Massachusetts S 3169: 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

Bill Text

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3961        FILED ON: 6/1/2026 
SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3169 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
_________________ 
PRESENTED BY: 
Cindy F. Friedman 
_________________ 
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General 
 Court assembled: 
 The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: 
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. 
_______________ 
PETITION OF: 
 
NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: 
Cindy F. Friedman Fourth Middlesex 

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3961        FILED ON: 6/1/2026 
SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3169 
By Ms. Friedman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 3169) (subject to Joint Rule 12) 
of Cindy F. Friedman for legislation to authorize 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.  
Transportation. 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 
_______________
 
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court 
(2025-2026) 
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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. 
 
 Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to 
authorize forthwith the commonwealth of Massachusetts, acting by and through its department of 
transportation to take certain easements for highway purposes, to support the intersection 
improvement project being undertaken by the commonwealth at the intersection of Cambridge 
Road at South Bedford Street and Bedford Road in Woburn and Burlington, therefore it is hereby 
declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public safety 
and convenience. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows: 
 
1 SECTION 1. Pursuant to section 5A of chapter 3 of the general laws, notwithstanding 
2any general or special law to the contrary, the commonwealth of Massachusetts, acting by and 
3through its department of transportation, may take for highway purposes, certain parcels of land 
4located in Woburn and Burlington, held in trust by the city of Boston department of Treasury, 
5being temporary construction areas of 4,603 square feet and permanent easements of 8,917 
6square feet and shown on a plan of land entitled, “Massachusetts Department of Transportation 

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7Highway Division Intersection Improvement Project Cambridge Road at South Bedford Street 
8and Bedford Road in the city and town of Woburn/Burlington, Middlesex County Preliminary 
9Right of Way Plans”, to be filed with the chief engineer of the highway division of the 
10Massachusetts Department of Transportation and recorded with the Middlesex north registry of 
11deeds. 
12 SECTION 2. In anticipation of and as planned mitigation for the takings described in 
13section 1 of this act, and to ensure no net loss of land subject to article 97 of the amendments to 
14the constitution of the commonwealth, during the May 25, 2025 approval of a special permit to 
15Jumbo Self Storage, LLC - Jumbo Capital Management for land being located at 7 Wheeler 
16Road in Burlington, Massachusetts and shown on Assessor's Map 52 as Parcels 4 and 6, the town 
17of Burlington required that land be set aside for future improvements to the intersection of 
18Cambridge Road at South Bedford Street and Bedford Road to satisfy Article 97. The town of 
19Burlington further accepted a conservation restriction from Wheeler Self Storage, LLC on the 
20Wheeler Road property containing approximately 9 acres, recorded with the Middlesex south 
21registry of deeds at Book 78014, Page 433. As described in conditions G and H of that certain 
22special permit decision granted by the town of Burlington planning board recorded with the 
23Middlesex south registry of deeds at book 71169 and page 469, said conveyance was specifically 
24intended to be mitigation for the transfer described in section 1. 
25 SECTION 3. The department of transportation shall assume all costs associated with 
26engineering, surveys, appraisals, deed preparation and other expenses necessary to execute the 
27takings authorized by this act. 
28 SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.