Bill > S2404

This bill seeks to explore alternative funding sources for transportation infrastructure by establishing a vehicle mileage user fee (VMT) pilot program in Massachusetts. The bill creates a diverse task force composed of transportation experts, government representatives, and stakeholders to guide the development and evaluation of a pilot program that would assess fees based on miles driven, rather than traditional motor vehicle fuel taxes. The pilot program will involve at least 1,000 volunteer drivers from across the state who will have mileage-tracking equipment installed in their vehicles, with the goal of testing technologies for counting, reporting, and collecting miles-based fees. The program will specifically examine data protection, privacy safeguards, and potential fee variations based on factors like driving time, road type, vehicle efficiency, and driver income. Participants will be compensated to ensure they do not pay more than they would under the current tax system. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will seek federal funding for the program and will be required to submit a comprehensive report to the state legislature within three years, detailing the pilot program's results, feasibility, economic and environmental impacts, and recommendations for potential implementation. The underlying motivation is to address the declining effectiveness of fuel taxes due to increasing fuel efficiency and the shift towards alternative fuel vehicles.

Budget and Finance, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2404