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April 4, 2008 ... During Thursday’s formal session, Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, and his colleagues in the Senate approved legislation authorizing $150 million in local transportation aid and $2.4 billion in federal funds for road-and-bridge projects while also installing unprecedented cost-containment reforms to help close the $15 billion to $19 billion transportation funding gap.

“I am pleased to have these reforms in place to handle the various transportation issues we’re facing throughout the Commonwealth,” said Moore. “We are obligated to spend taxpayer dollars efficiently and maintain the integrity of our invaluable infrastructure. This legislation will allow us to handle our funding gaps and do so more effectively.” 

The Senate announced last week that it would include the reform initiatives in the transportation bond bill, approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The Senate reforms address the use of police details and MBTA pensions and health benefits. They also establish a wide array of transparency measures to improve project management and construction processes.

“These reforms are crucial first-steps in handling our transportation funding gap and changing how our transportation agencies do business,” said Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth. “I am proud of the Senate for leading the way.”

President Murray added that the bill should also receive quick passage because of highly-anticipated Chapter 90 aid and federal funding that will allow spring and summer construction projects to go forward across the Commonwealth.

“One of the core duties of government is the maintenance of our transportation infrastructure,” the President said. “Safe roads, highways, bridges and rails are essential to all citizens and our economy.”

Of the reforms included in the bill, the most highly-publicized would require the Executive Office of Transportation and the Executive Office of Public Safety to establish guidelines for the staffing of construction details. The reform would provide a more uniform standard for municipalities when they make choices about using road details, and would also require reporting provisions relative to costs.

The legislation would also restructure MBTA retiree health insurance to match the state retiree health insurance contribution rate for all employees under the age of 65 retiring after December 31, 2008. Because the MBTA is currently involved in arbitration, this measure would take effect after the collective bargaining agreement at the MBTA expires.

The bond bill also includes a provision requiring the MBTA to conduct a cost-impact analysis of their pension system and what would be saved by setting a retirement age of 55. The study would establish an actual cost-savings estimate from which to gauge future reform. The MBTA currently allows a 23-years-of-service-and-out retirement agreement, which is out of line with the state formula. 

The legislation includes two other major reforms: one would require the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority to provide the Legislature with detailed information about moving the state to an automated toll collection system to promote cost savings. These systems help reduce congestion and improve efficiency.

The second addresses the concern of bridge safety by requiring the Administration to make recommendations for the financing of repairs for structurally deficient bridges owned by the Commonwealth or any of its quasi-public agencies.

Other reforms in the bill include:

The bill will now go back to the House of Representatives for further action.

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