House of Representatives Passes $10.9 Billion Transportation and Infrastructure Bill

Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to unanimously pass a transportation and infrastructure bill authorizing $10.9 billion for projects, including $400 million for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to address ongoing safety concerns identified by the Federal Transit Administration’s Safety Management Inspection, $250 million for the East-West…

Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line Temporary Service Changes

Starting next week, there will be service changes on the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line to accommodate ongoing work to significantly improve signals, track, and bridges. During this construction, bus shuttles will replace trains on specific dates. Important safety and reliability work taking place during these Newburyport/Rockport Line shuttle bus diversions includes the replacement of the…

RMV to Offer Designated Service Hours for Senior Residents

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has announced that it will begin offering dedicated service hours for residents who are 75 years of age or older and are required to renew their Massachusetts driver’s license in person, including customers whose licenses/IDs were extended until September (March, April, and May expirations). The new designated service…

Ferrante Outlines House’s 2019-2020 Session Progress

During the ongoing Massachusetts 191st General Court’s 2019-2020 session – which has been extended through action taken by the Legislature – the House of Representatives has passed emergency legislation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as major legislation relating to education, transportation, and climate change. Following a decisive vote in July to extend the…

Wrapping Up the Session’s First Year

This week, the House of Representatives advanced and finalized several pieces of important legislation, covering the topics of education, nutrition, public safety, and children’s health before breaking for the holidays. As formal sessions end for the remainder of the year, I’m pleased we advanced these critical pieces of legislation, sending several to the Governor’s desk…

E-vehicle rebate program gets lifeline

On Tuesday, the Legislature’s Transportation Committee heard testimony on several bills aimed at expanding use of electric cars. One proposal, backed by Reps. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, D-Gloucester, and Lenny Mirra, R-West Newbury, would reauthorize the rebate program for low-emission and electric vehicle purchases up to $75,000 and create a new rebate offering a $400 discount on…