For 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 shall be expended to regional transit authorities whose contract assistance under
section 23 of chapter 161B of the General Laws is proportionately low in comparison to the net cost of service of the regional transit authority as compared to other regional transit authorities in order to provide more equitable fund distribution; provided further, that said funds shall be included in each recipient's baseline funding calculation in future fiscal years; provided further, that funds not allocated under the preceding provisos shall subsequently 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 free pilot 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; provided further, that not later than April 1, 2024, 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; provided further, that funds may be expended by the department to support data tracking and reporting for said pilot programs; provided further, that not less than $15,000,000 shall be expended for an innovation grant program administered by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for transportation providers to support initiatives including, but not limited to: (I) electrification; (II) infrastructure; (III) capital investments; (IV) new and innovative service delivery models; (V) expanded service hours or weekend service; (VI) rural connectivity; and (VII) connectivity improvements across regional transit authority service areas; 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 | ............... | 100% |
