Message
Bill Straus proudly represents the 10th Bristol District in the Massachusetts Legislature. Bill received a bachelors degree from Middlebury College, his law degree from Georgetown University and also holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Prior to his election as Representative, Bill served as an Assistant District Attorney in Bristol County for six years prosecuting criminal cases on behalf of the Commonwealth. He also was a member of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission and was a founding board member of the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford.
Bill is the House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation. He has been involved extensively in transportation issues as a legislator. He was the original sponsor of legislation that added the Port of New Bedford to the Steamship Authority system now connecting New Bedford with Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. As Transportation Chair he was instrumental in securing the funding for SouthCoast Rail—now under construction and due to begin passenger service to Boston in 2023. As Transportation Chair this term, Bill’s work has already lead to a jump in local road and bridge money from the state that goes directly to the towns and cities.
Bill has also worked on a number of issues in the legislature including education, protection of our drinking water aquifer, healthcare and privacy matters. He is the original sponsor of the state’s ‘do-not’call’ list to protect people from nuisance calls from telemarketers.
MY PLANS FOR 2024
The voters of the 10th Bristol District have honored me since 1992 to be their voice on Beacon Hill. It is a humbling experience to hold this responsibility and I will always be grateful for the confidence expressed in me.
I am writing today, however, to let you know that the current legislative session at the State House will be my last. I will not be a candidate for re-election in November.
This is not an easy decision as there are always more issues and projects to work on. There is much to do in the rest of the session and I will be fully engaged in these matters.
There is plenty of time ahead to reflect on accomplishments over the years. The completion later this year of SouthCoast Rail, is certainly on that list though.
Everything, however, that I’ve been able to do has depended on working with others. Despite the temptation to think otherwise, public service is not a solo act. I have, and have had, great colleagues in public service to work with; I have a staff which in my mind is unmatched. But most of all, the support and sacrifices by my family have made my service to the district possible.
Thank you again to the voters of the 10th Bristol District for your support over the years. I don’t intend to go away entirely and so I look forward to working with many of you in the future.
Bill
. … See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Although I’m sadden to hear this, I’m happy for you and your family! I will truly miss working with you. You have been a true gentleman and an extremely knowledgeable policy maker!!
Thank you for welcoming me upon my return both to your Committee, which I've loved, and to the Transportation Office suite. It's hard to imagine Sessions without your keen observations and advice
Thank you for your service to our community- supporting our local farmers and ensuring our community has access to local food! You were instrumental in helping Coastal Foodshed get off the ground and continuing to grow our organization. We will forever be grateful for your advocacy and support!
Thank you so much for your service to our community. I have learned so much from watching you work, and I am so glad we have had you as our Representative.
Thank you for your many years of service. It has been a pleasure working with you.
Thank you so much for your years of service to the Southcoast. I’ve enjoyed our chats and support immensely!
Thank you for the many years you represented us. Always appreciated you showing up to our little town events, big or small. Showing up for non profit events, and just being there. Good luck and enjoy owning your time, it’s the best thing about retiring.
Thanks for your years of service. Proud to have you as our Representative.
You have been both statesman and friend to your district. Thank you.
Thank you for your support for our town.
Thank you Rep Bill Straus for your many years of service to our community.
Thank you for your service!
Thank you for all you have done!
Thank you for your many years of service to our community.
Thank you for your service to our communities.
Thank you for all you have done Rep Bill Straus
Thank you for your service and support to the district.
Thank you Bill.
It has been an honor to serve with you. Working with you and learning from you first when you chaired the Environment Committee (there is evidence of your environmental leadership visible and working today along the Provincetown waterfront) and of course, since you are chairing the Transportation Committee. The RTAs and those of us who care about transportation outside of the MBTA owe you much thanks for your leadership and partnership.
You will be missed. Thank you for all you've done for us.
Thank you Rep Bill Straus for your many years serving our southcoast communities.
Thank you Bill, for all that you have done to improve the lives of people living and visiting the SouthCoast! It was an honor to have a one of a kind visibility sign and to hold it proudly for years. I hope you enjoy a well deserved retirement from office.
Thank you kindly for your work on behalf of the state and continued support for the recreational boating industry. You will be missed but wishing you all the best in your future endeavors.
I admire and appreciate your public service, and I hope whoever wins your seat can uphold your legacy.
Sorry to hear you’re retiring but thank you so much for so many years of great service!!!
