Amendment #12 to H3535

System Expansion Limit

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Peterson of Grafton, Hill of Ipswich, Poirier of North Attleborough and deMacedo of Plymouth moves to amend the bill by inserting at the end thereof the following new section: -

“Section XX.  Chapter 161A of the General Laws, as most recently amended by chapter 119 of the Acts of 2012, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new section:

Section 50.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department or the authority shall not undertake any system expansion, defined as encompassing the development, conceptual planning, design and construction of any effort to expand the scope of services at the authority, until the department or the authority conducts a cost analysis and certifies that the addition of the project will not prevent the authority from generating sufficient revenue to contribute 34 per cent of the authority’s operating budget annually.  This cost analysis shall include any and all costs associated with the project including debt service, construction costs, future maintenance and associated costs. The auditor of the commonwealth shall request that the administrator of the appropriate division of the department prepare the fiscal analysis, including life cycle costs, demonstrating that sufficient revenues exist or will be generated to operate and maintain in good repair the expansion. This analysis shall also be submitted to the joint legislative committee on revenue.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any system enhancement, defined as encompassing capital projects that improve existing service and foster increased ridership on exiting transit systems.”.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #12 to H3535

System Expansion Limit