Legislative Fellow Reports

Past Reports from July 2001-March 2004

Current Report

May 2004
Melvin E. Jones, PE, is the fourth BSCES Legislative Fellow. He started his fellowship in May 2004. He serves on the staff of the legislature's Joint Committee on Transportation on a part-time basis, where he assists legislators and committee staff with issues that come before them. He receives a stipend from BSCES made possible through a grant from ASCE and some additional funding from BSCES. Melvin's term as the BSCES Legislative Fellow will end in April 2005. BSCES is seeking candidates for the next fellowship. For information on the Legislative Fellows program, go to www.engineers.org/bsces/fellows.html or contact Adam Webb at awebb@engineers.org.

My term as Legislative Fellow began in May of 2004, but was interrupted 2 1/2 months later in July as the Legislature adjourned to campaign for the biennial November election. Upon reconvening last December, the Joint Committee on Transportation (JCT), to whom I report, got back into the swing of things, if you will, with two very spirited hearings on Big Dig leaks. These hearings revealed testimony from officials of the Turnpike Authority, the Joint Venture Bechtel/ Parsons, and two internationally renown tunnel experts who identified the specific the nature of the leaks and the cause of the larger leak that occurred last September.

As I write this in early April, legislative staffs, including the JCT staff, are sorting through the newly assigned bills from the House Clerk to identify those bills needing analysis, review and hearings.

Chapter 196 of the Acts of 2004, An Act Restructuring the Transportation System of the Commonwealth and adopted into law before the recess in July 2004, includes a provision for establishing a 13-member Transportation Finance Commission (TFC) with the purpose of developing a comprehensive, multi-modal, long-range, transportation finance plan for the Commonwealth. I have been attending the TFC meetings and reporting the proceedings to the House staff of the JCT. The TFC's plan may significantly influence the future of the transportation systems for Massachusetts. Clearly, the Commonwealth will be intensely challenged to finance the operations and maintenance of its existing transportation systems, while expanding its systems to those not yet served satisfactorily. Chap 196 of 2004 can be found on the web at: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw04/sl040196.htm

Coincident with the TFC planning, the Executive Office of Transportation has been developing a draft long-range plan for transportation, entitled "A Framework for Thinking- a Plan for Action." This impressive 402-page document was published in March and provides a baseline for stakeholders' discussions of the future of Massachusetts transportation systems. A copy of this draft plan can be found on EOT's website in PDF format at: http://www.eot.state.ma.us/default.asp?pgid=content/longplanIndex&sid=level2

In December 2004, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) submitted its 193-page "Report to Congress on Public-Private Partnerships." That report discusses the results of the history, value and prospects for private initiatives, such as design-build, in publicly sponsored projects. This is good reading for getting insight to USDOT's perspective on the dilemma of developing and maintaining productive transport systems in the United States. The report can be found in PDF format on USDOT"s website at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/pppdec2004/pppdec2004.pdf

In addition to monitoring and reporting on these broad initiatives, I have been assisting individual representatives with local issues, including: · a constituent who is alleging damages caused by a property taking and widening of a roadway; · a Representative who is proposing that a noise barrier be constructed to mitigate road noises affecting constituents; · a Representative who is requesting the use of rubber asphalt paving to reduce road noise affecting constituents; · and representatives who want bike paths constructed in their districts.

From time to time during my service as Legislative Fellow, BSCES members have asked me how to approach the Legislature with issues important to them. The answer is straight forward. Phone or email your own representative and/or senator, make appointments and come to the State House to talk to them. Diplomatically, but candidly tell them why issues are important to you or your business. If you have data, succinctly tell them what the data means and why it is important. However, much of the debate in the State House is anecdotal. Tell them a true story of your own experiences with the issue. Your fastest and most efficient access to the Legislature is through your own representative and senator whatever your interest may be. Legislators are most responsive to the voters who reside in their own districts.

Groups of citizens representing "this or that" are in the State House virtually every day. These group-days, such as The Engineering Center's Design Professionals Day, are important for getting the attention of those legislators assigned to committees that represent your interests. Committees are key to the legislative process. Committee chairman have considerable influence in deciding what proposed legislation is moved forward and is not. The State House web site carries lots of information on the committees, their members and the legislation being considered by that committee. See web page: http://www.mass.gov/legis/. Then link through to the committee listing, memberships, legislation being considered by that committee and legislators assigned to that committee.

Lastly, let me suggest that the one-year term as Legislative Fellow that begins in May is out-of-step with the legislative process. I believe that the term should begin in January following the November biennial elections and end 18 months later when the Legislature adjourns prior to the next biennial election. An 18-month term on this schedule will better serve the interests of both the legislature and the Fellow. The Fellow will come aboard as the new legislature, its committee memberships, and its new legislation are being formulated. The Fellow will then be in step with the staff and more helpful in analyzing and advising on new legislation.

Nonetheless, my term has been very satisfying for I have had the opportunity to learn a bit of how the legislative process works. Hopefully, I have provided worthwhile service to the Legislature.

Past Reports from July 2001-March 2004