Budget Amendment ID: FY2017-S4-1147

TRP 1147

Water Transportation Advisory Council

Mr. McGee, Ms. Forry, Messrs. Keenan and Montigny and Ms. Lovely moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___, the following new section:-

“SECTION ___. There shall be a water transportation advisory council which shall be charged with creating a vision for a comprehensive system of water transportation services serving the Commonwealth’s ferry passengers, including commuters and tourists, in a safe, secure, environmentally sustainable, and efficient manner. The council shall consist of, but not be limited to, the secretary of transportation who shall serve as as the chair, the general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the chairs of the Joint Committee on Transportation, the chief executive officer of Boston Harbor Now, the president of the Boston Harbor Island Alliance, the executive director of the Seaport Economic Council, the general manager of the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamship Authority, the chief executive officer of Massachusetts Port Authority, representatives from the private ferry operations industry, the  mayor of the City of Boston, the mayor of the City of Lynn, the mayor of the City of New Bedford, the mayor if the City of Salem, the manager of the Town of Hull, the manager of the Town of Winthrop, the manager of the Town of Provincetown, the manager of  the Town of Hingham, and the mayor of the City of Quincy. Membership shall be expanded as considered appropriate upon consensus by the aforementioned.

The council shall: (i) identify an overall vision for the ferry system in the Commonwealth to enable the transportation of people, goods and vehicles by water; (ii) develop a series of goals and objectives to support this overall vision; (iii) identify implementable policies and improvements, including, but not limited to, investment of public funds to support operating and capital expenses for existing and new ferry services throughout the Commonwealth; and (iv) support the state agencies and independent authorities responsible for planning, designing, constructing, operating, funding and maintaining the ferry transportation infrastructure facilities in the Commonwealth.

The council shall prepare and make available to the public a report summarizing its work not less than every six months.

The council shall be administratively supported by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The council shall conduct its first meeting not more than 90 days after the effective date of the act, and shall conduct meetings not less than quarterly thereafter.