House Passes Landmark Transportation Reform

BOSTON- Last night the House passed a landmark transportation reform bill that lays the groundwork for more equitable treatment of Metrowest commuters. In keeping with the legislature’s commitment to deal with “reforms before revenue”, the bill consolidates the turnpike authority with Mass Highway, reduces the overly generous benefits currently enjoyed by MBTA employees, and provides for the elimination of the practice of paying salaries for routine maintenance with bond proceeds.
Of great significance to Metrowest turnpike commuters was the inclusion of an amendment supported by the Metrowest Caucus which requires that toll revenues may only be used for the benefit of the roads, tunnels, and bridges on which they were collected. This provision insures that the grossly inequitable diversion of tolls collected on the Pike to pay the debt service on the Central Artery will cease and an alternative revenue stream will be identified before the July 1 scheduled toll increase.

Rep. Alice H. Peisch (D-Wellesley) chair of the caucus, said, “By including this language in the reform a bill, we have laid the groundwork necessary to stop the toll increase scheduled for July 1. Additionally, passage of this bill is the first step in addressing the Commonwealth’s long neglected transportation infrastructure needs. The support of Speaker Deleo was critical to our success, and I look forward to working with him as we develop a plan to address the revenue needs of our entire transportation system.”
“For far too long, Metrowest and Northshore commuters have paid for the Central Artery and the Zakim Bridge through their toll payments, while those who use those roads have paid nothing. That has been patently unfair. This amendment to the bill is the beginning of the end of that inequity,” said Rep. David P. Linsky, (D-Natick).
The bill also safeguards the FastLane discount program which gives MetroWest commuters who use a transponder a discounted toll rate on the Mass Turnpike and Tunnel tolls. The discount was codified in the General Laws back in 2002 and will continue to apply under the new bill. Furthermore, the bill continues the current practice of allowing municipalities to collect a real estate property tax from any business that leases or rents property from the new Massachusetts Transportation and Infrastructure Authority for profit, such as from service plazas located along the Turnpike.

Rep. John Fernandes ( D- Milford) commented, “Transportation Reform has been my top priority these past two years as a sitting member of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation. I am extremely pleased with the content of the bill passed by the House on Tuesday April 7th. It is comprehensive and streamlines the operation of the transportation management and delivery system by collapsing a myriad of agencies and quasi –independent authorities into a single new authority that will co-ordinate transportation planning and delivery services in the Commonwealth. Significant savings should result from the merger of workforces, pension and benefit reform, and a more efficient and timely delivery of construction efforts. Importantly for the people of the communities I represent who depend upon the Massachusetts Turnpike to get to work, school or medical facilities in and around Boston, the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority will disappear. As a result of the effort of the Metro West legislators working with the North Shore delegation, the Transportation Committee Chair, Representative Joseph Wagner and Speaker Robert DeLeo, the legislation begins the process of removing the huge Central Artery portion of the Big Dig debt from the toll payers that use the Pike but have nothing to do with the Central Artery project. It is that debt that has resulted in the threat of tolls doubling this coming July. The Legislation provides that money raised on the toll roads can only be used for the maintenance of those toll roads. At the same time, the legislation preserves and maintains the Turnpike Fast Lane discount program that offers savings to those who use the Pike regularly.”
Rep. Conroy added, “The MetroWest caucus, of which I am a member, worked diligently to include language in the bill that de-links turnpike tolls and Central Artery (Route 93) debt. For too long, MetroWest commuters have been bearing the financial burden of paying off Central Artery debt, and we took an important step yesterday to get that burden off our backs.”
“Mass Pike commuters will finally be free from the shackles of Big Dig debt” , said Rep. Tom Sannicandro of Ashland. “This bill is the first of many important steps in taking down the tolls.”

According to recently elected caucus member Rep. Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) "Passage of this bill is a big step forward for our tollpayers and the state. I'm glad that our Metrowest delegation was able to help shape the bill and that we are moving toward greater control over how our toll revenues are spent." Rep. Danielle Gregoire agreed, saying, “This is a huge victory for the tollpayers of Metrowest. We are finally seeing progress towards equity and fairness for our area.”
The Senate and House versions will now proceed to conference committee where differences between the two will be reconciled before the final version goes to the governor.