HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2817        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Sean Garballey and Michelle L. Ciccolo

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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 increased transportation options for Arlington and Lexington.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2817        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act Relative to increased transportation options for Arlington and Lexington.

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 other general or special laws to the contrary, there shall be a commission to study the financial feasibility and department capability of providing rapid transit to the Towns of Arlington and Lexington by either extending the MBTA red line to include a stop in Arlington and Lexington and / or creating a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line from Alewife down Route 2 to the I-95 interchange with stops in Arlington and Lexington.  Both options shall be fully evaluated and a recommendation made upon the conclusion of the commissions' work.  The commission shall consist of 10 members: 3 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the house minority leader; 3 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority leader; the secretary of the department of transportation or a designee; the chairman of the MBTA or a designee, and 2 members to be appointed by the governor.

SECTION 2. The commission shall file its findings and recommendations with the chairs of the joint committee on transportation no later than twelve months following the passage of this bill.