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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 998 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2216
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Brendan P. Crighton
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to tolls on the roadways of the commonwealth.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Brendan P. CrightonThird Essex 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 998 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2216
By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2216) of Brendan P. Crighton for
legislation relative to tolls on the roadways of the commonwealth. Transportation.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2294 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to tolls on the roadways of the commonwealth.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 3 of Chapter 6C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, the words "fix and revise from time to time
3and charge and collect tolls for transit over the metropolitan highway system and the turnpike",
4the first time they appear, and inserting in place thereof the following:- “charge and collect tolls
5for transit over the metropolitan highway system and the turnpike; said toll rates shall not be
6increased from the rates in place on January 1, 2023”.
7 SECTION 2. Subsection (a) of Section 13 of said Chapter 6C is hereby amended by
8striking out, in line 2 the words "fix and revise" and by inserting in place thereof the following:-
9“reduce the”. 2 of 3
10 SECTION 3. Said subsection (a) of said Section 13 of said Chapter 6C is hereby further
11amended by striking out, in lines 5 to 14, inclusive, the words "Such tolls shall be so fixed and
12adjusted as to provide, at a minimum, funds sufficient with other revenues, if any, to pay: (i)
13costs incurred in furtherance of this chapter related to the turnpike including, but not limited to,
14the cost of owning, maintaining, repairing, reconstructing, improving, rehabilitating, policing,
15using, administering, controlling and operating the turnpike; and (ii) the principal of, redemption
16premium, if any, and the interest on notes or bonds relating to the turnpike as the same shall
17become due and payable and to create and maintain reserves established for any of the
18department’s corporate purposes.”
19 SECTION 4. Subsection (b) of said Section 13 of said Chapter 6C is hereby amended by
20striking out, in line 44, the words "fix and revise" and by inserting in place thereof the
21following:- “reduce the”.
22 SECTION 5. Said subsection (b) of said Section 13 of said Chapter 6C is hereby further
23amended by striking out, in lines 47 to 58, inclusive, the words "Such tolls shall be so fixed and
24adjusted as to provide, at a minimum, funds sufficient with other revenues, if any, to pay: (i)
25costs incurred in furtherance of this chapter related to the metropolitan highway system
26including, but not limited to, the cost of owning, maintaining, repairing, reconstructing,
27improving, rehabilitating, policing, using, administering, controlling and operating the turnpike;
28and (ii) the principal of, redemption premium, if any, and the interest on notes or bonds relating
29to the metropolitan highway system as the same shall become due and payable and to create and
30maintain reserves established for any of the department’s corporate purposes.” 3 of 3
31 SECTION 6. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the
32Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall study and report on the feasibility of
33establishing all-electric tolling along state and interstate highways of the Commonwealth that are
34not currently subject to a toll. The report shall examine the several options available to the
35commonwealth to pursue additional tolls, including, but not limited to: (i) placement of all-
36electronic tolling gantries on roads in the Commonwealth that are not currently tolled; (ii)
37seeking a federal waiver for the placement of border tolls; (iii) reaching interstate or regional
38agreements for the placement of additional tolls; and (iv) the commonwealth’s ability to establish
39border tolls in the event of proposed changes to federal law on interstate highway tolling. The
40department shall file its report along with any legislative recommendations with the house and
41senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on transportation on or before
42December 31, 2023.