Steve Comment

Patrick signed the transportation bill:

SECTION 148.(a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, Worcester regional airport, as currently owned by the city of Worcester and operated by the Massachusetts Port Authority, is hereby transferred from the city of Worcester to the Massachusetts Port Authority on the July first following one year after the effective date of this act, subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) the Worcester regional airport shall be transferred to the Massachusetts Port Authority for fair compensation which may be paid in installments and which may consider the actual amount of any expenditures, subsidies and operational costs assumed or provided to date to or for the Worcester regional airport by said Massachusetts Port Authority, in addition to any other federal and state funding and grant assistance, and (ii) the right, title and interest of the city in the Worcester regional airport shall be conveyed within 1 year upon the transfer date set by this act (b) Upon the transfer of the airport by the city of Worcester to the Massachusetts Port Authority pursuant to this section, the Massachusetts Port Authority shall be responsible for the ownership, operation and maintenance of the Worcester regional airport and, except as otherwise agreed to by the parties, the city shall cease to be responsible for such ownership, operation and maintenance.

All warranties and all contract and indemnification rights and obligations arising out of the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the airport shall remain in full force and effect following such transfer. The provisions of this section shall not limit or in any way impair the rights, remedies or defenses of the city of Worcester or the Massachusetts Port Authority in or to any such action.