SB 117-29: The 2023 Big Dig Act - Passed

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The 2023 Big Dig Act
An Act to modernize transportation infrastructure in the Greater Boston area

Section1: Title and Intent
1. This act shall be known as "The 2023 Big Dig Act".
2. The intent of this act is to provide federal support for modernization projects for the Greater Boston Area.

Section 2: Appropriations
1. $10,000,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of Lincoln for the purposes of planning, designing, and constructing a rail tunnel link between North Station and the Governor Michael S. Dukakis Transportation Center at South Station, in Boston.
2. $500,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of Lincoln for the purposes of planning, designing, and constructing an extension of the MBTA Commuter Rail Lowell Line to provide service to Nashua, Manchester, and Concord, New Hampshire.
3. $10,500,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of Fremont to spend on infrastructure projects and programs of its choice.
4. $10,500,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of the South to spend on infrastructure projects and programs of its choice.

Section 3: Effective Date
1. Section 2 of this Act shall take effect according to Section 3 of this Act.
2. The remainder of this Act shall take effect immediately upon its passage.

Sponsor: Dkrol
Occupying: Slot 6

[DKrol]

Thank you, Mr. President.

This bill is a vital infrastructure investment that my constituents have been clamoring for. Getting from North Station to South Station is an unnecessary hassle, usually involving taking the Orange Line to Downtown Crossing and then transferring to the Red Line. Given the different Amtrak routes departing from each station this unnecessarily burdensome. Connecting Concord, New Hampshire and the MBTA Commuter Line just makes sense. The idea of bedroom communities and commuter suburbs has grown up along the Merrimack River, so expanding the Commuter Rail line is a logical next step.

The MBTA has performed cost studies and done some initial planning work, so these projects should not be a long boondoggle. The funding mechanism requires buy-in from the regional government, helping us make sure there is vested local interest and this isn’t just a federal cash handout.

[RFayette]

Proposed amendment since it makes no sense to federally fund Lincoln only stuff, especially when Lincoln fought so hard against the South getting Greenland, even though the South was paying 100%.

...

Section 2: Appropriations

1. $10,000,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of Lincoln for the purposes of planning, designing, and constructing a rail tunnel link between North Station and the Governor Michael S. Dukakis Transportation Center at South Station, in Boston.

2. $500,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of Lincoln for the purposes of planning, designing, and constructing an extension of the MBTA Commuter Rail Lowell Line to provide service to Nashua, Manchester, and Concord, New Hampshire.

Section 3: Contingency

1. Part 1 of Section 2 of this Act shall take effect upon the regional government of Lincoln adopting legislation to provide at least 2599.9% of the projected costs for the North Station-South Station rail tunnel link.

2. Part 3 of Section 2 of this Act shall take effect upon the regional government of Lincoln adopting legislation to provide 5099.9% of the projected costs for the MBTA Commuter Rail Lowell Line extension.

...

[DKrol]

Proposed amendment since it makes no sense to federally fund Lincoln only stuff, especially when Lincoln fought so hard against the South getting Greenland, even though the South was paying 100%.

...

Section 2: Appropriations

1. $10,000,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of Lincoln for the purposes of planning, designing, and constructing a rail tunnel link between North Station and the Governor Michael S. Dukakis Transportation Center at South Station, in Boston.

2. $500,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of Lincoln for the purposes of planning, designing, and constructing an extension of the MBTA Commuter Rail Lowell Line to provide service to Nashua, Manchester, and Concord, New Hampshire.

Section 3: Contingency

1. Part 1 of Section 2 of this Act shall take effect upon the regional government of Lincoln adopting legislation to provide at least 2599.9% of the projected costs for the North Station-South Station rail tunnel link.

2. Part 3 of Section 2 of this Act shall take effect upon the regional government of Lincoln adopting legislation to provide 5099.9% of the projected costs for the MBTA Commuter Rail Lowell Line extension.

...

Objection.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Proposed amendment since it makes no sense to federally fund Lincoln only stuff, especially when Lincoln fought so hard against the South getting Greenland, even though the South was paying 100%.

...

Section 2: Appropriations

1. $10,000,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of Lincoln for the purposes of planning, designing, and constructing a rail tunnel link between North Station and the Governor Michael S. Dukakis Transportation Center at South Station, in Boston.

2. $500,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of Lincoln for the purposes of planning, designing, and constructing an extension of the MBTA Commuter Rail Lowell Line to provide service to Nashua, Manchester, and Concord, New Hampshire.

Section 3: Contingency

1. Part 1 of Section 2 of this Act shall take effect upon the regional government of Lincoln adopting legislation to provide at least 2599.9% of the projected costs for the North Station-South Station rail tunnel link.

2. Part 3 of Section 2 of this Act shall take effect upon the regional government of Lincoln adopting legislation to provide 5099.9% of the projected costs for the MBTA Commuter Rail Lowell Line extension.

...

Objection.

A vote is open on the amendment.

Nay

[DKrol]

Nay

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Abstain, I'd support an amendment increasing the amount the region must provide to 75% of the costs.

[Vice President Christian Man]

Aye

[Jay 🏳️‍⚧️]

Aye

[reagente]

Aye

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Aye

[RFayette]

Aye

[fhtagn]

Aye

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Nay

[Dr. MB]

Nay

[nerd73]

nay

[Coastal Elitist]

Aye

[Jay 🏳️‍⚧️]

Nay

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Amendment is tied 6-6-1-5. The VP will break the Tie.

[Lumine]

Nay.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Amendment fails 6-7-1-5. Debate resumes.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

motion for a final vote

[fhtagn]

Objection. Will be posting an amendment soon.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Motion withdrawn for now

[fhtagn]

Offering the following amendment:

Section 2: Appropriations

1. $10,000,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of Lincoln for the purposes of planning, designing, and constructing a rail tunnel link between North Station and the Governor Michael S. Dukakis Transportation Center at South Station, in Boston.

2. $500,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of Lincoln for the purposes of planning, designing, and constructing an extension of the MBTA Commuter Rail Lowell Line to provide service to Nashua, Manchester, and Concord, New Hampshire.

3. $10,500,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of Fremont to spend on projects and programs of its choice.

4. $10,500,000,000 is appropriated to the regional government of the South to spend on projects and programs of its choice.