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Senate adopts amendment directing MBTA to study local assessment formula; Milton, Quincy used as examples
Summary
Senator William J. Driscoll Jr.'s amendment (No. 34) directing the MBTA, in consultation with its advisory board, to study and recommend changes to the local assessment formula was adopted. Driscoll cited apparent inequities in population multipliers and long delays on the Mattapan line refurbishment as motivating examples.
Senator William J. Driscoll Jr. introduced and won adoption of Amendment 34, which instructs the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, working with the MBTA Advisory Board, to study local assessments charged to cities and towns in the MBTA service area and to recommend changes. The amendment requires the MBTA to report its findings and recommendations to the clerks of the House and Senate and to the MBTA board of directors.
Driscoll outlined examples that he said showed disparities in how assessments are calculated. Using Milton and Quincy as examples, he said both communities pay roughly $2.1 million (Milton) and $2.5 million (Quincy) for FY25 MBTA assessments despite significant population differences; he attributed the disparity to a historical “population multiplier” in the statute that places some communities (including 11 towns) in a higher multiplier tier. He said 51 communities have a multiplier of 3 and 110 have a multiplier of 1, but only 63 of the latter actually pay assessments due to reductions.
Driscoll also raised concerns about capital-investment distribution, citing long delays in refurbishing Mattapan Line trolleys promised years earlier and recent significant investment in other stations. He asked the MBTA to consider service levels and investment equity in any recommendations. The amendment passed by voice vote; the clerk recorded the adoption without a named roll call in the floor transcript.
