HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2215        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3401

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jerald A. Parisella

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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 relative to dedicated traffic lanes.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2215        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3401

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to dedicated traffic lanes.

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. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Department of Transportation shall conduct a study regarding the benefits to the commonwealth of replacing a vehicle travel lane with a dedicated bus or bike lane. The study shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of: (i) the economic impact of replacing a vehicle travel lane with a dedicated bus or bike lane; (ii) whether dedicated traffic lanes improve traffic flow; (iii) the environmental benefits of replacing a vehicle traffic lane with a dedicated traffic lane; (iv) the public health and safety impacts of replacing a vehicle travel lane with a dedicated travel lane; and (v) the types of public ways that are most suitable for replacing a vehicle travel lane with a dedicated traffic lane. The Department shall report on its findings and submit any recommendations to the clerks of the house of representatives and senate and the joint committee on transportation not later than six months after the enactment of this law.

SECTION 2. The Department of Transportation shall establish uniform criteria that must be met before the establishment of a dedicated bus or bike lane. Such criteria shall include, but not be limited to: (i) a reasonable showing that the dedicated traffic lane will improve traffic flow; (ii) the dedicated traffic lane will provide an environmental benefit that is greater than any environmental cost created by increased traffic as a result of the lane closure; (iii) the creation of a dedicated traffic lane will result in an economic benefit to the commonwealth or the municipality in which it is located; and (iv) the creation of a dedicated traffic lane will increase the public health and safety of the commonwealth or the municipality in which it is located. Such criteria shall be established not later than six months after the enactment of this law.