February 2020 House Transportation Bill Release
February 26, 2020
Statement from A Better City President and CEO Richard A. Dimino:
“The House bill is an important step forward in addressing the transportation crisis and funding shortfall in the Commonwealth. A Better City offers our sincere gratitude to the House for its leadership on this critical issue, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with legislators, the business community, and advocates as the bill moves through the amendment process and then to the Senate.
There is much in the House bill to support. We are particularly pleased to see the establishment of a transit authority fund with TNC fees directed to the MBTA and RTAs.
While $600 million is a good starting point, we believe additional funding is needed to fix our roads, bridges, and transit as well as fund expansion and resiliency efforts. A Better City has estimated a funding gap of $50 billion over the next 20 years. We can look to cities like Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto, who have developed a financial path forward at a more ambitious level of funding for comprehensive improvements.
A regionally equitable and consistent road pricing strategy on the major highways surrounding Greater Boston will raise the revenue necessary to fund reliable alternatives to driving. While the House bill opens the door to roadway pricing by establishing a commission, we hope that language can be strengthened from a study group to real implementation, with toll revenues and equity in place within the next two years.
The bill references non-transportation sources of revenue. Transportation source funding is reliable and encourages the behavior change needed to combat roadway congestion and climate change. We urge legislators to reconsider the $150 million in corporate minimum taxes.”
