Improve rail service to Western Massachusetts

H. 3418 An Act relative to an interstate compact for western MA rail service

Western Massachusetts is a culturally vibrant region with a relatively affordable cost of living and amazing potential for growth, yet transportation remains one of our most persistent obstacles. This bill is a step towards a vision of region where accessible and green public transportation provides residents of all four counties with fast, reliable, and convenient service. It would enable us to travel between cities and towns across states to see family and friends, and take advantage of plentiful recreational and cultural resources. Western Massachusetts' local food, agriculture, and artisans could tap into a greater market, finally bringing more investment to the long-underserved residents of cities like Holyoke, Pittsfield, and Springfield. Working together with neighboring states is necessary to implement this future-oriented vision.

If passed, this bill would direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop compacts with New York, Connecticut, and Vermont to:

• Establish permanent commuter rail service between New Haven and Brattleboro including stops in Greenfield, Holyoke, Northampton, and Springfield

• Establish permanent commuter rail service between Worcester and Albany including stops in Pittsfield, Chester, Springfield, and Palmer

• Explore the extension of the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Rail Program along the Knowledge Corridor through Holyoke, Northampton, Greenfield, and Brattleboro

• Publicly promote permanent commuter rail services connecting Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties to Albany, Boston, Brattleboro, Hartford, and New Haven

• Undertake efforts to ensure the success of permanent commuter rail service in Western Massachusetts

Improve headlight safety

H. 3419 An Act relative to improved headlight safety

Vehicle headlights are extremely dangerous as they can potentially blind oncoming drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. And in recent years, auto manufacturers have been building taller cares with higher headlights and switching from yellowish halogen bulbs to LED lights, to which our eyes are more sensitive. Legislators in Europe have implemented a solution to this public safety risk for a decade through adaptive-beam headlights. This excellent technology automatically adjusts the focus of lights slightly to aim towards unoccupied areas of the road. Here in the US, federal regulations have only recently begun to allow adaptive beams under the bipartisan infrastructure law. If passed, this bill would require that all new automobiles sold in the Commonwealth to be equipped with adaptive beam headlight technology starting in 2026.

Codify ADA paratransit riders’ rights

HD. 3982 An Act relative to an ADA paratransit program riders' bill of rights