Bill > S2417

This bill establishes a Chapter 90 Commission to comprehensively review the municipal transportation infrastructure funding program in Massachusetts. The commission will consist of nine members, including representatives from various municipal and regional organizations, such as the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies, with three additional members appointed by the Governor and chaired by the Secretary of Transportation. The commission's primary task is to investigate and evaluate the current municipal reimbursement formula for road and pedestrian infrastructure maintenance and capital projects, taking into account factors like regional differences, geographic variations, socioeconomic conditions, population density, and communities' fiscal capacities. Within one year of the act's passage, the commission is required to produce a detailed report with recommendations for potential adjustments to the existing funding formula, which will be submitted to the Department of Transportation and the state legislative clerks. Chapter 90 refers to a specific section of Massachusetts General Laws that authorizes transportation infrastructure funding for municipalities, and this bill aims to ensure the program's ongoing effectiveness and equitability.