Clock ticks on key piece of legislation

Better late than never. ly spring, a move also apEarlier this week, the state proved by the House.

Senate approved legislation The bill also creates a new that allocates $300 million to MBTA board of directors with a municipal road and bridge seven members, up from the maintenance program; it also current five; it includes the approved a new, larger board secretary of transportation of directors to oversee the and someone chosen by the MBTA, replacing the sunsetMBTA Advisory Board group ting Fiscal Management Conthat represents cities and trol Board, created by Gov. towns within the T’s service Charlie Baker in the wake of area. the disastrous winter of 2015 Sen. Joseph Boncore, cothat brought repeatchair of the Legislature’s ed T breakdowns and shutTransportation Committee, downs. said during Thursday’s ses

In its first formal session sion that the bill is “a first since adopting new rules for step.” remote debate and roll-call With the formal legislative voting, the Senate approved session coming to a close, the the bill on an unrecorded Senate and House still must voice vote with no debate. reconcile differences in their

The $300 million infusion bills, complicated of course into the Chapter 90 program by the remote nature of delibthat reimburses cities and erations. towns for road and bridge reBut both the economic pair projects reflects an $100 stimulus from those road million increase over previfunds and the necessity for ous funding that cities and continued MBTA oversight towns annually receive in ear- can’t wait.