52. The transportation system will be reliably funded and transportation agencies will demonstrate accountability to the public.

MetroFuture would supplement traditional transportation
revenue sources with tolling, congestion pricing, impact fees, value capture tools, and other innovative approaches to leverage private capital. Long-range transportation plans and annual programs would be constrained by realistic financial assumptions; fewer projects would be paid for by borrowing from anticipated future revenues.

Under the current tax and tolling system, road users do not pay for themselves. Massachusetts pays for 52% of its highway system with bonds; only 15% is paid for by gas tax revenue (48th nationally) and 6.5 % through tolls.

Objectives:

  • The region will complete 95% of maintenance targets annually.
  • 95% of roadway maintenance and transit maintenance funding will be allocated according to the priorities of a comprehensive transportation asset management system.
  • There will a steady decrease in the MBTA debt service costs.
  • A growing share of transportation funding in the region will come from user fees and value capture tools.