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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1177 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3658
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Todd M. Smola
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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 establishing a special commission on micro-transit.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Tricia Farley-Bouvier2nd Berkshire1/14/2025Todd M. Smola1st Hampden1/15/2025Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin1/25/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/23/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1177 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3658
By Representatives Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield and Smola of Warren, a petition (accompanied
by bill, House, No. 3658) of Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Todd M. Smola and others for an
investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to
existing and emerging micro-transit services. Transportation.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act establishing a special commission on micro-transit.
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. (a) There shall be a special commission on micro-transit to study existing
2and emerging micro-transit services in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and funding to: (i)
3benchmark different types of micro-transit operating models, including those operated by a
4regional transit authority and those operated by other entities, various types of micro-transit
5services, and populations dependent upon these services; (ii) assess funding sources and current
6limitations or outstanding funding needs related to offering micro-transit services in regions
7across the Commonwealth; and (iii) define micro-transit services for the purposes of determining
8eligibility for state funding; (iv) estimate annual state funding needed to support existing and
9emerging micro-transit services across the Commonwealth and propose a mechanism and
10frequency for reassessing such state funding estimate to account for changes in micro-transit
11needs and opportunities in the future; and (v) to explore micro-transit as a way to close mobility 2 of 3
12gaps, enhance connectivity across existing transit services, and address inequities in
13transportation access for certain geographies and populations.
14 (b) The commission shall consist of the following members or their designees: the house
15and senate chairs of the joint committee on transportation who shall serve as co-chairs; 1
16member of the house of representatives, who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the
17house of representatives; 1 member of the senate, who shall be appointed by the minority leader
18of the senate; 2 persons to be appointed by the Massachusetts Association of Regional Transit
19Authorities, both of whom shall be former or current administrators of a regional transit authority
20and 1 of whom represents a regional transit authority that serves rural communities and 1 of
21whom represents a regional transit authority that has offered micro-transit services; 1 person to
22be appointed by the Massachusetts Statewide Independent Living Council; 1 person representing
23the rail and transit division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation; 2 persons
24representing existing or emerging micro-transit service operated by an entity that is not a
25regional transit authority; 1 person representing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation
26Mobility Assistance Program; 1 person representing the Rural Policy Advocacy Commission; 1
27person representing the Massachusetts Public Health Association; 1 person representing
28Transportation for Massachusetts; 1 person representing the Massachusetts Councils on Aging;
29and 2 persons to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a
30municipality sponsoring or operating a micro-transit service and 1 of whom shall be a
31representative of a health care organization whose patients and employees are served by micro-
32transit.
33 (c) The commission shall file a final report of its study and recommendations with the
34clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the house and senate committees on ways and 3 of 3
35means, the joint committee on transportation and the secretary of transportation not later than 15
36months after this section takes effect; provided, however, that the commission may make a draft
37report available to the public for comment before filing its final report.