View more comments
NEW BEDFORD STATE PIER’S FUTURE IS UNDER REVIEW BY THE STATE
New Bedford State Pier is a significant waterfront asset for our port which is essential to supporting the fishing industry, international shipping, ferries to the islands (including Cuttyhunk), the Ernestina and even more in the future. As a result, the state through MassDevelopment, just closed the proposal deadline last week for outside parties to propose ideas. In 2022 MassDevelopment ran a flawed secretive process which excluded the public, stakeholders, and most elected officials including legislators, from even learning who the bidders were and what the bidders were asking for in order to take over the entire pier. Fortunately, the Healey-Driscoll administration pulled the plug on that process and has begun over. While two years have been lost I remain optimistic that this time something positive can happen. HOWEVER, the hold over leadership at MassDevelopment is still trying to run a process in secrecy; MassDevelopment has made clear that no information about bids or input from the public is being allowed during the review process in what the future holds for our State Pier. For that reason all five State Representatives for New Bedford, including myself, Chris Hendricks, Tony Cabral, Chris Markey and Paul Schmid, have issued a letter asking for a public information process where the public learns about the proposals for using the pier, and gets a meaningful chance to weigh in, before the administration makes an important decision about the future of our port. Our joint letter from last Friday to the CEO of MassDevelopment is available to you at the link below. If you have similar feelings about the need for public information to be shared about the proposals now pending review, I encourage you to communicate with the administration in Boston as well.
www.repstraus.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NB-Delegation-ltr-State-Pier.pdf … See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Would be great to see a waterfront training facility or location as part of the redevelopment. This could be a collaborative partnership with Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, New Bedford High School and Community Boating Center. This would certainly help accomplish the Chapter 91 requirement for waterfront dependent usage.
Thank you Bill for taking a stand in support of an open public process. The industry and voters need an opportunity to view and comment on any proposals.
Thank you for stepping up.
MASS DOT SELECTS BRIDGE TYPE DESIGN FOR REPLACING THE NEW BEDFORD-FAIRHAVEN BRIDGE
A major road traffic and navigation enhancement for our region took a significant step yesterday with the public release of the replacement bridge type study for the New Bedford-Fairhaven bridge on Route 6. I’ve written about this before but the basic issues remain the same; the original bridge is long past its useless life and with the help of last session’s Transportation Bond Bill authorization of $100 million for design, permitting and early construction, the design process began in 2022. MassDOT and its design consultants have settled on a replacement bridge which is known as ‘vertical lift’.
I completely support this decision for reasons of operation, improved marine vessel navigation, impact on traffic during construction and the time it will take to build. You can access the bridge type study at the link below. Complements to the Healey-Driscoll administration and MassDOT for their work in continued to pursue this project. We can look forward to review by the Coast Guard and a 25% design level which will trigger more public hearings and opportunity for comment.
… See MoreSee Less
www.mass.gov
www.mass.gov
Comment on Facebook
"long past it's useless life" LOL 😆 agreed
MASS DOT AGREES TO RELEASE $900,000 IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUNDS FOR SOUTHCOAST RAIL
I am happy to share the good news that Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbets-Nutt has agreed to my request for release of $900,000 in local emergency response funding for added safety equipment associated with the new South Coast Rail service in 2024. I met with the Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng yesterday October 11 to renew this request for release of the funds. This money was originally authorized in the 2022 Transportation Bond Bill where as Transportation Committee Chair I also co-chaired the House-Senate Conference Committee on the bill. The idea, however, for providing train related safety equipment directly to area Fire and EMS Departments belongs to New Bedford Fire Chief Scott Kruger and the other regional Chiefs from Fall River and Taunton as well as the leaders of locals with the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts.
The region’s Chiefs and department members are now updating the specific item list for purchase of the safety and extraction equipment that should be available for train related emergency response as needed. All of my fellow legislative colleagues from the region have been determined in their advocacy for this emergency response equipment including particularly, Senator Michael Rodrigues, and Representative Carole Fiola. Thank you to Secretary Tibbets-Nutt in her role on behalf of the Healey-Driscoll administration. … See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Great job!
Great news!
Thank you Bill !
Outstanding!
GOVERNOR HEALEY SIGNS TAX CUTS INTO LAW
Though it took a great deal of negotiation, new important tax cuts are now in place for Massachusetts. The new law provides roughly $1 billion in tax relief targeted to a number of areas. Included are increases for the Child and Family Tax Credit, the Senior Circuit Breaker Credit, Housing development incentives, and a doubling of the estate tax credit from $1 million to $2 million. You can learn about more of the details at the link below. I was proud to support this legislation in September when it came before the full House and applaud Governor Healey for signing these tax changes into law.
