Search Federal and State Laws and Incentives

Idle Reduction Requirement

A motor vehicle may not idle for more than five consecutive minutes. This regulation does not apply to: 1) vehicles being serviced, provided that operation of the engine is essential to the repair; 2) vehicles delivering or accepting goods or merchandise for which engine assisted power is necessary and substitute alternate power cannot be made available; or 3) vehicles requiring auxiliary power for an associate power need other than movement that cannot be substituted by an alternate power source provided that such operation does not cause or contribute to air pollution. Violators are subject to fines. Local boards of health, local police, and state and federal officials may enforce the state anti-idling law. (Reference Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 16A, and Department of Environmental Protection Regulations and Standards 310 CMR 7.11(1)(b))

Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Testing and Operation Support

The Secretary of Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) established a working group to assess the safe development of AVs. The AV Working Group convenes and consults with experts on motor vehicle safety and vehicle automation, and works with the Legislature on any proposed AV legislation. MassDOT, with input from the AV Working Group, will issue guidance to allow for the safe testing of automated technologies on designated state highways and on other public roadways. In 2019, the AV Working Group released a report of their findings. For more information, see the AV Working Group website. (Reference Executive Order 572, 2017)

Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) and Autonomous Vehicles (AV) Support

The Massachusetts Commission on the Future of Transportation in the Commonwealth (Commission) was established to advise the Governor's Office on how to understand and plan for transportation advancements, including the increasing deployment of PEVs and AVs, in the Commonwealth from 2020 through 2040. The Commission investigated the following topics:

• Transportation electrification and the infrastructure necessary to support the increasing deployment of PEVs;
• Autonomous and connected vehicles and the infrastructure necessary to support the increasing deployment of these technologies;
• Impact of on-demand transit and mobility services on public transportation;
• Impact of greenhouse gas emissions on transportation and methods to increase resiliency of transportation infrastructure; and
• Land use or demographic changes that will shape future transportation planning.

(Reference Executive Orders 579 and 580, 2018)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Access to Massachusetts Turnpike and Tunnels

An AFV powered by propane or natural gas may only use the Massachusetts Turnpike at or between Interchange 1 in West Stockbridge and Interchange 14 in Weston if the vehicle has a special fuel transportation permit issued by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The AFV must conform to applicable federal and state laws and regulations. An AFV powered by compressed natural gas or propane may only use Massachusetts tunnels if the vehicle conforms to applicable federal regulations and industry standards, displays required markings to identify its alternative fuel system, and is not used to transport fuel. (Reference 700 Code of Massachusetts Regulations 7.07)