"An efficient, comprehensive transportation system is
integral to Massachusetts' economic success. We must continue
to maintain and develop our current system to serve the Commonwealth's
residents."
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-Speaker Tom Finneran
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts maintains one of the nation's best
transportation networks, spanning air, rail, road, and sea. In the
past two years, the Legislature has made substantial progress in improving
and reforming the Commonwealth's transportation infrastructure and
support systems.
Under Tom Finneran's leadership, the House of Representatives
enacted extensive reforms of both the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority
and the Massachusetts Port Authority. With the guidance of the Committee
on Transportation, the Legislature expanded the membership of the
Massachusetts Turnpike Authority's board from three to five members
and mandated that one of the members must be from the MetroWest
area, providing increased stability and accountability within that
body. In addition, the Legislature launched a commission to investigate
and make recommendations for a better, more equitable way to fund
the Mass Turnpike Authority, Mass Port Authority, and the Central
Artery/Tunnel Project, while simultaneously directing the Mass Turnpike
Authority to create a toll discount for frequent MassPike users
who belong to the FastLane program. In response to the events of
September 11, 2001, the Legislature also reformed the Massachusetts
Port Authority, more commonly known as MassPort, by creating a security
zone and mandating that all future appointments to the MassPort
board must have clear professional qualifications for the position.
The House of Representatives also provided funding to improve
the Commonwealth's infrastructure. In 2002, the Transportation Bond
Bill included a wide variety of initiatives including funding for
the Massachusetts Aeronautical Commission, Public Works Economic
Development Grants, and additional guidance for the use of Chapter
90 construction funds. The bill also provided an additional $150
million in bonding authority to meet the needs of the Central Artery/Tunnel
Project, showing a commitment to complete the Central Artery Project
and to meet the funding gap caused by a cap on federal reimbursements
to the Project imposed in 2000. The Legislature also made a number
of important improvements to the Steamship Authority, including
a reconfiguration of the Steamship Authority board to include voting
memberships for Barnstable and New Bedford, with the stipulation
that New Bedford will be responsible for a portion of any deficit
incurred by any Authority service in the city's port.
Tom Finneran is committed to keeping the Commonwealth's transportation
systems in top working condition, and he will continue to advocate
responsible management of transportation networks.
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