### Region 19: Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA {#region-19-boston-worchester-manchester-ma-nh-csa .unnumbered}

I.  **Geographic Boundaries, Political Jurisdictions and
    Infrastructure**

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="4.045833333333333in"}

**Map 19.1: Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA Major Highways and
Fixed Guideway System**

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="3.7680555555555557in"}

[]{.mark}

The Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA is comprised of six counties
in Massachusetts and five counties in New Hampshire. The major urban
areas that are within the CSA include the cities of Manchester, NH in
Hillsborough County; Worchester, MA in Worchester County; Boston, MA in
Suffolk County; and Cambridge, MA in Middlesex County. The area is
located in the northern portion of the United States with the Atlantic
Ocean bordering the both states to the East. The CSA is approximately
7,497 square miles with a population of 5.7 million persons. The 2000
bi-state population was 7,657,924, as follows: Massachusetts --
6,398,743; and New Hampshire -- 1,259,181.

The region is served by a number of interstate highways, fixed guideway,
ferry and bus routes. The major east-west highways include Interstates
89, 90, 290 and 393; and the major north-south highways include
Interstates 84, 93, 95, 190, 195, 293, 395 and 495.

The Charles River Basin defines the center of Boston\'s metropolitan
area. The 80-mile long
[river](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_River) starts at Echo Lake
in
[Hopkinton](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopkinton_(town)%2C_Massachusetts)
and flows through 58 cities and towns in eastern MA before emptying into
Boston Harbor. It separates Boston proper from Cambridge, Watertown, and
the neighborhood of Charlestown. Further north is the Merrimack River.
The river is 110 miles long rising from the confluence of the
[Pemigewasset](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemigewasset_River) and
[Winnipesaukee](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipesaukee_River) rivers
in [Franklin, New
Hampshire](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin%2C_New_Hampshire),
flowing southward into
[Massachusetts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts), and then
northeast, near the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border, until it empties
into the [Atlantic Ocean](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean)
at
[Newburyport](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newburyport%2C_Massachusetts).

[]{.mark}

The region's climate is continental in which seasonal temperatures vary
greatly from one season to the next. Summers are typically warm and
humid, while winters are cold, windy and snowy. Massachusetts\'
geographic location jutting out into the [North
Atlantic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Atlantic) also makes the
area very prone to
[Nor\'easter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nor'easter) weather systems
that can dump more than 20 in (50 cm) of snow on the region in one storm
event.

II. **Agencies Operating in the Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH
    CSA**

  -------------------- ----------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------
  **Agency**           **Jurisdictions         **Population   **Operating    **Staff
                       Served**                Served**       Budget**       Size**

  Massachusetts DOT    Worcester, Middlesex,   6,398,743      *(a)*          *(a)*
                       Norfolk, Suffolk,                                     
                       Plymouth, Essex                                       
                       counties                                              

  New Hampshire DOT    Hillsborough,           1,259,181      *(a)*          *(a)*
                       Merrimack, Belknap,                                   
                       Rockingham, Strafford                                 
                       counties                                              

  Boston Metropolitan  Middlesex, Norfolk,     3,066,321      *(a)*          61
  Planning             Suffolk, Plymouth,                                    
  Organization         Essex and Worcester                                   
                       counties                                              

  Central              Worcester county        518,481        *(a)*          *(a)*
  Massachusetts                                                              
  Regional Planning                                                          
  Commission                                                                 

  Merrimack Valley     Essex county            318,556        *(a)*          14
  Planning Commission                                                        

  Southern New         Hillsborough,           248,834        *(a)*          *(a)*
  Hampshire Planning   Merrimack, Rockingham                                 
  Commission                                                                 

  Seacoast             Rockingham, Strafford   230,494        *(a)*          *(a)*
  Metropolitan         counties                                              
  Planning Commission                                                        

  Nashua Regional      Rockingham              195,788        *(a)*          *(a)*
  Planning Commission                                                        

  Massachusetts Bay    Suffolk, Norfolk,       4.6M           *(a)*          *(a)*
  Transportation       Plymouth, Middlesex,                                  
  Authority            Essex counties                                        

