Bill > H3034

This bill aims to increase public input into public transit decisions by requiring that at least one director on transit boards be a regular rider (making at least 100 trips per year) and not employed by the commonwealth, and that another director be a labor union representative nominated by the Massachusetts State AFL-CIO. It also mandates that all transit authority meetings provide ample opportunity for public comment. Furthermore, advisory boards will include a disabled person who uses paratransit service, and a greater number of voting members representing the transit riding population, with at least half of these being transit-dependent. These rider representatives will be appointed by local officials on a rotating basis, ensuring representation from communities with significant transit use. The bill also requires transit authorities to conduct community-led service assessments with significant public input and publish reports on their findings and recommendations, and directs the Secretary of Transportation to assess the feasibility of establishing in-state facilities for mass transit vehicle maintenance and manufacturing.