SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2509        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kelly A. Dooner

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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 improving the Massachusetts Department of Transportation project efficiency.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2509        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  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 improving the Massachusetts Department of Transportation project efficiency.

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, there shall be a special commission to study and provide recommendations on improving the efficiency and reducing the timeline for Massachusetts Department of Transportation projects. The commission shall examine the current project planning, design, permitting, procurement, and construction processes to identify inefficiencies and recommend best practices for streamlining project delivery. The study shall include but not be limited to: (1) Reviewing MassDOT’s internal project management procedures; (2) Evaluating the permitting and approval processes across state and local agencies; (3) Identifying regulatory or statutory barriers that contribute to project delays; (4) Assessing the impact of project labor agreements and contractor procurement methods on project timelines; (5) Comparing MassDOT project timelines with transportation departments in other states with faster project delivery; (6) Exploring opportunities for public-private partnerships to accelerate project completion; (7) Recommending policy reforms or statutory changes to improve project efficiency.

SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of the Secretary of Transportation or their designee, who shall serve as chair; the Administrator of MassDOT Highway Division or their designee; the State Auditor or their designee; the Attorney General or their designee; the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation or their designee; the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation or their designee; the House Minority Leader or a designee; the Senate Minority Leader or a designee; one representative from the Massachusetts Municipal Association; one representative from the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts; and two public members with expertise in transportation infrastructure, construction management, or project delivery, appointed by the Governor.

The commission shall hold not fewer than four public hearings across different regions of the Commonwealth to gather input from municipal leaders, industry professionals, and the public.

SECTION 3. The commission shall submit its findings, along with any legislative or regulatory recommendations, to the Governor, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Clerk of the Senate, the Joint Committee on Transportation, and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means no later than 12 months after the passage of this act.