HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3226        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3554

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Tram T. Nguyen

_________________

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 relative to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority service interruptions.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Tram T. Nguyen

18th Essex

2/18/2021

James M. Murphy

4th Norfolk

2/19/2021

Jessica Ann Giannino

16th Suffolk

2/19/2021

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

2/24/2021

Maria Duaime Robinson

6th Middlesex

2/25/2021

David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf

17th Worcester

3/10/2021

Marcos A. Devers

16th Essex

3/15/2021

Walter F. Timilty

Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth

3/30/2021

Natalie M. Higgins

4th Worcester

9/3/2021

Diana DiZoglio

First Essex

9/14/2021

Erika Uyterhoeven

27th Middlesex

1/31/2022


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3226        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3554

By Ms. Nguyen of Andover, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3554) of Tram T. Nguyen and others relative to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority service interruptions.  Transportation.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

An Act relative to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority service interruptions.

 

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to prevent forthwith Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority service interruptions, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
 

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. In fiscal year 2021, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shall, to the extent feasible, as part of the Forging Ahead service planning process, utilize any increase in revenue collections that results from the changes under sections 29 and 30 to prevent the elimination of transit services and closure of commuter rail stations and ensure the continued progress of capital projects of which substantial progress has been made. Not less than 90 days before any commuter rail or transit station closure, ferry closure or bus route elimination, the authority shall hold at least 1 public hearing in the community where the station or route is located. Nothing in this act shall prohibit the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority from making reasonable service reductions to frequency or schedules; provided, however, that no such change shall unduly harm public transit riders or the communities served by the Massachusetts Bay Transpiration Authority. If, after the effective date of this act, the authority receives additional federal funding in response to the COVID-19 emergency, the authority shall make reasonable efforts, consistent with any federal or state requirements, to prioritize the use of such funding for the restoration of any capital projects scaled back and any service eliminations or reductions that unduly impact ridership as a result of the Forging Ahead service planning process. The authority shall submit to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the senate and house committees on ways and means and the joint committee on transportation a report detailing any proposed service reduction, route elimination, commuter rail station closure or capital project delay not less than 30 days before any such reduction, elimination, closure or delay is scheduled to begin.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect as of July 1, 2021.