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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1232 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2305
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Walter F. Timilty
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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 expanding the MBTA reduced fare program to include veterans.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Walter F. TimiltyNorfolk, Plymouth and Bristol 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1232 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2305
By Mr. Timilty, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2305) of Walter F. Timilty for
legislation to expand the MBTA reduced fare program to include veterans. Transportation.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2387 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 expanding the MBTA reduced fare program to include veterans.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Massachusetts
2Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Executive Office of Health and Human
3Services and the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services, shall conduct a study of the
4impacts, benefits, and costs of a veterans reduced fare program, that provides reduced or
5discounted transit fares to qualifying riders. The study shall include, but not be limited to, an
6examination of (i) number of riders who would benefit from the program, (ii) number of riders
7who qualify for alternate existing low-income fare programs, including but not limited to the
8Ride, (iii) the average reduction of each fare by mode, (iii) overall impact on fare revenue, (iv)
9models for determining eligibility requirements and the verification method, (v) improved
10methods for advertising existing reduced fare programs and the potential expansion under this
11study to veterans. The report shall examine the potential for the Department of Veterans’ 2 of 2
12Services to establish a program to inform individuals who qualify for existing, and the potential
13expansion under this study, of reduced fare programs under the Massachusetts Bay Transit
14Authority. The report shall be filed with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the
15senate and house committees on ways and means and the joint committee on transportation no
16later than July 31, 2023.