloppy. Any clarification would be welcome. Thank you.
The Watertown TMA oversees the Watertown Connector Shuttle down Pleasant St. to Harvard Sq. That is open to the public. https://www.watertownmanews.com/2025/08/09/new-schedule-for-the-watertown-connector-shuttle-between-pleasant-st-harvard-sq/
They also oversee the Arsenal Street Shuttle, which serves the businesses and apartment complexes that are members on that corridor
Yes, that’s right, Charlie, but nearly $160k to “analyze data” is something other than running a shuttle service. I can’t make sense of the story as published.
The operative bit is “… an attempt to reduce single occupancy vehicle commuting.” Sure, pack 8 commuters in a tiny electric car while banning internal combustion engine vehicles. Problem solved. Now use the $160K for something worthwhile.
Typical Blue State bureaucracy. This is being pushed by Monica Tibbits-Nutt who, back in 2024, listed several options to raise funds, including increased fees for Uber and Lyft rides, bigger excise taxes for large pickup trucks, Amazon deliveries and tolls. “And when I’m talking tolling, I’m talking at the borders. I’m not talking, like, within Massachusetts,” she said.
Even Healy thought this was nuts, no pun intended.
I “showed my work”. Anyone is welcome to check it. I even asked for clarification. Who are these people? Why don’t the names and dates and dollar amounts add up? What will the money buy? And as I’ve argued repeatedly from local government: spend money on services, not experts or studies. Traffic stinks, no more studies needed. Run more shuttles, make more stops, welcome more riders. Same for MBTA buses. Cambridge and Somerville have T stops; Waltham and Belmont have commuter rail; Newton has both. It’s not rocket science—though flying cars would help.
As Ross Perot said: “If you see a snake, just kill it, don’t appoint a committee on snakes.”
Josh, some select people (read hacks) make enormous amounts of money with “studies”, expert advice, planning for what may happen in 100 years, etc. It will never stop; it is just too lucrative.
TMA? This is not a coincidence. It is all intertwined.
MBTA:
“ Ms. Tibbits-Nutt was also the Executive Director of the 128 Business Council, a transportation management association and regional service provider that builds privately funded, cooperative public transportation routes throughout the Route 128 West Corridor.”
The Watertown Transportation Demand Management Regulations Ordinance was signed in October 2019. Its purpose and goal was to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips to and from Watertown with a stated reduction goal of 20% from a baseline established from the 2000-2010 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
That baseline had Watertown SOV mode of transportation at 68% for Watertown residents and 75% of Watertown workers. The stated reduction goals are to reduce to 54% and 60% respectively. The TDM ordinance specifically requires ongoing monitoring and reporting of compliance and performance to stated set goals. This ordinance grants authority to the DCDP to enforce its regulations.
It’s been six years and I am not aware of any public publication of performance to reduction goals or levels of compliance with TDM regulations.
What are Watertowns motor vehicles numbers?
1-Total number of MVs parked in the city every night? Watertown registered and out of city and state inclusive.
2-Average number of MV’s per household?
3-Average number of MV’s in Watertown per square mile.
4- Watertown MV population breakdown by vehicle type (SUV, Truck, Passenger).
5- Total number of vehicles broken down by city districts.
This is where the city needs to come clean that it’s being overrun by MV’s and it’s hurting the same neighborhoods disproportionately.
This is where the city needs to invest in gathering meaningful data and seeing the reality.