Economic Competitiveness Requires Investing in Transportation
Our nation faces significant transportation challenges, including aging infrastructure, years of deferred maintenance, congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and demand for new infrastructure and services. Given the age of much of its infrastructure and the vast resources sucked up by the Big Dig over the past few decades, Massachusetts is one of the states that faces the greatest transportation challenges. In the most recent CNBC survey of business competitiveness across the states, Massachusetts fell to the middle of the pack, largely due to our dismal ranking of 45th in the “infrastructure” category. Our state’s future economic growth and competitiveness depends on having a safe, efficient, and modern transportation system.
In a 2007 report, the Transportation Finance Commission, a non-partisan committee of transportation experts, concluded that Massachusetts is facing a funding gap of $15-19 billion over the next 20 years to properly maintain our roads, bridges, and public transit infrastructure. The Commission also recommended numerous reforms to improve the efficiency and accountability of the state’s transportation agencies.
We all pay a high price for the deficiencies in our transportation system. First, safety is compromised, as we saw with the tragic death of Milena Del Valle, who was crushed by faulty concrete ceiling panels in the I90 connector tunnel in 2006. Second, it is estimated that we spend more than $700 million each year (or an average of $300 per household) on car repairs due to the poor condition of our roads. Third, poorly maintained roads and inadequate public transit contribute to growing traffic congestion, which costs drivers both time and money.
In 2009, the state legislature and Governor Patrick took action with the passage of An Act Modernizing the Transportation Systems of the Commonwealth. This sweeping legislation eliminated the Turnpike Authority, created a consolidated Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), reformed health insurance and pension costs, and made numerous other changes designed to improve the efficiency of transportation operations and the quality of service to the public. These reforms have saved tens of millions of taxpayer dollars, made our transportation agencies more responsive to public needs, and significantly improved overall management of transportation services. One shining example is the award-winning “Fast 14” Project that MassDOT undertook in the summer of 2011 to repair crumbling bridges on I93 in Medford.
The reality, however, is that cost savings alone will not get us anywhere close to addressing the funding gap identified by the Transportation Finance Commission. The legislature has enacted a few stopgap funding measures since 2007 to close current operating deficits and prevent larger fare and toll hikes, but has not made the tough decisions to raise the revenue necessary to provide Massachusetts residents and businesses with a world-class transportation system.
Governor Patrick recently put forward a sweeping plan to start this discussion in earnest. His plan would raise new revenue to fund transportation -- through a tax reform package which includes raising the income tax rate, lowering the sales tax rate, and doubling the personal income tax deduction while eliminating a number of other tax deductions and exemptions -- with approximately 80% of the revenue being used to address current operating and maintenance deficits and 20% of the revenue being invested in expanding transportation services across the Commonwealth.
As the legislature now takes up this challenge, I will be advocating for a final plan that includes the following key elements:
1) Continued reforms that enable MassDOT to deliver high quality transportation services at the lowest possible cost
2) Continued innovations that take advantage of the latest technology to provide better customer service and reduce cost
3) A focus on ensuring safe and well-maintained roads, bridges, public transit, and other transportation infrastructure
4) Investments that are balanced across different modes of transportation, while encouraging greater use of public transit and other green transportation initiatives in order to reduce congestion, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
5) Adequate revenue to meet basic operating, maintenance, debt service and capital needs, plus some carefully targeted service expansions that stimulate economic growth
6) Sustainable financing so that we stop lurching from one transportation crisis and short-term fix to another.
I welcome your feedback on this important topic. Share your thoughts at www.Facebook.com/RepJasonLewis or visit our website at www.RepJasonLewis.com for upcoming Office Hours. You can also reach me at 617 722-2017 or by email at Jason.Lewis@mahouse.gov.
Jason Lewis
State Representative
31st Middlesex District – Stoneham and Winchester
Patricia
8:53 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Mr. Lewis, I realize you are here to sell us the Governors plan and I agree that our infrastructure is in dire need of attention. The problem is, the middle class was not supposed to be hammered, at least that's what we were told during the elections. Now it seems that yes, the hammering will not only continue but increase. The reforms put in place in 2009 are a little bit too late. Why does it take so long to make government more efficient? As an example, reading in the Herald about the $25 million + in welfare fraud would make me think that our state house isn't really looking to cut costs. Not only that, due to mismanagement by our legislature we are now faxing tax increases which will most definitely harm the middle class everyone was so concerned about during the elections.
