1596-2406 Regional Transit Funding and Grants

For an operating transfer to the Massachusetts Transportation Trust Fund established in section 4 of chapter 6C of the General Laws to fund transit improvements at regional transit authorities and supportive transit improvements across the commonwealth; provided, that not less than $56,000,000 shall be expended by regional transit authorities to support operational enhancements and improvements, including expanded service hours, weekend services, and route expansions, in addition to services supported through item 1595-6370; provided further, that funds provided under this item in fiscal year 2024 to provide more equitable distribution of contract assistance to regional transit authorities under section 23 of chapter 161B of the General Laws shall be incorporated into each recipient's baseline funding calculation for fiscal year 2025; provided further, that funds not allocated under the preceding proviso shall be expended for operating assistance to regional transit authorities based on the following formula: (i) 60 per cent based on total transit ridership as reported on the most recent certified national transit data base report; (ii) 30 per cent based on population of its member communities from the most recent census; and (iii) 10 per cent based on service coverage area determined by the total square miles of its member communities; provided further, that not less than $15,000,000 shall be expended on grants for fare equity programs to be administered by the regional transit authorities; provided further, that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall oversee the distribution of said grants and shall establish grant criteria including, but not limited to, the prioritization of: (a) opportunities for increased ridership; and (b) increased service accessibility to low-income individuals; provided further, that said grants shall be distributed in a geographically equitable manner; and provided further, that not later than April 1, 2025, the department shall submit a report to the joint committee on transportation and the house and senate committees on ways and means including, but not limited to: (1) grant criteria used by the department; (2) a list of grant applicants; (3) a list of successful grant applicants; (4) summaries of successful grant proposals; (5) ridership and fare data for such pilot programs; and (6) details on the mechanisms being utilized to track ridership and fare data for said pilot programs; and provided further, that not less than $4,000,000 shall be expended for grants to transit providers to support expanded mobility options for older adults, people with disabilities and low-income individuals through the Community Transit Grant Program

Education and Transportation Fund

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