… See MoreSee Less
Governor Healey Signs First Tax Cuts in More Than 20 Years
www.mass.gov
$1 billion in tax cuts includes savings for seniors, businesses, renters, and the most generous Child and Family Tax Credit in the countryComment on Facebook
SEE THE DRAFT NAVIGATION REPORT FOR THE NEW BEDFORD-FAIRHAVEN BRIDGE PROJECT
I am pleased to share publicly, the Draft Navigation Report prepared for MassDOT as part of the design and bridge type selection process for a replacement bridge connecting Fairhaven and New Bedford. This is a significant advancement in the public engagement process needed to select a bridge design for a project which literally will reshape our harbor for decades to come. The final report will be part of the process needed for U.S. Coast Guard review and ultimately a bridge permit for reconstruction. You can read the detailed navigation report at this link:
www.repstraus.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NB_FH-Nav-Study-Final-Draft_23_09_21-1.pdf
The key navigational benefits for a new bridge would be a much more accessible and safe overall channel width from the current 95′ dual channels to a much wider wide of 260′. A new vertical height for a raised bridge span would be 138′ according to the report. This compares, for example to a vertical height of 135′ for the existing Cape Cod bridges. Three feet more is based on predicted sea level rise.
This is one more step in the process for a new bridge and will result in many more public sessions and input opportunities before more detailed design work begins. My own sense is that between two types of likely designs, the project will be best as a so-called ‘vertical lift’ bridge compared to a draw bridge in terms of navigation benefits, functionality and construction impacts.
Thanks to those on both sides of the port who participated in this process. … See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
I hope the new bridge will include bike lanes
The bridge being wider makes it less safe for everyone
NEW BEDFORD AIRPORT TERMINAL PROJECT RECEIVES $2.1 MILLION STATE DESIGN AWARD.
I am delighted to share the word that yesterday, August 4, the state Department of Transportation made good in approving $2.1 million in preliminary design, engineering and architectural costs for the new Airport Terminal at the New Bedford Airport. The release of $2.1 million in state funds was made possible by a prior legislative bond bill amendment of mine, earmarking approximately $25 million toward the project. However, this week’s timely release of monies was made directly by Governor Maura Healey when she agreed to a request of mine for inclusion of the project in the statewide capital investment program for fiscal year 2024.
This week’s release of money by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will allow the city’s airport commission to retain a project manager, engineers and architects to get completed designs which are necessary to a final go-ahead for the construction of a new terminal; the current terminal is outdated and inefficient and is the oldest commercial air terminal in New England.
A critical permit request for approval to relocate the airport’s control tower for better airfield operations is pending in Washington DC with the Federal Aeronautics Administration (FAA). The city’s commitment to this project and the active support of Mayor Mitchell were essential to obtaining this week’s funding approval by the state. … See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
I can't imagine the convenience of a New Bedford airport that could connect with others. This could be amazing long term.
DISTRACTED DRIVING IS STILL A DANGER ON OUR ROADWAYS
In 2019 Massachusetts finally joined the ranks of those states which ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving. However, as technology advances with access to vehicle touch screens using many of the same computer applications which are banned for cell phones, this is an area I believe should be the focus of further road safety initiatives. I and other colleagues (including our own local State Senator Mark Montigny) have filed bills on this topic which were considered this week in a public hearing before the Transportation Committee on Beacon Hill. You can read more about the issue and my thoughts in an article published this week by Commonwealth Magazine.
… See MoreSee Less
In-car displays are the next distracted driving target – CommonWealth Magazine
commonwealthmagazine.org
WHILE LAWMAKERS in Massachusetts and across the country worked to pass distracted driving laws limiting how much a person can mess around on a phone while operating a car, built-in screens in cars the…Comment on Facebook
You know what’s a danger Rep Bill Straus……. HD4420….. that’s a danger
FINAL SEPTIC REGULATIONS BY STATE A SUCCESS FOR SOUTHCOAST.
The Department of Environmental Protection modified its final septic system regulations ("Title V") to scale back the drastic impact that had been originally contemplated for our region in the closing days of the Baker administration. I joined with my area House colleagues in a joint letter last December urging exactly this, more measured, approach from DEP; I want to thank the Healey-Driscoll Administration for taking these views into account–comments came from not just me, but many many local officials and area residents. Read more at the story below.
… See MoreSee Less
Final septic regulation changes will not apply to Tri-Town, South Coast
sippican.theweektoday.com
After months of public comment and letters sent from Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester officials , the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection announced that the South Coast will not be …Comment on Facebook
malegislature.gov/Bills/193/HD4420?fbclid=IwAR26EvjLCq2W25x3ftL21CFO_1GcidfXrmzWxsSfrOOPfBoMimjTI…
What’s your stance on this absurd and UNCONSTITUTIONAL gun law that you and your fellow Democrats, more like COMMUNISTS…… are trying to pass in Massachusetts sir!?!? We want to hear your views and opinion on this UNLAWFUL and UNCONSTITUTIONAL bill! Have you read the absurdity in this bill!?!? You’re telling POLICE OFFICERS that they can’t carry their LEGAL and LICENSED firearm while off duty???? Sir do you think criminals will be affected one ounce by this bill?!?!? You can’t be this stupid sir, and if you are, we the citizens of Massachusetts want your resignation IMMEDIATELY.