Bill > S2353

This bill establishes the Metropolitan Transportation Network by expanding the definition of the Metropolitan highway system to include specific highway routes and interchanges in several Massachusetts cities and towns, such as Cambridge, Lexington, Canton, Reading, Stoneham, and Woburn. The bill introduces a new concept of a "Metropolitan waterways system" covering water transportation from Cape Ann to Plymouth Harbor and defines "Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) assets" as bus, transit, boat, and rail systems serving similar routes as the Metropolitan highway system. The legislation requires the department of transportation to develop, by December 31, 2025, a comprehensive tolling plan for the Metropolitan highway system that uses electronic tolling technology, implements dynamic pricing to reduce congestion, provides incentives for using MBTA assets, and ensures equitable treatment of users based on their origin, destination, and type of transportation used. Importantly, the bill allows toll revenues to be used to operate, maintain, and expand MBTA assets, subject to certain conditions, and authorizes the department to collaborate with federal transportation agencies and local stakeholders to implement these requirements. The bill also modifies existing provisions related to bond issuance and requires the MBTA to cooperate with the department of transportation in developing and managing the new Metropolitan transportation network.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2353