An Act authorizing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to take easements over certain land located in the city of Woburn and the town of Burlington held in trust by the city of Boston for the Mary P. C. Cummings Testamentary Trust

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Cindy Friedman

MassDOT may acquire easements on specified lands in Woburn and Burlington, held in trust for Mary P. Cummings, to enable transportation projects without full ownership.

Referred to the committee on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently

Bill Summary: SD 3961 (194th Mass. Legislature)

Purpose and intent

The bill authorizes the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to acquire easements over specific lands for transportation purposes.

The targeted lands are located in the city of Woburn and the town of Burlington and are currently held in trust by the city of Boston for the Mary P. C. Cummings Testamentary Trust.

The overarching aim is to facilitate transportation infrastructure or related needs by securing necessary rights to use land without full ownership, where an easement suffices for project requirements.

Key provisions

MassDOT authority: Grants MassDOT explicit authority to take easements on the identified parcels of land.

Lands affected: The easements pertain to property located in:

Woburn (city)
Burlington (town)
Trust status: Land is held in trust by the city of Boston for the Mary P. C. Cummings Testamentary Trust.

Scope of easement: The bill would define the nature and scope of the easements (e.g., access, utility use, construction areas, maintenance corridors) as necessary for transportation projects. The exact limitations, duration, and terms would be specified in the final enacted language or accompanying conditions.

Trust considerations: The bill acknowledges the land’s trust arrangement and provides mechanism for MassDOT to acquire the easements while respecting the trust terms and rights of the beneficiaries or trustees, as applicable.

Who is affected

MassDOT: Authorized to acquire and exercise easement rights on the specified lands.

City of Boston: Retains ownership of the underlying land held in trust but would relinquish certain rights through the easements to facilitate MassDOT projects.

Woburn and Burlington residents and landowners: Potentially impacted by transportation projects that utilize the easements (construction activity, access, maintenance, and any restrictions or protections associated with the easement area).

Mary P. C. Cummings Testamentary Trust beneficiaries: Indirectly affected as the trust’s property is used to support the easement conveyance; terms of the easement should align with trust protections and purposes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Referred to the Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently (as of 2026-06-04).

Legislative process: As a bill introduced in the 194th Massachusetts Legislature, it will undergo committee review, potential amendments, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for signature or veto.

Notable procedural point: The referral to the Rules of the two branches indicates early-stage routing, with potential subsequent committee hearings and public input.

Potential implications and considerations

Public Purpose: Enables MassDOT to advance transportation projects with needed access rights, potentially expediting project timelines.

Legal/Trust Compliance: Requires careful alignment with the Mary P. C. Cummings Testamentary Trust terms to protect beneficiaries and ensure proper stewardship of trust assets.

Property rights: Establishes a method to secure land use without full ownership transfer, which may limit certain property rights for the landowners while serving public transportation needs.

Financial: Depending on easement terms, there could be compensation considerations, tax implications, and ongoing maintenance responsibilities.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize specific project types likely affected (e.g., road corridors, rail, or utilities) or pull in related Massachusetts easement statutory provisions for comparison.