  Worcester Regional   City of Worchester and  524,725        \$19,000,000   11,578
  Transit Authority    Boylston, West                                        
                       Boylston, Holden,                                     
                       Millbury, Webster,                                    
                       Spencer, Leicester,                                   
                       Auburn, Shrewsbury,                                   
                       Brookfield, East                                      
                       Brookfield, Oxford, and                               
                       Clinton                                               

  Montachusett         Outside the greater     193,415        *(a)*          *(a)*
  Regional Transit     Boston Area in                                        
  Authority            Worcester County                                      

  Cooperative Alliance Seacoast communities of 94,734         *(a)*          *(a)*
  for Seacoast         Rockingham and                                        
  Transportation       Strafford counties                                    

  Nashua Transit       Nashua City, Rockingham 80,000         *(a)*          *(a)*
  System               county                                                

  Manchester Transit   City of Manchester,     143,500        *(a)*          *(a)*
  Authority            Hillsborough county                                   

  Greater Laconia      Belknap County          *(a)*          *(a)*          *(a)*
  Transit Agency                                                             

  Concord Area Transit City of Concord,        *(a)*          *(a)*          *(a)*
                       Merrimack County, NH                                  
  -------------------- ----------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------

*(a) Not available*

**Table 19.1: Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA Transportation
Agencies**

[]{.mark}

# Transit Service Area: Fixed Guideway and Bus Service Area 

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="4.045833333333333in"}

**Map 19.2: Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA Fixed Guideway and
Bus Transit Service Area**

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="4.045833333333333in"}

The Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA enjoys a significant level
of public transportation service spread over 1,493 square miles. As
shown in Map 19.2, the regional network of commuter rail lines is quite
extensive. Heavy rail (i.e., Rapid Transit) is operated in the city of
Boston and the surrounding metropolitan area. Bus service is provided by
a number of agencies and includes a mix of local, commuter and regional
bus routes. The following is a brief description of the major transit
agencies in the CSA.

-   [Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)]{.underline} --
    MBTA is the major operator in the area providing extensive service
    throughout Suffolk county extending to the other five counties in
    the CSA. MBTA's service can be categorized as follows:

> *Motorbus*: MBTA fixed route motorbus service consists of 197 directly
> operated routes and 48 routes that are operated under contract either
> by the MBTA or with jurisdictions that receive subsidies from the
> MBTA. Peak service is operated with 838 vehicles.
>
> *Bus Rapid Transit*: MBTA operates four routes with Bus Rapid Transit
> service known as the Silver Line with 24 vehicles in maximum service.
>
> *Heavy Rail*: MBTA operates three routes, the Orange, Blue and Red
> lines, which comprise its heavy rail operation. The heavy rail system
> covers nearly 38 route miles and includes 53 stations. Peak service is
> operated with 320 vehicles.
>
> *Light Rail*: The majority of MBTA\'s light rail service is operated
> on the Green Line, which comprises four routes and 70 stations.
> Additional light rail service is operated on the Mattapan Trolley. In
> total, MBTA\'s light rail service includes 26 route miles. Peak
> service is operated with 393 vehicles.
>
> *Commuter Rail*: MBTA operates 368 route miles of commuter rail
> service throughout the Boston Metropolitan area. The commuter rail
> operation consists of 127 stations and 13 lines. Massachusetts Bay
> Commuter Rail Company (MBCR) operates all of MBTA's commuter rail
> lines under contract. Peak service is operated with 320 vehicles.
>
> *Ferry:* MBTA operates four ferry routes with two commuter boats and
> two ferries under contract with Water Alternative and Boston Harbor
> Cruises.[^1]

The following table shows FY2005 NTD passenger trips data for each of
MBTA's services:

