By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Liz Miranda for legislation relative to transit planning and anti-displacement protections. Housing.
The committee on Transportation, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 561) of Brendan P. Crighton for legislation to streamline permitting for rail electrification; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2351) of Cynthia Stone Creem for legislation to exempt certain public transit and active transportation projects from MEPA review, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 3036).
This bill, known as Lens' Law, creates a state grant program to help school districts install safety sensors on school buses that detect objects in the front and rear of the vehicle. The legislation requires all school buses to be equipped with these sensors and directs the transportation division to provide funding to cover the cost of installing the sensors or offsetting contractor fees for related safety upgrades. The bill also mandates that regulations for the sensor system be developed within 180 days and that the program's effectiveness be reported annually to state officials.
By Mr. Payano, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 435) of Pavel M. Payano relative to providing for de-escalation tactics and techniques approved by the Commissioner of Education for school bus operators. Education.
By Representative Vargas of Haverhill, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 736) of Andres X. Vargas relative to providing for de-escalation tactics and techniques approved by the Commissioner of Education for school bus operators. Education.
SD 1109 establishes a pilot program making MBTA bus service free for all riders on designated routes, starting no later than December 31, 2026. The MBTA pilot must include at least 10 priority routes (with specific requirements for routes ending at commuter rail/subway stations or depots) and 10 high-ridership routes from 2020, while Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) must implement a similar free bus pilot on at least one high-ridership route. An advisory group for each pilot will monitor impacts on ridership, equity, system efficiency, and costs, holding quarterly public meetings and reporting findings every six months. The program is structured as a one-year test to evaluate the feasibility and effects of fare-free bus service before potential broader implementation.
This bill creates a 10-member commission to study options for improving transit between Arlington and Lexington. The commission will evaluate extending the MBTA Red Line or creating a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line along Route 2, assessing financial feasibility and department capabilities. The commission must submit its recommendations to the Joint Committee on Transportation within 12 months of the bill's passage.
HD 631 creates a 1-year pilot program for fare-free bus service on all MBTA bus routes and Regional Transit Authority (RTA) routes in Massachusetts, effective by December 31, 2026. The bill requires MBTA to include at least 10 priority routes (including specific connections to rail stations and high-ridership routes from 2020) and RTAs to include at least one high-ridership route. It establishes advisory groups for both programs with diverse members (including transit staff, disability advocates, environmental justice representatives, and community voices) to track impacts on ridership, equity, system efficiency, and costs. The groups must report findings quarterly to oversight boards and submit a final report after the pilot concludes.
This bill (HD 2682) amends Massachusetts law to expand protections for transit workers against assault and battery. It explicitly adds "public transit worker" to the list of protected employees under Section 13D of Chapter 265, and defines "assault and battery" to include attacks using bodily substances like blood, saliva, or urine. The law now treats such assaults as more severe offenses, with specific legal definitions clarifying what constitutes a "bodily substance." This directly affects transit workers by making assaults against them a distinct criminal violation under state law. The changes provide clearer legal grounds for prosecuting attacks on transit staff using bodily substances.
By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2370) of Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation to adjust school bus driver physical examinations. Transportation.
