SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2243        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2270

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul W. Mark

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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 review the municipal Chapter 90 transportation funding program.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2243        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2270

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 review the municipal Chapter 90 transportation funding program.

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. The department of transportation shall be tasked with creating a “Chapter 90 Commission” (referred to hereafter as “the commission”) to evaluate the municipal infrastructure reimbursement program, colloquially known as “Chapter 90”, authorized in Section 34 of Chapter 90 of the General Laws, and administered by the Department of Transportation, pursuant to Chapter 6C of the General Laws.

SECTION 2. The commission shall be comprised of nine members as follows: two member community representatives selected by the Massachusetts Municipal Association. one of which shall be a rural community and one a suburban community, one member community representative selected by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, one member community representative selected by the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies which shall be from a gateway city, one member chosen by the Mass. Highway Association, three members appointed by the Governor, and chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation or her or his designee.

SECTION 3. The commission shall investigate the sufficiency, effectiveness, and equitability of the current municipal reimbursement formula disbursed for vehicle and pedestrian infrastructure maintenance and capital projects. The commission shall evaluate if the current formula is sufficient to allow for road and pedestrian facilities to be maintained in a state of good repair. The commission shall consider regional, geographic, socioeconomic, and population density variation, as well as communities' fiscal capacities in its analysis relative to the current formula’s suitability. The commission shall produce a report and make recommendations based on its findings to adjust the formula as may be needed. The commission shall submit its report to the Department of Transportation and the House and Senate Clerks no later than 365 days after the passage of this act.