Amendment ID: S2989-138

Amendment 138

Aligning the MBTA and RTA funding distribution for equitable and reliable transit systems

Ms. Chandler, Ms. Comerford, Ms. DiZoglio, Ms. Moran, Mr. Velis and Ms. Gobi move that the proposed new text be amended in item 6622-2217 in line 89, by adding the following words:-

“SECTION 1.   Subsection (d) of section 2ZZZ of Chapter 29 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out clause (2) and inserting in place thereof the following clause:

(2) $101,000,000 to regional transit authorities organized under chapter 161B or predecessor laws in each fiscal year; provided further  that notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary: (i) the transfer required by this clause shall be increased by the inflation index as defined in section 35T of chapter 10 for the preceding 12 months as certified by the comptroller annually on March 1; and (ii) no transfer required under this clause shall excess 103 percent of the transfer amount for the prior fiscal year.

SECTION 2.  Further amend G.L. Ch. 29 sec 2ZZZ by inserting after clause (2) the following:

(e) In addition to the operational transfer of subsection (d)(2), all funds received annually  from the Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Trust Fund established in ch. 187 of the Acts of 2016 shall be distributed to regional transit authorities organized under chapter 161B or predecessor statutes in each fiscal year.

SECTION 3.  Section 9  of ch. 187 of Acts of 2016  is hereby amended by inserting, after the word “Laws, the following:- to provide financial assistance to regional transit authorities  organized under chapter 161B or predecessor statutes, provided however, that this shall be in addition to the operational transfer of subsection (d) of section 2ZZZ of chapter 29 of the General Laws.

SECTION 4. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall take such steps as may be necessary to provide for the development, promotion, preservation and improvement of an adequate regional transit authority capital plan, which takes into account federal funds being used by RTAs for preventative maintenance rather than capital. Where state capital funds are used as a match for federal capital funds, the department shall provide an equal or greater percentage match to regional transit authorities as provided to the MBTA.

SECTION 5.  Section 6A of chapter 6C of the general laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out clause (8) and adding the following clause, “(8) The department shall not consider the farebox recovery ratio in funding decision or formula for transit authorities."