SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1165        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1959

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Thomas M. McGee

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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 establishing the Metropolitan Transportation Network.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1165        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1959

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act establishing the Metropolitan Transportation Network.

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 1 of chapter 6C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2014 official edition, is hereby amended by adding, after the words “Ted Williams tunnel” in the definition of “Metropolitan highway system” the following:-

, that portion of state highway route 2 and its related ramps, access roads and frontage roads from the Alewife Brook Parkway interchange in Cambridge to and including the interchange with Interstate 95 in Lexington, that portion of Interstate 93 and its related ramps, access roads and frontage roads extending from the southerly terminus of the Central artery to and including the interchange of Interstate 93 and Interstate 95 in Canton, that portion of Interstate 93 and its related ramps, access roads and frontage roads extending from the northerly terminus of the Central artery to and including the interchange of Interstate 93 and Interstate 95 in Reading, Stoneham and Woburn, that portion of Interstate 95 and its related ramps, access roads and frontage roads extending from and including the interchange of Interstate 95 and Interstate 93 in Canton to and including the interchange of Interstate 95 and 93 in Reading, Stoneham and Woburn, and that portion of state highway route 1 and its related ramps, access roads and frontage roads extending from the northerly terminus of the Central artery north area to and including the interchange of Interstate 95 and state highway route 1 in Peabody.

SECTION 2. Section 1 of chapter 6C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2014 official edition, is hereby amended by adding, after the definition of “Metropolitan highway system revenues” the following:-

“Metropolitan waterways system”, the comprehensive system of water transportation extending from Cape Ann to Plymouth Harbor.

SECTION 3.Section 1 of chapter 6C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2014 official edition, is hereby amended by adding, after the definition of “Independent Agencies”, the following definition:-

“Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets”, those certain bus, fixed transit, boat, and rail systems of mass transportation owned, operated or managed by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority that serve the same transportation routes or geographic area as those serviced by the Metropolitan highway system.  The secretary shall certify which such assets are deemed to be Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets for the purpose of this section in each edition of the comprehensive transportation plan required pursuant to section 11 of this chapter.  The Metropolitan highway system, and the Metropolitan waterways system, together with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets so certified by the secretary shall be collectively known as the “Metropolitan transportation network.”

SECTION 4. Section 13 of chapter 6C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2014 official edition, is hereby amended by adding, after subsection (c), the following subsections:-

(d)Not later than December 31, 2017, the department shall develop and shall file with the joint committee on transportation a plan to implement a comprehensive system of tolling and travel on and within the metropolitan highway system that shall be consistent with the requirements of subsection (d) of this section, and shall recognize the interrelationship between the Metropolitan highway system and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets to the maximum extent possible.

(e)Not later than December 31, 2018, the department shall develop and begin the implementation of a comprehensive system of tolling on the Metropolitan highway system which shall:

(i) be consistent with the Department’s authority as set forth in this chapter;

(ii) establish toll charges that address the operating and capital requirements of the Metropolitan highway system;

(iii) treat the users of the Metropolitan highway system equitably based on the geographic origin and destination, mileage and type of asset being used;

(iv) take advantage of all electronic tolling technology;

(v) provide incentives for motorists using the Metropolitan highway system to use the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets;

(vi) implement dynamic or peak period pricing aimed at easing congestion and maximizing the environmental benefits to the region served by the Metropolitan transportation network; and

(v) work as a comprehensive transportation system, integrating to the maximum extent possible, seamless connections, operating schedules, and pricing and fare schedules between modes of transport making up the Metropolitan transportation network.

(f)Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, and on the condition that the secretary certifies that the Metropolitan highway system is being adequately operated and maintained, the system of tolling implemented by the Department shall permit the use of toll revenue to be used operate, maintain, repair, replace, enhance and expand, as determined by the Department consistent with the comprehensive state transportation plan required under section 11 of this chapter, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority assets.  Any such system shall be consistent with the obligation of the Department to the bondholders of the Metropolitan highway system.

(g)Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department is hereby authorized and directed to work with the United States department of transportation, the federal highway administration, the federal railroad administration, the federal transit administration, and the municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning agencies and all stakeholders within the region served by the Metropolitan transportation system and to take all action necessary or convenient to implement the requirements of this section.

SECTION 5.  Section 17(a) of chapter 6C of the general laws, as appearing in the 2014 official edition, is hereby amended by deleting subsection (a) and replacing it with the following subsection:-

(a)The department may provide by resolution at 1 time or from time to time for the issuance of bonds of the department to relating to the turnpike and the metropolitan highway system. Any such bonds shall be special obligations of the department payable solely from monies credited to the fund. Bonds issued pursuant to this section shall not be general obligations of the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof and shall not constitute a debt or a pledge of the faith and credit of the commonwealth or any such political subdivision.

SECTION 6.   Section 3 of chapter 161A of the general laws, as appearing in the 2014 official edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end of section 3 the following subsection:-

(u)To cooperate, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, with the department of transportation in the development, implementation, management and operation of the comprehensive system of assets established as the Metropolitan transportation network under chapter 6C of the general laws.