SECTION 1. It is hereby found and declared that it is in the best interests of the Commonwealth and its citizens to have a safe, modern, reliable, environmentally responsible, efficient, and cost-effective transportation system.  Transportation is vital to the future of the Commonwealth and is a key factor in its continued economic development.  While Massachusetts is fortunate to possess many transportation assets, including a large public transit network, expansive roadways, and a compact pattern of development that supports sustainable growth, it also faces many challenges to preserve and strengthen its infrastructure for the future.  In particular, the present transportation system suffers from limited oversight, several large agencies and authorities with independent policy-making functions, and a lack of sustainable financing.  For these reasons, the Commonwealth must enact meaningful reform to radically simplify its transportation system, make it more accountable to the people, and set it on a sustainable path to flourish well into this century.