+----------------------------------------+-----------------------------+
| ######### Mode {#mode .unnumbered}     | **Passenger Trips**         |
+----------------------------------------+-----------------------------+
| Motorbus                               | 134,732,005                 |
+----------------------------------------+-----------------------------+
| Heavy Rail                             | 142,662,535                 |
+----------------------------------------+-----------------------------+
| Light Rail                             | 78,088,083                  |
+----------------------------------------+-----------------------------+
| Commuter Rail                          | 37,898,294                  |
+----------------------------------------+-----------------------------+
| Ferry Boat                             | 1,298,032                   |
+----------------------------------------+-----------------------------+
| Demand Response                        | 1,319,818                   |
+----------------------------------------+-----------------------------+

-   [Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA)]{.underline} -- WRTA
    was created in September 1974, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter
    161B of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The
    Authority is given general responsibility to develop, finance, and
    contract for the operation of mass transportation facilities and
    services within its territory. The WRTA operates 36 routes with 39
    of its 49 buses. It annual ridership in FY2004 was 3,791,057.

-   [Manchester Transit Authority (MTA)]{.underline} -- The MTA was
    established by the City of Manchester in 1973 to provide mass
    transit service for the Manchester community. The MTA operates a
    network of 14 routes with 13 of its 15 buses in peak service. MTA
    annual ridership approximates 404,599.

A total of five other small to medium sized urban transit systems
operate in the Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA providing bus
service to the commuter rail stations and other points of attraction.
The small to medium sized transit systems operate with as few as five or
up to 30 buses.

[]{.mark}

III. **Number and Proportion of Minority, Below Poverty and Limited
     English Proficient Populations in Relation to the Transit Service
     Area**

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="4.045833333333333in"}

**Map 19.3: Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA Minority
Population**

![](media/image6.jpeg){width="4.3125in" height="3.3125in"}

Total Number of Census Tracts in CSA 1,210

Total Population of CSA 5,715,698

Total Minority Population residing in CSA 840,864

Regional Average of Minority Population in the CSA 16%

Number (%) of Census Tracts with above average minority population 370
(31%)

Total Minority Population in the above average census tracts 605,228

According to the U.S. 2000 Census data, the average minority population
for the Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH is 16 percent. Of the 1,210
census tracts in the CSA, 370 or 31 percent have a minority population
that exceeds the regional average. As shown in Map 19.3, many of these
census tracts are located within the Boston metropolitan area. However,
a number of these tracts are also located north of Boston surrounding
the city of Worcester, towards the east in Plymouth County and northeast
of Boston Manchester, NH. With the exception of one census tract in
Essex County, all of the census tracts with the highest percentage (73
percent and above) of minority population are in Boston urbanized area.
All but the one tract in Essex County and one Hillsborough County fall
within the bus transit service area.

[]{.mark}

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="4.045833333333333in"} []{.mark}

**Map 19.4: Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA Below Poverty
Population**

![](media/image8.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="4.041666666666667in"}

Total Number of Census Tracts in CSA 1,210

Total Population of CSA 5,715,698

Total Below Poverty Population residing in CSA 464,431

Regional Average of Below Poverty Population in the CSA 9%

Number (%) of Census Tracts with above average Below Poverty population
391 (32%)

Total Below Poverty Population in the above average census tracts
293,345

On average, nine percent of the CSA's population is below the poverty
level. Approximately 32 percent (391 census tracts) of the CSA's census
tracts have a below poverty population that exceeds the regional
average. The population of below poverty individuals that are in these
census tracts is 464,431. As with minority population, the areas in
which the below poverty population is concentrated include the Boston
metropolitan area. However, unlike the minority population, there are a
few census tracts scattered throughout the CSA counties in New Hampshire
and Massachusetts in which the below poverty population is between nine
and 40 percent. Similar to the minority population, many of these census
tracts fall within the bus transit service area.

![](media/image9.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="4.045833333333333in"}

**Map 19.5: Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA Limited English
Proficient Population**

![](media/image10.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="4.045833333333333in"}

Total Number of Census Tracts in CSA 1,210

Total Population of CSA 5,715,698

Total Population 5 years and older of CSA 5,350,416

Total LEP Population\* residing in CSA 387,430

Regional Average of LEP Population\* in the CSA 8%

Number (%) of Census Tracts with above average LEP population\* 390
(32%)

Total LEP Population\* in the above average census tracts 273,698

\* LEP includes those 5 years of age and older

There are approximately 387,000 persons in the CSA who are persons with
limited English proficiency (LEP). This represents about eight percent
of the CSA's total population. Of the 1,210 census tracts, 390 or 32
percent contain LEP populations that are above the regional average. As
shown in Map 19.5, the census tracts with higher than average
populations of LEP persons are located within the Boston and Worcester
metropolitan areas with some concentrations in Hillsborough County, New
Hampshire. Although a fair proportion of these census tracts are within
the bus transit service area, many are outside of it.

