7/22/04-Gov. Mitt Romney signed a reform package July 21 giving the state’s transportation secretary sweeping new powers to consolidate the state’s highway infrastructure.
The new law would make the secretary chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, an independent authority that currently operates outside state government. The secretary would also become a board member of the Massachusetts Port Authority and chairman of the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission.
The change would not take place until 2007.
Despite the concentration of power in the hands of the transportation secretary, the package maintains the Turnpike as a separate independent authority.
The plan also yanks the salaries of Turnpike board members, who now earn about $25,000 a year, reduces their terms from eight years to five years, and caps the salary of the Turnpike executive director.
In addition, the package requires the Turnpike to study a sliding scale toll system that would raise and lower tolls to help reduce congestion and operating costs. An “Office of Transportation Planning” would also be created to develop a comprehensive plan to improve and maintain roads, passenger rails, freight rail, aviation, shipping and water transportation.

7/14/04-The House and Senate have approved a compromise version of a transportation reform package that would give the state’s transportation secretary sweeping new powers to consolidate the state’s highway infrastructure. It now heads to Gov. Mitt Romney for approval.
The plan would make the secretary of transportation chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, an independent authority that currently operates outside state government. The secretary would also become a board member of the Massachusetts Port Authority and chairman of the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission.
The change would not take place until 2007.
Despite the concentration of power in the hands of the transportation secretary, the bill maintains the Turnpike as a separate independent authority.
The proposal would require the Turnpike to study a sliding scale toll system that would raise and lower tolls to help reduce congestion and operating costs, the newspaper reported.
In addition, an “Office of Transportation Planning” would be created to develop a comprehensive plan to improve and maintain roads, passenger rails, freight rail, aviation, shipping and water transportation.