Signed by Governor Deval Patrick

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report and pass a bill that reforms the state's transportation system by consolidating several agencies into a single Department of Transportation.

Highlights:

-Establishes the "structurally deficient bridge improvement program coordination and oversight council" (Sec. 4). -Creates the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and establishes its powers, including the ability to levy and revise tolls and to exercise the power of eminent domain (Sec. 8). -Consolidates state and regional transportation agencies, including the highway division, the aeronautics division and the registry of motor vehicles, into the office of planning and programming of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Sec. 8). -Resolves that the Department of Transportation may enter into agreements with Massachusetts colleges in order to provide internships and employment for students pursuing a bachelors of science in engineering (Sec. 8). -Provides that the department may establish a 'small town rural assistance program', consisting of grants of up to $500,000 in order to aid towns with populations of 7,000 or less in undertaking certain transportation projects (Sec. 8). -Replaces references in Massachusetts law to the "Turnpike Authority" and replaces it with "Department of Transportation" (Sec. 10-124) -Mandates that the advisory board of the Department of Transportation must, prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, approve a preliminary budget for that year by March 15 and a final budget by April 15 (Sec. 111). -Resolves that employees of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority will become employees of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and that this change will not affect the pension entitlements of retired employees and their surviving spouses, nor the status of prior collective bargaining agreements (Sec. 137-139, 142) -Mandates that employees of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will not be eligible for retirement benefits unless he or she is at least 55 years old and has completed 25 years of credited pension service (Sec. 146). -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

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report and pass a bill that reforms the state's transportation system by consolidating several agencies into a single Department of Transportation.

Highlights:

-Establishes the "structurally deficient bridge improvement program coordination and oversight council" (Sec. 4). -Creates the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and establishes its powers, including the ability to levy and revise tolls and to exercise the power of eminent domain (Sec. 8). -Consolidates state and regional transportation agencies, including the highway division, the aeronautics division and the registry of motor vehicles, into the office of planning and programming of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Sec. 8). -Resolves that the Department of Transportation may enter into agreements with Massachusetts colleges in order to provide internships and employment for students pursuing a bachelors of science in engineering (Sec. 8). -Provides that the department may establish a 'small town rural assistance program', consisting of grants of up to $500,000 in order to aid towns with populations of 7,000 or less in undertaking certain transportation projects (Sec. 8). -Replaces references in Massachusetts law to the "Turnpike Authority" and replaces it with "Department of Transportation" (Sec. 10-124) -Mandates that the advisory board of the Department of Transportation must, prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, approve a preliminary budget for that year by March 15 and a final budget by April 15 (Sec. 111). -Resolves that employees of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority will become employees of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and that this change will not affect the pension entitlements of retired employees and their surviving spouses, nor the status of prior collective bargaining agreements (Sec. 137-139, 142) -Mandates that employees of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will not be eligible for retirement benefits unless he or she is at least 55 years old and has completed 25 years of credited pension service (Sec. 146). -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