Legislation
News topics:
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
Mass. Senate Takes Up Automated Enforcement Bill
The amended bill now includes provisions to allow automated enforcement of dedicated bus lanes.
February 24, 2020
T4MA Issues ‘Call To Action’ As Advocates Await Transit Funding Bill
Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA) and 22 of its partner organizations are hosting a "Call to Action" event in the State House next Tuesday as House leaders continue to work on a long-promised transportation funding bill.
February 21, 2020
Governor Proposes More Transport Funding, Partly Reversing Past Cuts
MassBudget is a nonprofit think tank that conducts research and analysis on economic and budget policy in Massachusetts, with a particular focus on improving the lives of moderate- and low-income residents. This guest post is part of a MassBudget series looking ahead at some major stories to watch for in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 budget debate. StreetsblogMASS will share additional briefs and analysis from MassBudget as new budget proposals are released by the Governor and legislative bodies.
February 3, 2020
State Senate Calls For Fees On Transportation-Related Climate Pollution By 2022
The Senate bill calls on Massachusetts to reduce emissions 50 percent below 1990 levels within the next ten years, and sets a January 2022 deadline for the state to start taxing emissions from cars and trucks.
January 31, 2020
Fees On Uber and Lyft Accelerate Local Sustainable Transport Projects
Fees on Silicon Valley's double-parking, bike lane-blocking drivers are already funding important "complete streets" projects throughout the Boston region.
January 27, 2020
