SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2289        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2235

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul R. Feeney

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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 remediate and reopen the visitor information center on I-95 in Northern Bristol County for traveler safety and convenience and to promote regional tourism and economic development.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2289        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2235

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 to remediate and reopen the visitor information center on I-95 in Northern Bristol County for traveler safety and convenience and to promote regional tourism and economic development.

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 highway division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall, within 90 days of the passage of this act, convene a working group of appropriate departmental staff to analyze and make recommendations on the reopening of the tourist information center located on interstate highway route 95 north in the town of Mansfield and converting the rest area facility to a regional visitor information center for the purposes of promoting local and regional businesses and tourist destinations.

SECTION 2. The working group shall study, analyze and create recommendations regarding: (i) removal of surplus highway material, vehicles, signage and supplies impeding the full use of the facility and parking lot; (ii) removal of roadway debris and litter on the site; (iii) plans to redesign, rehabilitate and reconstruct the existing structure and associated funding needs to achieve a state of good repair; (iv) safety improvements; (v) accessibility upgrades; (vi) restroom reconstruction; (vii) a schedule of regular, routine landscaping; (viii) roadway paving; (ix) installation of vehicle charging stations; (x) regular staffing of the facility; (xi) allowable activities under 23 USC 111(a), such as commercial advertising and media displays, items designed to promote tourism, tickets for events or attractions, travel-related information and lottery machines; (xii) a system of measuring guests and car counts who enter and exit the facility; (xiii) additional allowable uses, activities or stipulations; (xiv) a draft memorandum of understanding for the purpose of contracting with the regional tourism council, chambers of commerce or other entities to reopen the facility as a working visitor information center; and (xv) projected costs associated with achieving a state of good repair at the facility.

SECTION 3. The working group’s findings shall be filed with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate not later than June 1, 2024.