Signed by Governor Deval Patrick

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that abolishes the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and replaces it with the Massachusetts Transportation and Infrastructure Authority.

Highlights:

-Establishes the Massachusetts Transportation and Infrastructure Authority (MTIA) that is governed by a board of directors consisting of the following members (Sec. 2):

-Governor, serving as the chairperson; -2 experts in the field of public or private transportation finance appointed by the Governor; -1 with experience in the field of transportation planning and policy appointed by the Governor; and -1 registered civil engineer with at least 10 years experience appointed by the Governor.

-Establishes the powers and duties of the MTIA, including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 3):

-Directing, operating, administering, and implementing the programs of roadway, general aviation, rail and transit, and vehicular registration and regulation; -Developing and administering a long-term state-wide transportation plan; -Establishing criteria for project selection, including criteria for reducing greenhouse gas emissions; -Instituting and administering the Massachusetts Transportation and Infrastructure Fund for the purposes of making appropriations, allocations, grants, or loans; -Owning, constructing, maintaining, repairing, reconstructing, improving, rehabilitating, using, policing, administering, controlling, and operating the state highway system; -Acquiring sites abutting the state highway system; -Constructing or contracting for the construction of buildings and appurtenances for gasoline stations, restaurants, parking facilities, tourist information centers and other services; -Issuing bonds, notes, and other forms of debt security; -Constructing grade separations where the state highway system intersects with or abuts public highways or rail lines; -Changing the location of any portion of the public highway system or rail line which intersects or abuts the state highway system in order to improve safety or efficiency; -Conducting surveys, soundings, drillings, and examinations of lands, waters, and premises; -Applying for and accepting subventions, grants, loans, advances, and contributions from any source of money, property, labor, or other thing of value; -Adopting a fiscal year to conform with the fiscal year of the commonwealth; -Entering into agreements with other parties, including, but not limited to, government agencies, municipalities, authorities, private transportation companies, and railroads; -Establishing transit facilities and related infrastructure, including, but not limited to, terminals, stations, and parking; -Providing and paying for advisory services and technical assistance; -Establishing and collecting fees and charges; and -Providing funds for the purpose of investing in transportation initiatives.

-Establishes the Massachusetts Transportation and Infrastructure Authority Fund to be used for financing transportation related purposes of the MTIA, consisting of revenue from the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and other toll and non-toll revenue collected by the Authority, and specifies that the Fund is under the control of the MTIA and not subject to appropriation (Sec. 4). -Authorizes the MTIA to utilize eminent domain to take any public or private land that it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act (Sec. 21). -Specifies that the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure shall be under the authority of the MTIA and divided into the following administrative units (Sec. 32):

-Highway Division; -Mass Transit Division; -Aeronautics Division; -Constituent and Municipal Services Division; and -Motor Vehicle Devision (Registry of Motor Vehicle).

-Requires the transfer of all assets, liabilities, obligations, and debt of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority to the MTIA to occur no later than July 1, 2010 (Sec. 119). -Requires MTIA employees to complete 25 years of service and reach the age of 55 before receiving a retirement or pension benefits (Sec. 132). -Requires all MTIA new hires and all Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority employees that transfer to the MTIA hires to join the State's Group Insurance Commission (Sec. 130). -The bill number was S 10 when introduced, S 2023 after Senate Committee on Ways and Means amendments were incorporated, S 2024 after Senate and House floor amendments were incorporated (House amendments are printed in H 4051), and S 2087 after Conference Committee amendments were incorporated.

Full Bill Text