Skip to content
  • About Us
  • News & Insights
  • Member Directory
  • Job Board
  • Sign In
  • Join
Home > Policy Insights > Chamber submits testimony on transportation amendments to Senate Budget
Bostonchamber
  • Events
        • Events

          • Overview
          • Events Calendar
          • Chamber Awards
        • ...
          BIMA
          BIMA Summer Sizzler

          The BIMA Summer Sizzler is the must-attend networking event for marketing and media professionals.

          08/11/2022

          5:30pm - 8:30pm

          Museum of Science

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Events
          2022 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

          The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival brings Boston’s diverse young professionals together with business leaders, organizations and their peers to build connection, advance careers and ignite positive change.

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Members-only
          Maximize Your Membership September

          This is an opportunity to meet the Chamber staff as you learn how to leverage your Chamber benefits effectively to meet your goals through our offerings.

          09/29/2022

          2:00pm - 3:30pm

          Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce 

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Learning & Development
        • Learning & Development

          • Overview
          • Call for Nominations
          • Resources
        • Boston’s Future Leaders

          Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.

          Read More
          Transformational DEI Certificate

          We are now recruiting for our 2022 fall DEI cohort! We hope you’ll join us in our mission to increase DEI fluency and change in the Boston business community – starting with you.

          Read More
          Women’s Leadership Program

          Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.

          Read More
  • Economic Inclusion
        • Economic Inclusion

          • Overview
          • Economic Inclusion Committee
          • Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
          • Pacesetters
          • Resources
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Economic Inclusion

          Our Economic Inclusion Committee provides strategic support around research, policies, and programs that are focused on building equal opportunity.

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Events
          2022 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

          The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival brings Boston’s diverse young professionals together with business leaders, organizations and their peers to build connection, advance careers and ignite positive change.

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Policy & Impact
        • Policy & Impact

          • Overview
          • Leadership Councils
          • Amicus Advisory Board
        • GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

          Business Climate
          Read More
          Climate & Energy
          Read More
          Health Care
          Read More
          Housing & Development
          Read More
          Talent
          Read More
          Transportation
          Read More
  • Our Networks
        • GBCC’s Networks

          • Overview
        • OUR NETWORKS

          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          Read More
          BIMA

          BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.

          Read More
          Women’s Network

          For more than 25 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.

          Read More
          MITX

          Through MITX (the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange), we’re building valuable connections between the people and ideas behind technology and its impact on the future of customer experiences, all to create a community that’s finding tomorrow’s solutions together.

          Read More
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          Read More
          Small Business

          We support small business through public policy initiatives, events designed to connect small businesses in Greater Boston to their peers and established business leaders, professional development offerings, and free small business advising.

          Read More
  • Membership
        • Membership

          • Overview
          • Membership Benefits
          • Membership Levels
          • Member Stories
          • Request a Meeting
          • Join Today
        • Our Impact
        • About Us
          Our Impact

          Explore our mission and values to better understand how we are leading the business community forward.

        • Membership Directory
        • Membership Directory
          Not sure if you’re a member?

          Our member directory is your resource to discover, connect, and engage with Boston’s businesses from every industry and sector.

        • For our members

          • Member Resources
          • Member Deals
          • Sponsorship Opportunities
          • Connect with your Member Services Rep
          • Sign In
  • join
Bostonchamber
Bostonchamber
  • Events
        • Events

          • Overview
          • Events Calendar
          • Chamber Awards
        • ...
          BIMA
          BIMA Summer Sizzler

          The BIMA Summer Sizzler is the must-attend networking event for marketing and media professionals.

          08/11/2022

          5:30pm - 8:30pm

          Museum of Science

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Events
          2022 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

          The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival brings Boston’s diverse young professionals together with business leaders, organizations and their peers to build connection, advance careers and ignite positive change.

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Members-only
          Maximize Your Membership September

          This is an opportunity to meet the Chamber staff as you learn how to leverage your Chamber benefits effectively to meet your goals through our offerings.

          09/29/2022

          2:00pm - 3:30pm

          Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce 

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Learning & Development
        • Learning & Development

          • Overview
          • Call for Nominations
          • Resources
        • Boston’s Future Leaders

          Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.

          Read More
          Transformational DEI Certificate

          We are now recruiting for our 2022 fall DEI cohort! We hope you’ll join us in our mission to increase DEI fluency and change in the Boston business community – starting with you.

          Read More
          Women’s Leadership Program

          Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.

          Read More
  • Economic Inclusion
        • Economic Inclusion

          • Overview
          • Economic Inclusion Committee
          • Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
          • Pacesetters
          • Resources
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Economic Inclusion

          Our Economic Inclusion Committee provides strategic support around research, policies, and programs that are focused on building equal opportunity.

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Events
          2022 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

          The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival brings Boston’s diverse young professionals together with business leaders, organizations and their peers to build connection, advance careers and ignite positive change.

