The reforms, which were presented as part of a comprehensive plan by
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Assistant Minority Leader
Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), Senate Minority Whip Richard Ross (R-Wrentham),
and Senator Michael Knapik (R-Westfield), the Ranking Republican on the Senate
Committee on Ways and Means, would
boost accountability, tie spending to performance, and provide additional
resources for transportation without increasing taxes. The measures passed stem
from an alternative plan presented by the Senate Republican Caucus on
Wednesday, April 10th. The reforms secured by the minority party include:
• Requiring all reports conducted by
the MassDOT Special Audit Unit to be posted online, and directing the unit to
conduct a comprehensive audit comparing the transportation law of 2009 to the
current transportation agency, and identify future savings;
• Requiring the MassDOT to regularly
consult with the Public Private Partnership Infrastructure Oversight Commission
(PPP Commission), and provide the commission the opportunity to weigh in on all
transportation proposals, initiatives, and plans;
• Directing the MassDOT to turn HOV
lanes into Automated Tolling HOT Lanes by additionally allowing solo drivers to
pay a fee to utilize the lane;
• Requiring the MassDOT and the MBTA
to post financial reports, and detailed customer service and performance
management information online;
• Creating a study to address
deficiencies in the taxicab market to target passenger costs, wait times,
employee mistreatment, and inefficiencies preventing drivers from picking up
passengers in multiple communities;
• Tying MassDOT performance benchmarks
to salary increases ensuring MassDOT and MBTA cannot increase the pay of high
ranking transportation officials if benchmarks aren’t met;
• Requiring MassDOT to issue a
five-year plan to eliminate the current transportation backlog to bring the
road and transit network into a State of Good Repair;
• Directing the MBTA to issue
requests for proposals to sponsor a mass transit service beyond its current
hours of operation, also known as the Night Owl Service; and
• Directing the MBTA to create a
pilot program reserving a limited number of premium parking spots for customers
willing to pay an elevated price to have a spot reserved for them.
“Amid a frenzy of increasing taxes and tolls, we have been able to secure a series of meaningful reforms that will hopefully mitigate the growing financial burden on the citizens of the Commonwealth,” said Senator Tarr. “While we certainly don’t agree with increasing that burden, our caucus is appreciative for the majority members who crossed party lines to make these components of the Senate Republican reform bill part of the legislation that now leaves the Senate Chamber. Each member of our caucus played a vital role in securing these reforms, and thus has had a major impact on today’s debate.”
The House previously passed its version of a transportation finance bill, and now the two chambers will work together to reach an accord.
