Chapter 161A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 48A. (a) There is hereby created, subject to appropriation, a Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority alert system. The alert system shall be used, when appropriate, to alert riders of delays and soon to be arriving rides. A delay shall be considered anything which prevents the ride from arriving at the expected and listed time according to the ride schedule. The alert system shall notify riders with a text message or phone call when a bus is five minutes away from the pickup location.

(b) The Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, shall, subject to appropriation, develop and implement the alert system. The secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall adopt rules and regulations, as necessary, to ensure proper implementation of the rider alert system.

In promulgating such rules and regulations, the secretary shall consult with: the general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the chief operating officer of the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority, and the chief operating officer of the Massachusetts Port Authority.

(c) All bus and van operators associated with the MVRTA bus routes and other appropriate personnel as determined by the secretary shall be trained on the alert system application and protocols. Re-training shall be included in the in-service training curriculum for such personnel.