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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1267 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2353
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 establishing the Metropolitan Transportation Network.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Brendan P. CrightonThird Essex 1 of 5
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1267 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2353
By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2353) of Brendan P. Crighton for
legislation to establish the Metropolitan Transportation Network. Transportation.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2211 OF 2023-2024.]
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 the Metropolitan Transportation Network.
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 1 of chapter 6C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding, after the words “Ted Williams tunnel” in the
3definition of “Metropolitan highway system” the following:- , that portion of state highway route
42 and its related ramps, access roads and frontage roads from the Alewife Brook Parkway
5interchange in Cambridge to and including the interchange with Interstate 95 in Lexington, that
6portion of Interstate 93 and its related ramps, access roads and frontage roads extending from the
7southerly terminus of the Central artery to and including the interchange of Interstate 93 and
8Interstate 95 in Canton, that portion of Interstate 93 and its related ramps, access roads and
9frontage roads extending from the northerly terminus of the Central artery to and including the
10interchange of Interstate 93 and Interstate 95 in Reading, Stoneham and Woburn, that portion of
11Interstate 95 and its related ramps, access roads and frontage roads extending from and including 2 of 5
12the interchange of Interstate 95 and Interstate 93 in Canton to and including the interchange of
13Interstate 95 and 93 in Reading, Stoneham and Woburn, and that portion of state highway route 1
14and its related ramps, access roads and frontage roads extending from the northerly terminus of
15the Central artery north area to and including the interchange of Interstate 95 and state highway
16route 1 in Peabody.
17 SECTION 2. Section 1 of chapter 6C of the general laws, as so appearing, is hereby
18amended by adding, after the definition of “Metropolitan highway system revenues” the
19following:-
20 “Metropolitan waterways system”, the comprehensive system of water transportation
21extending from Cape Ann to Plymouth Harbor.
22 SECTION 3. Section 1 of chapter 6C of the general laws, as so appearing, is hereby
23amended by adding, after the definition of “Independent Agencies”, the following definition:-
24 “Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets”, those certain bus, fixed transit,
25boat, and rail systems of mass transportation owned, operated or managed by the Massachusetts
26Bay Transportation Authority that serve the same transportation routes or geographic area as
27those serviced by the Metropolitan highway system. The secretary shall certify which such
28assets are deemed to be Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets for the purpose of
29this section in each edition of the comprehensive transportation plan required pursuant to section
3011 of this chapter. The Metropolitan highway system, and the Metropolitan waterways system,
31together with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets so certified by the secretary
32shall be collectively known as the “Metropolitan transportation network.” 3 of 5
33 SECTION 4. Section 13 of chapter 6C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022
34Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding, after subsection (c), the following subsections:-
35 (d) Not later than December 31, 2025, the department shall develop and shall file with the
36joint committee on transportation a plan to implement a comprehensive system of tolling and
37travel on and within the metropolitan highway system that shall be consistent with the
38requirements of subsection (d) of this section, and shall recognize the interrelationship between
39the Metropolitan highway system and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets to
40the maximum extent possible.
41 (e) Not later than July 1, 2026, the department shall develop and begin the
42implementation of a comprehensive system of tolling on the Metropolitan highway system which
43shall:
44 (i) be consistent with the Department’s authority as set forth in this chapter;
45 (ii) establish toll charges that address the operating and capital requirements of the
46Metropolitan highway system;
47 (iii) treat the users of the Metropolitan highway system equitably based on the geographic
48origin and destination, mileage and type of asset being used;
49 (iv) take advantage of all electronic tolling technology;
50 (v) provide incentives for motorists using the Metropolitan highway system to use the
51Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets; 4 of 5
52 (vi) implement dynamic or peak period pricing aimed at easing congestion and
53maximizing the environmental benefits to the region served by the Metropolitan transportation
54network; and
55 (v) work as a comprehensive transportation system, integrating to the maximum extent
56possible, seamless connections, operating schedules, and pricing and fare schedules between
57modes of transport making up the Metropolitan transportation network.
58 (f) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, and on the condition that
59the secretary certifies that the Metropolitan highway system is being adequately operated and
60maintained, the system of tolling implemented by the department shall permit the use of toll
61revenue to be used operate, maintain, repair, replace, enhance and expand, as determined by the
62department consistent with the comprehensive state transportation plan required under section 11
63of this chapter, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets. Any such system shall be
64consistent with the obligation of the department to the bondholders of the Metropolitan highway
65system.
66 (g) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department is hereby
67authorized and directed to work with the United States department of transportation, the federal
68highway administration, the federal railroad administration, the federal transit administration,
69and the municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning agencies and all
70stakeholders within the region served by the Metropolitan transportation system and to take all
71action necessary or convenient to implement the requirements of this section. 5 of 5
72 SECTION 5. Section 17(a) of chapter 6C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022
73Official Edition, is hereby amended by deleting subsection (a) and replacing it with the following
74subsection:-
75 (a) The department may provide by resolution at 1 time or from time to time for the
76issuance of bonds of the department to relating to the turnpike and the metropolitan highway
77system. Any such bonds shall be special obligations of the department payable solely from
78monies credited to the fund. Bonds issued pursuant to this section shall not be general obligations
79of the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof and shall not constitute a debt or a
80pledge of the faith and credit of the commonwealth or any such political subdivision.
81 SECTION 6. Section 3 of chapter 161A of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022
82Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end of section 3 the following subsection:-
83 (u) To cooperate, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, with the
84department of transportation in the development, implementation, management and operation of
85the comprehensive system of assets established as the Metropolitan transportation network under
86chapter 6C of the general laws.