Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2211 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 654 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2211
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Brendan P. Crighton
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act establishing the Metropolitan Transportation Network.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Brendan P. CrightonThird Essex 1 of 5
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 654 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2211
18	18	By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2211) of Brendan P. Crighton for
19	19	legislation to establish the Metropolitan Transportation Network. Transportation.
20	20	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
21	21	SEE SENATE, NO. 2290 OF 2021-2022.]
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
25	25	(2023-2024)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act establishing the Metropolitan Transportation Network.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 6C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2020
31	31	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding, after the words “Ted Williams tunnel” in the
32	32	3definition of “Metropolitan highway system” the following:- , that portion of state highway route
33	33	42 and its related ramps, access roads and frontage roads from the Alewife Brook Parkway
34	34	5interchange in Cambridge to and including the interchange with Interstate 95 in Lexington, that
35	35	6portion of Interstate 93 and its related ramps, access roads and frontage roads extending from the
36	36	7southerly terminus of the Central artery to and including the interchange of Interstate 93 and
37	37	8Interstate 95 in Canton, that portion of Interstate 93 and its related ramps, access roads and
38	38	9frontage roads extending from the northerly terminus of the Central artery to and including the
39	39	10interchange of Interstate 93 and Interstate 95 in Reading, Stoneham and Woburn, that portion of
40	40	11Interstate 95 and its related ramps, access roads and frontage roads extending from and including 2 of 5
41	41	12the interchange of Interstate 95 and Interstate 93 in Canton to and including the interchange of
42	42	13Interstate 95 and 93 in Reading, Stoneham and Woburn, and that portion of state highway route 1
43	43	14and its related ramps, access roads and frontage roads extending from the northerly terminus of
44	44	15the Central artery north area to and including the interchange of Interstate 95 and state highway
45	45	16route 1 in Peabody.
46	46	17 SECTION 2. Section 1 of chapter 6C of the general laws, as so appearing, is hereby
47	47	18amended by adding, after the definition of “Metropolitan highway system revenues” the
48	48	19following:-
49	49	20 “Metropolitan waterways system”, the comprehensive system of water transportation
50	50	21extending from Cape Ann to Plymouth Harbor.
51	51	22 SECTION 3. Section 1 of chapter 6C of the general laws, as so appearing, is hereby
52	52	23amended by adding, after the definition of “Independent Agencies”, the following definition:-
53	53	24 “Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets”, those certain bus, fixed transit,
54	54	25boat, and rail systems of mass transportation owned, operated or managed by the Massachusetts
55	55	26Bay Transportation Authority that serve the same transportation routes or geographic area as
56	56	27those serviced by the Metropolitan highway system. The secretary shall certify which such
57	57	28assets are deemed to be Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets for the purpose of
58	58	29this section in each edition of the comprehensive transportation plan required pursuant to section
59	59	3011 of this chapter. The Metropolitan highway system, and the Metropolitan waterways system,
60	60	31together with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets so certified by the secretary
61	61	32shall be collectively known as the “Metropolitan transportation network.” 3 of 5
62	62	33 SECTION 4. Section 13 of chapter 6C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2020
63	63	34Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding, after subsection (c), the following subsections:-
64	64	35 (d) Not later than December 31, 2023, the department shall develop and shall file with the
65	65	36joint committee on transportation a plan to implement a comprehensive system of tolling and
66	66	37travel on and within the metropolitan highway system that shall be consistent with the
67	67	38requirements of subsection (d) of this section, and shall recognize the interrelationship between
68	68	39the Metropolitan highway system and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets to
69	69	40the maximum extent possible.
70	70	41 (e) Not later than July 1, 2024, the department shall develop and begin the
71	71	42implementation of a comprehensive system of tolling on the Metropolitan highway system which
72	72	43shall:
73	73	44 (i) be consistent with the Department’s authority as set forth in this chapter;
74	74	45 (ii) establish toll charges that address the operating and capital requirements of the
75	75	46Metropolitan highway system;
76	76	47 (iii) treat the users of the Metropolitan highway system equitably based on the geographic
77	77	48origin and destination, mileage and type of asset being used;
78	78	49 (iv) take advantage of all electronic tolling technology;
79	79	50 (v) provide incentives for motorists using the Metropolitan highway system to use the
80	80	51Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets; 4 of 5
81	81	52 (vi) implement dynamic or peak period pricing aimed at easing congestion and
82	82	53maximizing the environmental benefits to the region served by the Metropolitan transportation
83	83	54network; and
84	84	55 (v) work as a comprehensive transportation system, integrating to the maximum extent
85	85	56possible, seamless connections, operating schedules, and pricing and fare schedules between
86	86	57modes of transport making up the Metropolitan transportation network.
87	87	58 (f) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, and on the condition that
88	88	59the secretary certifies that the Metropolitan highway system is being adequately operated and
89	89	60maintained, the system of tolling implemented by the Department shall permit the use of toll
90	90	61revenue to be used operate, maintain, repair, replace, enhance and expand, as determined by the
91	91	62Department consistent with the comprehensive state transportation plan required under section
92	92	6311 of this chapter, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets. Any such system shall
93	93	64be consistent with the obligation of the Department to the bondholders of the Metropolitan
94	94	65highway system.
95	95	66 (g) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department is hereby
96	96	67authorized and directed to work with the United States department of transportation, the federal
97	97	68highway administration, the federal railroad administration, the federal transit administration,
98	98	69and the municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning agencies and all
99	99	70stakeholders within the region served by the Metropolitan transportation system and to take all
100	100	71action necessary or convenient to implement the requirements of this section. 5 of 5
101	101	72 SECTION 5. Section 17(a) of chapter 6C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2020
102	102	73Official Edition, is hereby amended by deleting subsection (a) and replacing it with the following
103	103	74subsection:-
104	104	75 (a) The department may provide by resolution at 1 time or from time to time for the
105	105	76issuance of bonds of the department to relating to the turnpike and the metropolitan highway
106	106	77system. Any such bonds shall be special obligations of the department payable solely from
107	107	78monies credited to the fund. Bonds issued pursuant to this section shall not be general obligations
108	108	79of the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof and shall not constitute a debt or a
109	109	80pledge of the faith and credit of the commonwealth or any such political subdivision.
110	110	81 SECTION 6. Section 3 of chapter 161A of the general laws, as appearing in the 2020
111	111	82Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end of section 3 the following subsection:-
112	112	83 (u) To cooperate, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, with the
113	113	84department of transportation in the development, implementation, management and operation of
114	114	85the comprehensive system of assets established as the Metropolitan transportation network under
115	115	86chapter 6C of the general laws.