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Policy & Impact
        • Policy & Impact

          • Overview
          • Leadership Councils
          • Amicus Advisory Board
        • GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

          Business Climate
          Read More
          Climate & Energy
          Read More
          Health Care
          Read More
          Housing & Development
          Read More
          Talent
          Read More
          Transportation
          Read More
  • Our Networks
        • GBCC’s Networks

          • Overview
        • OUR NETWORKS

          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          Read More
          BIMA

          BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.

          Read More
          Women’s Network

          For more than 25 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.

          Read More
          MITX

          Through MITX (the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange), we’re building valuable connections between the people and ideas behind technology and its impact on the future of customer experiences, all to create a community that’s finding tomorrow’s solutions together.

          Read More
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          Read More
          Small Business

          We support small business through public policy initiatives, events designed to connect small businesses in Greater Boston to their peers and established business leaders, professional development offerings, and free small business advising.

          Read More
  • Membership
        • Membership

          • Overview
          • Membership Benefits
          • Membership Levels
          • Member Stories
          • Request a Meeting
          • Join Today
        • Our Impact
        • About Us
          Our Impact

          Explore our mission and values to better understand how we are leading the business community forward.

        • Membership Directory
        • Membership Directory
          Not sure if you’re a member?

          Our member directory is your resource to discover, connect, and engage with Boston’s businesses from every industry and sector.

        • For our members

          • Member Resources
          • Member Deals
          • Sponsorship Opportunities
          • Connect with your Member Services Rep
          • Sign In
  • join
  • About Us
  • News & Insights
  • Member Directory
  • Job Board
  • Sign In
  • Join

Chamber submits testimony on transportation amendments to Senate Budget

May 21, 2021

May 21, 2021

The Chamber submitted the following letter to Senate regarding transportation amendments to S.3, the fiscal 2022 budget proposal:

Dear President Spilka and Chairman Rodrigues,

I am writing to share the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s position on the following proposed transportation amendments to the Senate Ways and Means FY 2022 budget proposal:

SUPPORT Amendment #1: Permanent MBTA Governance Board

The Chamber supports a permanent Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority board of directors (MBTA Board) to replace the Fiscal and Management Control Board and recommends three refinements to strengthen the proposed board’s operations. The new MBTA Board must have the ability to operate independently, therefore we recommend granting the MBTA Board the authority to appoint the general manager position. To strengthen and maintain the Board’s independence, any ex officio members should not have voting powers. Finally, to reflect its large financial contribution to the system, the City of Boston should have a designated seat on the MBTA Board.

SUPPORT Amendment #23: Transportation Network Companies

The Chamber strongly supports increased TNC fees and data collection requirements. This amendment reintroduces language that was vetoed by Governor Baker as part of the Transportation Bond Bill. With a date for full reopening set, we must prepare to create and manage a 21st century transportation system.

One tool to create a 21st century transportation system should be changing the fee structure for TNC trips. While commuting patterns will change to a degree, TNCs will continue to draw riders away from public transit and contribute to congestion, especially in urban areas. The state should structure fees to incentivize shared transportation and distribute the revenue to invest in regional transportation authorities across the state. The Chamber also strongly supports an additional surcharge on luxury rides, which introduces a greater degree of equity to transportation funding mechanisms.   

SUPPORT Amendment #12: Shovel Ready MBTA Capital Projects

The Chamber supports intentional investment to design and prepare shovel ready projects that improve transit options and reduce carbon emissions. The MBTA will be better positioned to secure and deploy federal funding when it becomes available if it has shovel-ready projects. Accelerating project delivery is key to ensuring the MBTA creates the 21st century transportation system the region needs to thrive.  

SUPPORT Amendment #7: Commuter Benefits  

The Chamber supports aligning the state with the federal tax code by increasing the amount of public transit costs that can be paid with pre-tax income from $140 per month to $265 per month. This change would promote public transit usage by simplifying the process for employers who wish to provide pre-tax commuter benefits and make public transit a more affordable commuting option for riders. We also support the expansion of the commuter tax deduction to include bike repair costs and bike share costs, as this helps encourage alternative forms of transportation in the commonwealth.  

OPPOSE Amendment #4: Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) Operating Assistance

The Chamber opposes this amendment because it eliminates the requirement that $3.5 million in Regional Transit Authority (RTA) funding be distributed as performance-based grants. We support the funding being tied to performance-based grants because these grants encourage RTAs to explore ways to improve service in their regions. We encourage RTAs to work with large employers in their regions to ensure that service is meeting the needs of employees as we continue to return to the workplace.

The Chamber looks forward to continuing to work with the Legislature on both the FY2022 budget and improving our transportation infrastructure. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

 

 

 

 

Download Letter

Download

Benjamin Stuart

Senior Director, Technology & Business Systems

technology@bostonchamber.com
617-557-7355

265 Franklin Street
Suite 1701
Boston, MA 02110
Get Directions
Contact us
  • Events
  • Learning & Development
  • Economic Inclusion
  • Policy & Impact
  • Our Networks
  • Membership
  • join
  • About Us
  • News & Insights
  • Member Directory
  • Job Board
  • Sign In
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

© 2022 Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved.

Popular Resources

    Close