[]{.mark}

IV. **Number and Proportion of Zero Car Households: Greater than the
    Regional Average**

![](media/image11.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="4.045833333333333in"}

**Map 19.6: Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA Zero Car
Households**

![](media/image12.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="4.045833333333333in"}

[]{.mark}

Total Number of Census Tracts in CSA 1,210

Total Households in CSA 2,182,343

Total Zero Car Households in CSA 264,431

Regional Average of Zero Car Households in the CSA 13%

Number (%) of Census Tracts with above average Zero Car HHs 393 (32%)

Total Number of Zero Car Households in the above average census tracts
181,816

[]{.mark}

A little over one-quarter of a million households in the
Boston-Worcester-Manchester CSA do not have access to a vehicle. This
represents approximately 36 percent of the total number of households in
the CSA. Approximately 32 percent or 393 of the region's census tracts
contain an above average number of households without vehicles. The
census tracts that exceed the average are predominantly located in the
Suffolk, Norfolk and Middlesex counties in the Boston metropolitan area
as shown on Map 19.6. Other pockets of census tracts with higher than
average zero car households also are located in Worcester, Massachusetts
and Manchester, New Hampshire. As shown in Map 19.6, the vast majority
of these households are served by bus transit.

V.  **Number and Proportion of Minority Population with Overlay of Below
    Poverty Population**

![](media/image13.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="4.045833333333333in"}

**Map 19.7: Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA Minority Population
with an Overlay of Below Poverty Population**

![](media/image14.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="3.8944444444444444in"}

[]{.mark}

The percentage of minority population is shown overlaid with the
percentage of below poverty population in Map 19.7. As shown in this map
there are 28 (2.3 percent) census tracts have above average percentages
of minority and below poverty populations. This appears to be strongly
reflected in the surrounding Boston metropolitan area. Worcester,
Plymouth, Middlesex, Norfolk and Rockingham Counties also shows a number
of tracts in which there are higher than average populations of both
minorities and persons below the poverty level.

VI. **Number and Proportion of Minority Population with Overlays of
    Below Poverty Population and Zero Car Households**

![](media/image15.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="4.045833333333333in"}

**Map 19.8: Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA Minority Population
with Overlays of Below Poverty Population and Zero Car Households**

![](media/image16.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="4.045833333333333in"}

VII. []{.mark}

The relationship of minority population, below poverty population and
zero car households is shown on Map 19.8. Census tracts in which all
three of these statistics exceed the regional averages are primarily
located in Boston metropolitan area. Of the 1,210 census tracts in the
CSA, 334 census tracts (27.5 percent) have minority populations, below
poverty populations and zero car households that exceed the regional
average for these statistics.

VIII. **Correlation Among Minority Population, Below Poverty Population,
      LEP Population and Zero Car Households**

  --------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
  * *             *Minority*    *Below        *LEP*         *Zero Car HH*
                                Poverty*                    

  Minority        1.00                                      

  Below Poverty   0.72          1.00                        

  LEP             0.76          0.76          1.00          

  Zero Car HH     0.57          0.73          0.62          1.00
  --------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------

**Table 19.2: Boston-Worchester-Manchester, MA-NH CSA Correlation
Coefficients**

There is a high positive correlation between minority and below poverty
populations. As shown in Table 19.2, the coefficient for the
relationship between minority and below poverty is 0.72. The table also
shows the strongest relationships (coefficient equals 0.76) between the
minority and limited English proficient populations and between the
below poverty and LEP populations. The below poverty and zero car
household population is also higher at 0.73, with the lowest
correlations both exceeding 0.50, between minority and Zero Car HH
(0.57) and between LEP and Zero Car HH (0.62).

