The Massachusetts House wants to add two members to the MassDOT Board of Directors.
The MassDOT Board would expand from 11 to 13 members under language rolled into a a mega-amendment hashed out behind closed doors and adopted Tuesday night.
All board members are currently appointed by the governor and must bring certain expertise, including across public finance, transportation policy and municipal government. The board is chaired by the transportation secretary, with MBTA General Manager Phil Eng currently holding the job on an interim basis.
The House amendment does not specify qualifications for the two additional members, who would also be appointed by the governor. A Ways and Means Committee spokesperson said the committee heard from “stakeholders” who favor board expansion but did not name any of those stakeholders.
If the policy survives negotiations with the Senate, the MassDOT board would be the latest governing body to be overhauled by the Legislature.
A new law is reshaping the Cannabis Control Commission and downsizing the body from five to three members. The 2024 health care market oversight law reshaped which leaders can tap members to the Health Policy Commission board, including removing the auditor’s appointing authority.
The change would come as MassDOT reboots its search for highway service plaza operators, after a botched procurement prompted legislative scrutiny and an inspector general probe that flagged a string of issues.
Alison Kuznitz is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at akuznitz@stateaffairs.com.
