Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 161b - Transportation Facilities, Highway Systems and Urban Development Plans
Section 2 - Transit Authorities Authorized; Territories; Powers, Duties and Liabilities

Section 2. The territory within and the inhabitants of each of the following groups of cities and towns may, upon compliance with section fourteen, become a body politic and corporate and a political subdivision of the commonwealth under the name preceding each group.
Southeastern Regional Transit Authority. The cities of New Bedford and Fall River, and the towns of Westport, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Somerset and Swansea;
Greater Attleboro–Taunton Regional Transit Authority. The cities of Attleboro and Taunton and the towns of North Attleborough, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Mansfield, Norton, Raynham, Berkley and Dighton;
Brockton Regional Transit Authority. The city of Brockton and the towns of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Easton, Hanson, Stoughton, West Bridgewater and Whitman;
Montachusetts Regional Transit Authority. The cities of Gradner, Fitchburg and Leominster, and the towns of Lunenburg and Westminster;
Merrimac Valley Regional Transit Authority. The cities of Lawrence and Haverhill and the towns of Andover, Groveland, Merrimac, Methuen and North Andover;
Lowell Regional Transit Authority. The city of Lowell and the towns of Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro and Westford;
Berkshire Regional Transit Authority. The city of Pittsfield and the towns of Dalton, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Hindsdale and Richmond;
''The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority''. The cities of Chicopee, Holyoke, Northampton, Springfield, Westfield, and the towns of Agawam, East Longmeadow, Easthampton, Hadley, Longmeadow, Ludlow, South Hadley, West Springfield, Wilbraham and Amherst;
Worcester Regional Transit Authority. The city of Worcester and the towns of Auburn, Boylston, Grafton, Holden, Leicester, Millbury, Paxton, Shrewsbury and West Boylston;
Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority. The towns of Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet and Yarmouth.
An authority established under the provisions of section three or section fourteen shall have the power to hold property, to sue and be sued in law and equity and to prosecute and defend in all actions relating to its property and affairs. Each authority shall be liable for its debts and obligations, but the property of an authority shall not be subject to attachment or levied upon by execution or otherwise. Process may be served upon the administrator of an authority or his designee. Section three of chapter twelve shall not apply to the authorities established under this chapter.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title XXII - Corporations

Chapter 161b - Transportation Facilities, Highway Systems and Urban Development Plans

Section 1 - Definitions

Section 2 - Transit Authorities Authorized; Territories; Powers, Duties and Liabilities

Section 3 - Creation of Regional Transit Authorities; Name; Notice to Governor; Appointment of Administrator; Powers, Duties, etc.; Joinder of Contiguous Territory; Membership in Additional Authority

Section 4 - Administrator; Appointment; Tenure; Salary; Bond

Section 5 - Advisory Board; Members; Vote; Executive Committee; Meetings; Expenses

Section 6 - Powers of Authority

Section 7 - Separate Units of Mass Transportation Facilities and Equipment; Authorization; Unit Lease Arrangements; Financing; Bonds

Section 8 - Limitations, Conditions, Obligations and Duties of Authority

Section 9 - Payment of Net Cost of Service by State; Assessment Upon Cities and Towns in Territory of Transit Authority

Section 9a - Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority; Assessment Upon Member Cities and Towns

Section 10 - Year With Net Cost of Service; Payment by State; Financing; Notes; Assessments on Cities and Towns Constituting Authority; Year With Excess; Disposition of Funds

Section 12 - Audit; Report; Provision of Copies to Committee Chairs

Section 13 - Exemptions From Taxation and License Fees

Section 14 - Establishment of Authorities by Vote of Advisory Board; Nonparticipation by City or Town; Later Joining

Section 15 - City or Town Assessed for Net Cost of Service; Ballot Question Upon Continuation of Membership; Votes

Section 16 - Conflict of Regulatory Powers; Resolution by Department of Telecommunications and Energy

Section 17 - Bonds; Issuance Authorized; Limitations; Terms; Requirements; Conditions; Rules and Regulations for Assistance to Private Companies; Disbursement of Proceeds

Section 18 - Trust Agreement to Secure Bonds

Section 19 - Bonds Issued Under This Chapter; Authorized Investments; Use for Legal Deposits

Section 20 - Rights of Bondholders and Trustee; Enforcement Proceedings

Section 21 - Interest Bearing or Discounted Notes and Bond Anticipation Notes Authorized; Limitations; Disposition of Proceeds; Payment

Section 22 - Federal Assistance

Section 23 - Contract Assistance

Section 24 - Application of Other Laws

Section 25 - Direct Operation of Mass Transportation Service

Section 26 - Stabilization Fund

Section 27 - Regional Transit Authority Council