IX. **Natural Disasters**

  -------------- -------------- ------------------- ----------- --------------
  **Event(s)**   **Date**       **Location**        **Human     **Financial
                                                    Impact**    Impact**

  Heavy Rain and June 13-July   Essex, Middlesex,   2 injuries  \$13,425,000
  Flooding       6, 1998        Norfolk, Plymouth,              
                                Suffolk, an                     
                                Worcester counties              
                                in MA; Belknap,                 
                                Merrimack and                   
                                Rockingham counties             
                                in NH                           

  Severe Storms  March 5, April Essex, Norfolk,     0           \$42,160,000
  & Flooding     16, 2001       Plymouth, Suffolk,              
                                Worcester, and                  
                                Middlesex counties              
                                in MA; Hillborough,             
                                and Rockingham                  
                                counties in NH                  

  Severe Winter  April 1-30,    Middlesex, Norfolk, \(a\)       \(a\)
  Storm          2004           Plymouth, Suffolk               
                                and Worcester                   
                                counties in MA                  

  Severe Storms, October 7-18,  Middlesex, Norfolk, 0           \$12,820,000
  Flooding,      2005           Plymouth, and                   
  Landslides and                Worcester counties              
  Mudslides                     in MA; Belknap,                 
                                Hillsborough and                
                                Merrimack counties              
                                in NH                           

  Severe Storms  May 12, 2006   Essex, Middlesex,   2 deaths    \$20,465,000
  & Flooding                    and Suffolk                     
                                counties in MA;                 
                                Belknap,                        
                                Hillsborough,                   
                                Merrimack,                      
                                Rockingham, and                 
                                Strafford counties              
                                in NH.                          
  -------------- -------------- ------------------- ----------- --------------

*(a) Not available*

**Table 19.3: 20-Year History of Natural Disasters in the
Boston-Worcester-Manchester CSA** *(Source: FEMA and NOAA)*

The table above presents a snapshot of the naturals disasters that have
affected the Boston-Worcester-Manchester CSA during the past 20 years.
The main impact of natural disasters is storm-related damage from severe
thunderstorms, winter storms, hurricanes/tropical depressions, and
tornados. The damage caused by these severe weather events is typically
due to flooding and high winds. On a scale ranging from Moderate to
High, to Very High Risk, the United States Geological Survey rates the
states that comprise this region as having Moderate Risks of
earthquakes.

[]{.mark}

X.  **Man-made Disasters**

[]{.mark}

The primary industries in the states comprising the
Boston-Worcester-Manchester CSA region are higher education, research,
health care, finance, technology, and biotechnology. In addition the
region is home to the Port of Boston. The region also has a number of
sites that would be considered high profile targets for terrorism,
including many historical and cultural institutions. Three nuclear power
plants are also in or in close proximity to the region. As such, there
is potential for certain man-made disasters whether by accident or by
intention. These include petroleum and chemical leaks or spills,
radiological release and industrial sabotage to manufacturing plants,
shipping facilities, and infrastructure.

A review of information available through state and federal sources
indicated that there was only one man-made disaster in the
Boston-Worcester-Manchester CSA over the last 20 years. On October 31,
1999, Egyptair Flight 990 dove into the Atlantic Ocean, about 60 miles
south of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, killing the 14 crew members
and 203 passengers on board. An investigation by the NTSB determined
that the relief first officer at the controls while the captain was out
of the cabin, turned off the autopilot, and deliberately crashed the
plane into the ocean. The financial impact was not available. The 2005
data from the U.S. Department of Transportation on Hazardous Material
Safety shows the states included in this region (MA, CT, and NH)
accounted for three percent of the hazardous materials incidents and
three percent of related deaths for the year.

In addition, the region is subject to other man-made disasters as any
other major metropolitan area would be. Incidents such as building
fires, aircraft accidents and major highway accidents could result in
significant number of fatalities and/or casualties as well as property
damage.

[^1]: Due to the scale presented in the MAP leading into this section,
    the ferry routes are not shown.