This bill requires Massachusetts public fleets (including school buses, municipal vehicles, and state-owned vehicles) to transition to 100% electric vehicles by specific deadlines. It mandates that new light-duty public fleet vehicles be 50% electric by 2027, 75% by 2030, and 100% by 2033. School buses must reach 50% electric by 2030, 75% by 2033, and 100% by 2040. The Commonwealth itself must purchase 100% electric new vehicles for state fleets by 2030, with annual public reporting on progress.
Report of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (pursuant to Section 70(d) of Chapter 179 of the Acts of 2022) submitting its Zero Emissions School Bus Transition report
This bill requires all Massachusetts school buses - public, charter, vocational, private, and parochial - to install lap-shoulder seat belts at every seat by September 1, 2027. It mandates that all passengers wear these belts during bus operation, with schools adding seat belt instruction to driver training. The law also directs the insurance commissioner to create premium discounts for school buses equipped with federally approved seat belts, effective before September 2025. These changes directly affect school bus operators, students, and insurance providers across all school types.
By Mr. Keenan, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2398) of John F. Keenan, James B. Eldridge and Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation to direct the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to place naloxone in subway stations. Transportation.
By Representative Honan of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3683) of Kevin G. Honan for legislation to direct the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to conduct a study of establishing direct bus rapid transit between Kendall Square in Cambridge and the Allston, North Brighton and Longwood Medical areas in Boston. Transportation.
This bill requires Massachusetts regional transit authorities to transition their bus fleets to electric vehicles by 2035, with specific procurement targets: 40% of new buses must be electric by 2028, 60% by 2030, and 80% by 2032. Authorities must prioritize electric buses on routes serving environmental justice communities (as defined in state law) and conduct community outreach with residents, municipal officials, and advocates in these areas. The bill establishes a new state office within the Department of Transportation by 2026 to support planning, procurement, and worker retraining for the transition, while mandating annual reports on progress and reasons for any continued use of fossil fuel vehicles.
This bill (HD 1820) allows Massachusetts cities and towns to impose a local 3-cent-per-gallon excise tax on fuel and special fuels sold to retail dealers within their borders. Retail fuel suppliers must collect this tax monthly and remit it to the state, which then distributes the funds quarterly back to the adopting municipality. The revenue must be spent equally on three specific transportation purposes: road/bridge maintenance (1/3), public transit (1/3), and alternative transportation projects like bike lanes or carpool programs (1/3). It does not change existing state fuel taxes and applies only to communities that choose to adopt the new local option.
This bill modifies Massachusetts laws governing ride-hailing companies (like Uber and Lyft). It requires these companies to report monthly ride data by location and charge a 6.25% fee on most pre-arranged rides, except those booked through public transit or paratransit programs. Municipalities can now impose a $2.25 congestion fee per ride (funds directed to public transit, bike/pedestrian projects, and EV infrastructure), while prohibiting local governments from adding extra licensing or operational rules for these companies. The bill also mandates clear fare estimates showing price differences between shared and single-occupancy rides.
This bill requires the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to place accessible naloxone in all Blue, Green, Orange, and Red Line subway stations. Each station must have two freestanding boxes containing two 4-milligram intranasal naloxone sprays, with daily checks for maintenance and informational flyers about naloxone use. The MBTA must also report on the program's efficacy, benefits, costs, and expansion recommendations to legislative committees within 12-18 months. The policy directly affects MBTA station users and staff by making naloxone available for opioid overdose emergencies in transit hubs.
SD 1932 requires the MBTA to develop a new commuter rail fare structure aimed at increasing ridership, primarily affecting residents in transit-oriented areas. Key provisions include establishing a $10 weekday fare (currently only for weekends), capping one-way fares at three times the subway fare, creating discounted monthly passes for hybrid workers (e.g., commuting 3 days/week), offering multi-ride discounts, and simplifying fare zones. The bill mandates that the MBTA submit recommendations within 12 months and implement pilot programs testing these changes within 24 months. It also requires offsetting fare reductions through increased parking rates to maintain revenue. This bill focuses on concrete fare adjustments to make commuter rail more accessible and affordable.
