Amendment #120 to H4897

Mobility Pricing Commission

Mr. Madaro of Boston moves to amend the bill moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

Section XXXX. (a) There shall be a special commission on mobility pricing to investigate, study and make recommendations on the development and deployment of comprehensive and regionally equitable public transportation pricing, roadway pricing, and congestion pricing. For the purposes of this section, public transportation entities include the MBTA and regional transit authorities. The commission shall consist of: the secretary of transportation or a designee; and 12 members to be appointed by the governor: 1 of whom shall be an expert in transportation planning and policy who is not an employee of the commonwealth or any political subdivision, who shall serve as chair, 1 of whom shall be an expert in tolling systems or toll authorities, 1 of whom shall be an expert in transportation financing, 1 of whom shall be an expert in traffic congestion and congestion pricing, 1 of whom shall be the CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, 2 of whom shall be members of the Massachusetts Municipal Association who represent geographically diverse areas, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the MBTA Advisory Board, 1 of whom shall be a member of the business community and 2 of whom shall be employed by organizations that represent low-income communities that have been historically underserved by transit and acutely adversely affected by the public health impacts of traffic congestion; provided, however, that the members shall not be from the same organization.

(b) In regard to roadway and congestion pricing, the commission shall: (i) identify and analyze physical, technological, legal and other issues or requirements related to roadway pricing in the commonwealth; (ii) propose detailed specifications and regionally-equitable locations for toll gantries and other equipment necessary to assess and collect tolls; (iii) advise the Massachusetts Department of Transportation on roadway pricing scenarios under the federal Value Pricing Pilot Program; (iv) provide estimates of annual operation and maintenance costs; (v) provide estimates of annual revenue with consideration to declining motor vehicle fuel excise revenue due to vehicle electrification; (vi) provide traffic forecasts including forecasts of traffic diversion impacts; (vii) provide a regional and social equity analysis with specific recommendations related to mitigating adverse impacts; and (viii) provide potential impacts on vehicular emissions reduction. The commission shall identify all local, state and federal approvals necessary to deploy new tolls and other roadway pricing mechanisms on relevant roadways.

(c) In regard to public transportation pricing, the commission shall: (i) study commute and demand patterns for public transit entities; (ii) study economic development and housing patterns and projections and the impact each has on public transit demand; (iii) review the Commonwealth’s laws regarding emissions reductions within the transportation sector; (iv) determine fare structures for the MBTA, commuter rail and regional transit authorities that account for commute patterns and demand, economic development and housing patterns, and emissions reduction requirements; (iii) examine the feasibility of means tested fares; (iv) provide estimates of annual operation and maintenance costs; (v) provide estimates of annual revenue; (vi) provide ridership forecasts; (vii) provide a regional and social equity analysis with specific recommendations related to mitigating adverse impacts; (viii) provide potential impacts on vehicular emissions reduction. The commission shall identify all local, state and federal approvals necessary to deploy new fare structures at Regional Transit Authorities and the MBTA.

(d) The commission may look at additional mobility methods as necessary.

(e Not later than July 1, 2023, the commission shall file a written report of its findings, recommendations, including legislative recommendations, and up to five scenarios for mobility pricing plans with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on transportation. The report shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of mitigation measures to address social equity issues including, but not limited to, social equity issues for communities underserved by the current transportation system.

(f) To support the research and work of the commission, the commission shall receive up to $2 million in funding. Funding shall not be used to compensate any commissioner for their participation.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #120 to H4897

Mobility Pricing Commission