SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1067        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1882

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Karen E. Spilka

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to grant authority to the secretary of the department of transportation to charge and collect tolls on the roadways of the Commonwealth.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1067        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1882

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act to grant authority to the secretary of the department of transportation to charge and collect tolls on the roadways of the Commonwealth.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 3 of chapter 6C of the General Laws, as amended by chapter 46 of the acts of 2013, is hereby amended by striking subsection (18) and inserting in place thereof, the following section:-

(18) fix and revise from time to time and charge and collect tolls for transit on roads and highways of the Commonwealth, including  but not limited to the metropolitan highway system and the turnpike; provided, however, that it shall furnish upon request to a user of said roads and highways a toll receipt showing the amount of toll paid, the classification of the vehicle, the date of payment and place of exit from said road or highway; provided, further, that prior to revising the toll structure, the department shall publish a report on its website that sets forth the fiscal alternatives that were examined in lieu of revising the toll structure and detail the reasons why such alternatives were not viable fiscal options; provided further, that the department shall convene at least 2 public hearings, each to be held in a community within the road or highway, including  but not limited to within the turnpike corridor or within the metropolitan highway system, as appropriate, at least 30 days before the effective date of any proposed change in toll structure on the road or highway, as appropriate, and shall allow for a 2-week comment period after each such hearing; during which written testimony and comments shall be accepted;