Bill > H2977

This bill establishes the Massachusetts Transportation and Environment Equity Fund to provide funding for public transit expansion projects. The key provisions include: - Creating a new "green fee" and "emissions fee" collected during vehicle registrations and inspections, as well as a rental car surcharge and parking surcharge, to provide revenue for the fund. - Requiring the Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to rank and prioritize capital investment projects, with preference given to projects that would provide new rail service to communities without existing service. - Establishing a process for MassDOT to notify the state treasurer when sufficient funds are available to cover the costs of the top-ranked project, at which point the state treasurer will issue bonds to finance that project. - Requiring the use of project labor agreements for construction on the funded projects and giving MassDOT expanded powers to acquire necessary property through eminent domain. - Preserving the right-of-way for a proposed North-South Rail Link connecting North Station and South Station in Boston. The overall goal of the bill is to expand and improve public transit options across Massachusetts, with a focus on providing new service to underserved communities, while also generating revenue through various transportation-related fees and surcharges.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H2977