An Act Establishing the Congestion Relief Program

Severe gridlock makes Boston the fourth-most congested U.S. region, costing drivers $1,414 annually in lost productivity and causing high rates of childhood asthma in low-income highway communities. Because building more roads fails due to induced demand, implementing variable tolling and pricing is the only viable method to manage highway capacity and reduce emissions.

The Congestion Relief Act directs MassDOT to implement variable tolls on one to three corridors, offering a 25% off-peak discount and a $2 rush-hour surcharge, with a 50% discount for low-income ZIP codes. It also authorizes converting underutilized Interstate 93 HOV lanes into High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes for solo drivers. Crucially, 40% of net revenues are dedicated to the MBTA to fund public transit alternatives.