Transportation

This bill allocates $1.2 billion in state funds to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for long-term improvements to municipal roads, bridges, and rail systems. The funding supports construction and reconstruction of local roads, lifecycle management of bridges and pavements, and transportation projects that facilitate housing development. Additional money is designated for safety modernization of parkways and upgrades to commuter rail vehicles. The legislation requires municipalities to follow state procedures and submit proof of completed work to receive reimbursements, while also encouraging cities to develop long-term capital plans.

This bill appropriates state funds for fiscal year 2026 to support various government programs and services across multiple departments. It allocates money for legal services, public safety operations, transportation infrastructure, education initiatives, and social welfare programs including healthcare assistance and early childhood education. The legislation establishes specific funding amounts for agencies such as the Department of Transportation, Department of Correction, and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, with some funds designated for future years through 2029.

This bill (H 4645, now Chapter 79 of the Acts of 2025) increases penalties for assaulting public transit workers while they are on duty. It makes it a crime to commit assault and battery - including using bodily substances like blood or saliva - against a transit worker performing their job, punishable by 90 days to 2.5 years in jail or fines of $500 to $5,000. The law specifically defines "bodily substance" to include human secretions such as saliva, urine, or feces. It directly affects transit workers by strengthening legal protections during their work. The bill was enacted in late 2025 after passing both legislative chambers and receiving the Governor’s signature.

This bill allows the Town of Westford to release specific agricultural preservation restrictions on three parcels of land (20-E-1, 20-GR-PUE-2, and 20-PUE-14) owned by Westford Gateway, LLC. The land is needed by MassDOT for the Boston Road rehabilitation project. To compensate, MassDOT must provide Westford with funding equal to at least 110% of the land's fair market value, deposited into the town's Community Preservation Fund for acquiring replacement conservation or agricultural land within three years. The replacement land must match the original in location, natural resource value, acreage, and monetary value. The release applies only to these parcels, leaving other agricultural restrictions intact.