Do not waste more money in Green technology and I'm not sure how using Green technology helps congestion.
No Mr. Lewis - until the state house cleans up its act, this taxpayer says NO.
Mark
9:39 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Mr Lewis, you can't manage the money we already give you and you want more? How about proving you can manage people and hold them accountable for spending our tax dollars wisely before asking for more?
Housing Authority Scandal
NECC Scandal
Drug Lab Scandal
Parole Board Scandal ( Speaking of which Charles Jaynes is coming up for parole. Will you voice your opposition to his parole?)
EBT Scandal
Welfare Fraud & Abuse
Sex Offender Registry Scandal
Millions if Not Billions of our Tax Dollars going to Illegal Aliens, all at the expense of our own children, seniors and veterans.
Mr Lewis, you and the rest on Beacon Hill can't be trusted with another dime. Clean up your mess and then come talk to us!
Russ
10:49 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
First, thanks to Patricia and Mark for a much needed dose of reality.
Second, the governor indicated that an increase of over $500,000. in Chapter 70 funding may be forthcoming to the town of Stoneham. A caveat toward the end of the email indicated that it was heavily dependent on a proposed income tax increase of 1% on all of the population, not just the wealthy. Based on the 2010 census this would result in an increase of over $7.8 million in state income taxes paid by Stoneham residents. Tax increases, at this time, are unwise and counterproductive. They are simply and clearly unsupportable by the middle class.
... and the agenda moves onward.
Patricia
11:38 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Russ, I didn't realize the Ch. 70 funding was tied to the 18% increase in income taxes. But this ties into why Mr. Lewis is pushing the Governors plan, he is concentrating on making sure Stoneham gets a bigger slice of the pie - but we find out at what cost!
George Georgountzos
12:12 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
How predictable and sad that Rep. Lewis follows the progressive playbook by calling for additional "investments" (read tax increases) before even looking at any places that could use some reallocation of scarce resources. In our state, we already levy a not insignificant tax for road and bridge repairs, but the funds are used towards other projects instead of the intended needs. We just learned that over 50,000 individuals receive welfare benefits but are not entitled to them; Tens of millions of dollars are thus squandered, but the Beacon Hill gang is always looking to expand government revenues before looking at any costs savings. I would have been pleasantly surprised if Rep. Lewis called for structural and specific cuts before lining up behind Gov. Patrick's plans for increasing taxes and the size of government, but I should have known better. These issues were all vetted during our campaign, but the people made their decision. I hate to say it, but ... "I told you so...."
Patricia
12:22 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
George,
I am still stunned at the outcome of the November elections. Maybe people who want responsible, efficient government are really in the minority. It's the only explanation. I hear many people now bemoan the latest plan to raise taxes and these are the same people that voted straight party ticket.
I'm not sure what has happened, are people really that uninformed? And yes, you did put up a good fight and have every right to say "I told you so".
George Georgountzos
1:29 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Thank you, Patricia. I appreciate your kind words. If you wouldn't mind, could you pop me a note? It's ggeorgountzos@gmail.com.
Patricia
4:19 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Just a note: I am not sure if Mr. Lewis will visit the comments section of this site and I urge everyone to email him at his statehouse address. This has to stop.
Mark
5:57 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Mr Lewis and Gov Patrick need to look in the mirror before asking the good folks of Massachusetts to pony up more tax dollars.
Under their watch nearly 700 people have fallen ill and 45 have died — including 17 in New England — after taking tainted drugs linked to NECC. Just four of the state’s 40 pharmacies got a clean bill of health after the state Department of Public Health's audit.
How much is this going to cost the tax payers in unnecessary civil or criminal negligence? Or unnecessary overtime paid to state employees? Our politicians ineptness and mismanagement of state agencies is costing lives and tax dollars.
Mr Lewis you haven't demonstrated the ability to manage the tax dollars we have entrusted you with. Keep your hands off our paychecks and out of our pockets.