Legislation
News topics:
Will the Mass. Senate Salvage Major Transportation Legislation This Year?
A House proposal to raise gas taxes appears to be dead; instead, the Senate will debate a $16.9 billion bond bill that would authorize more debt to pay for transportation infrastructure projects.
July 14, 2020
The Streetsblog Guide to the INVEST Act
Our Congresspeople are reportedly likely to vote on a major infrastructure bill soon — and if they succeed, it will have big consequences for the future of sustainable transportation in the U.S.
July 1, 2020
Rep. Pressley, Sen. Markey Introduce Legislation to Fund Fare-Free Transit
The proposed legislation would authorize $5 billion a year to fund "Freedom to Move Grants" – a new competitive grant program to support free transit services.
June 26, 2020
Debate Begins Over the Next U.S. Transportation Funding Bill
Yesterday, House Democrats released a draft bill that establishes a $494 billion, 5-year plan for the nation's transportation infrastructure – but in spite of language to address climate change, and significant funding increases for rail and transit programs, the lion's share of the bill's funding would still go to roads and highways.
June 4, 2020
Budget Uncertainties Delay T’s ‘Better Bus’ and ‘Rail Vision’ Initiatives
With plummeting fare revenues and uncertain support from the state legislature, MBTA leaders are proposing a budget that would delay high-priority safety initiatives and bus service expansions.
May 6, 2020
Congress Urged to Act as Pandemic Losses Threaten Transit Agencies
A $1 trillion draft economic stabilization plan from the U.S. Senate provides no financial assistance for the nation's transit agencies, which have been bleeding red ink as the COVID-19 pandemic slashes fare collections and revenues from state sales and payroll taxes.
March 20, 2020
Major Transportation Funding Bill Passes the Massachusetts House
The House proposal would raise roughly half a billion dollars in additional revenue for transportation projects through a 5-cent gasoline tax increase, a 9-cent increase to diesel fuel taxes, hikes to the Commonwealth’s minimum corporate tax rates, and higher fees on app-based ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.
March 4, 2020
A Big Tax Break for the Trucking Industry Hides in the House Transportation Bill
The bill's proposal to eliminate sales taxes on trucks is forecast to cost $9 to $11 million annually in lost revenue to the Commonwealth's Transportation Trust Fund.
March 4, 2020
House Bill Proposes Higher Corporate, Gas Taxes To Fund Transit Improvements
It's not yet clear whether the House bill will provide a sufficient amount of funding to meet the MBTA's needs for additional staff and new capital projects.
February 26, 2020
Advocates Crowd State House For ‘Game-Changing’ Transit Funding Bill
"I believe, and I am incredibly optimistic, that this transportation bill is going to be a generational game-changer in how we fund - and more importantly how we provide public transit for the citizens of Massachusetts," said Rep. Sarah Peake.
February 25, 2020
