Bill > H3285

This bill allows municipalities to establish "Transit Improvement Districts" (TIDs) to finance expanded transit options. Key provisions include: - Municipalities or groups of municipalities can create TIDs, which are defined geographic areas, by adopting a program plan and getting approval from the municipal legislative body and a majority of property owners within the TID. - TIDs can collect a "transit improvement fee" from properties within the district, with various fee structures allowed, to fund transit improvements and operations. Certain properties can be exempted from the fee. - Municipalities must provide at least 25% of TID program costs, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation must provide 25% in matching funds, and users/property owners must provide the remaining 50%. - TIDs can be dissolved through a petition and legislative approval process, and withdrawing municipalities from a multi-municipality TID can also be approved. - The bill also requires the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to identify funding and establish a fund to assist municipalities in establishing TIDs, with at least 35% of the funds going to projects in Environmental Justice areas over 5 years.