Small Bridges Study

SECTION 102.   The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the executive office of energy and environmental affairs, shall convene a working group to identify and evaluate the costs and benefits of existing environmental rules and regulations, engineering standards and permitting processes and their impact on the replacement or repair of deteriorated or substandard culverts and small bridges that measure less than 20 feet wide. The working group shall make recommendations to implement cost-effective policies and procedures for the replacement or repair of such culverts and small bridges in an expedited manner and to make improvements in storm resiliency and natural resource connectivity that studies the degrees of risk, ecological value, cost and efficient permitting.

The working group shall include, but shall not be limited to: the secretary of transportation or a designee, who shall serve as co-chair; the secretary of energy and environmental affairs or a designee, who shall serve as co-chair; the commissioner of revenue or a designee; the secretary of public safety and security or a designee; a designee of the rural policy advisory commission; a designee of the Massachusetts Highway Association; a designee of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Inc.; a designee of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, Inc.; a designee of an environmental consulting firm that assists municipalities in obtaining environmental permits for culvert and small bridge replacements; a designee of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts with experience in the design of culverts and small bridges; a designee of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc.; a designee of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Inc.; provided, that the secretary of energy and environmental affairs or the designee shall consult with their departments and agencies on regulations relating to culverts and small bridges as the working group develops new rules and regulations. The working group shall hold its first meeting not later than October 1, 2018.

The working group shall submit its findings to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means, the chairs of the joint committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture and the chairs of the joint committee on transportation not later than March 1, 2019.