Legislation
News topics:
New Climate Bill Commits to Reduced Tailpipe Emissions
The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a significant new climate bill on Friday night that commits the state to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by "at least 50 percent below the 1990 level" within the next decade.
August 3, 2020
Poll Finds Strong Support for ‘Big Changes’ in Commonwealth’s Transportation Systems
Two-thirds of respondents agreed that the state should "make big changes to the transportation system coming out of the COVID-19 crisis."
July 29, 2020
Mass. Senate Passes Transportation Debt Bill, Punts on How to Pay for It
Advocates call the Senate's bill 'disappointing' and 'a missed opportunity' to enact bold new policies that could manage congestion and reduce pollution.
July 16, 2020
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