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Commonwealth of Massachusetts

  1. History
  2. Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Name/Corporate Existence

1788 to Present

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Agencies and Departments

Massachusetts Department of Transportation - 2009 to Present, Active

Corporate Timeline

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Unknown
Haverhill and Southern New Hampshire Street Railway Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Unknown
Lawrence and Methuen Street Railway Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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Lowell and Dracut Street Railway Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Unknown
Lowell and Pelham Street Railway Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Unknown
Lowell Horse Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Unknown
Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhill Street Railway Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Unknown
Lynn and Boston Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Unknown
New Hampshire Electric Railways incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Unknown
Roxbury Central Wharf Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Unknown
South Bay Wharf and Terminal Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Unknown
Vineyard Sound Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 6, 1788
Commonwealth of Massachusetts is admitted to the union of the United States of America.
June 10, 1796
Proprietors of Connecticut River Bridge incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 25, 1820
Proprietors of Portsmouth Bridge incorporation is confirmed by special act in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 24, 1823
Hampshire and Hampden Canal Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 4, 1826
Granite Railway Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 5, 1830
Boston and Lowell Rail Road Corporation incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 22, 1831
Boston and Providence Railroad Corporation [Massachusetts] incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 23, 1831
Boston and Worcester Railroad Corporation incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 8, 1832
Proprietors of the New Bedford and Fairhaven Ferry incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 13, 1833
Western Railroad Corporation incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 15, 1833
Andover and Wilmington Rail Road Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 15, 1833
The Worcester and Norwich Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 7, 1835
Taunton Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 5, 1836
West Stockbridge Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 9, 1836
Charlestown Branch Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 9, 1836
New Haven and Northampton Company [1836] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 14, 1836
Eastern Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 16, 1836
Nashua and Lowell Railroad Corporation [Massachusetts] incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 16, 1836
Seekonk Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 22, 1836
Norwich and Worcester Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 13, 1837
Berkshire Railroad Company [1837] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 10, 1838
Nashua and Lowell Railroad Corporation consolidation of Nashua and Lowell Railroad Corporation [New Hampshire] and Nashua and Lowell Railroad Corporation [Massachusetts] is confirmed by special act in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 13, 1838
Old Colony Railroad Corporation [1838] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
1839
Hartford and New Haven Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 5, 1839
Hartford and Springfield Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 6, 1841
Boston and Maine Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 17, 1841
Worcester Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 1, 1842
Northampton and Springfield Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 3, 1842
Fitchburg Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 3, 1842
Pittsfield and North Adams Railroad incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 24, 1843
Boston and Maine Railroad incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 11, 1844
Georgetown Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 12, 1844
Providence and Worcester Railroad Company [Massachusetts] incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 14, 1844
Fall River Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 15, 1844
Salisbury Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 15, 1844
Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 16, 1844
Boston and Maine Railroad Extension Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 16, 1844
Old Colony Railroad Corporation [1844] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 16, 1844
Stoughton Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 16, 1844
Woburn Branch Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
January 25, 1845
Connecticut River Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
January 25, 1845
Greenfield and Northampton Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 5, 1845
Worcester and Nashua Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 7, 1845
Medford Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 13, 1845
Cheshire Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 13, 1845
Winchendon Railroad Corporation incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 22, 1845
Peterborough and Shirley Railroad Company [Massachusetts] incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 24, 1845
Lexington and West Cambridge Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 25, 1845
Randolph and Bridgewater Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 26, 1845
Middleborough Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 26, 1845
Stony Brook Railroad Corporation incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 26, 1845
United Corporation of the Middleborough Railroad Corporation, and Fall River Branch Railroad Company and Randolph and Bridgewater Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
November 25, 1845
Providence and Worcester Railroad Company [1845] incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 7, 1846
Essex Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 11, 1846
Newburyport Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 26, 1846
South Shore Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 27, 1846
Lowell and Andover Railroad Company [1846] incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 6, 1846
Hanover Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 8, 1846
Cape Cod Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 10, 1846
Chelsea Branch Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 16, 1846
Dorchester and Milton Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 16, 1846
Fitchburg and Worcester Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 16, 1846
Lancaster and Sterling Branch Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 16, 1846
Walpole Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 16, 1846
Watertown Branch Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 17, 1847
Stockbridge and Pittsfield Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 16, 1847
Weir Branch Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 23, 1847
Woburn Branch Extension Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 24, 1847
Norfolk County Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 26, 1847
Agricultural Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 26, 1847
Barre and Worcester Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 10, 1848
The New London, Willimantic and Palmer Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 21, 1848
Taunton and Middleborough Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 26, 1848
Salem and Lowell Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 26, 1848
South Reading Branch Railroad incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 28, 1848
Saugus Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 8, 1848
Greenfield and Fitchburg Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 10, 1848
Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 10, 1848
Union Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 1, 1849
Charles River Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 1, 1849
Fairhaven Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 1, 1849
Medway Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 1, 1849
Southbridge and Blackstone Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 2, 1849
Waltham and Watertown Branch Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 2, 1850
Midland Railroad Company [1850] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 7, 1851
Danvers and Georgetown Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 23, 1851
Providence and Bristol Railroad Company [Massachusetts] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 24, 1851
Amherst and Belchertown Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 24, 1851
Charles River Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 15, 1852
Danvers Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 20, 1852
Bellingham Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 30, 1852
Boston and New York Central Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 30, 1852
Marlborough Branch Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 20, 1852
Hampden Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 22, 1852
Northampton and Westfield Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 23, 1853
Hampshire and Hampden Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 25, 1853
Mystic River Railroad incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 3, 1854
Easton Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 25, 1854
Old Colony and Fall River Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
November 16, 1854
Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad Company incorporates by special act in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 2, 1855
Milford and Woonsocket Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 17, 1857
The Fall River and Warren Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 19, 1858
Midland Railroad Company [1858] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 25, 1858
Amherst, Belchertown and Palmer Railroad incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 27, 1858
Marlborough and Feltonville Branch Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 6, 1859
Stoneham Branch Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 20, 1860
Rockport Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 24, 1860
New London Northern Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 21, 1860
Southern Vermont Rail Road Company is sold to Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company and conveyed by mortgage to Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 28, 1861
Cape Cod Central Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 9, 1861
Midland Land Damage Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 22, 1862
East Boston Freight Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 28, 1862
New Haven and Northampton Company [1862] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 25, 1862
Old Colony and Newport Railway Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 26, 1862
Foxborough Branch Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
July 2, 1862
Fall River, Warren and Providence Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
October 13, 1862
Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company property surrendered to Commonwealth of Massachusetts under conditions of mortgage covering loans made for construction purposes.
February 21, 1863
Dighton and Somerset Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 20, 1864
Hanover Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 8, 1865
Marblehead and Lynn Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 19, 1866
Turners Falls Branch Railroad incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 13, 1867
Duxbury and Cohassett Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 16, 1867
Ware River Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 9, 1867
Hopkinton and Milford Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 24, 1867
Boston and Albany Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
1868
Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 21, 1868
Wayland and Sudbury Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 8, 1868
West Amesbury Branch Railroad incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 27, 1869
Monadnock Railroad Company [Massachusetts] incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 17, 1869
Athol and Enfield Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 22, 1869
Essex Branch Ralroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 10, 1869
Massachusetts Central Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 26, 1869
Hopkinton Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 12, 1869
Holyoke and Westfield Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 12, 1869
Newburyport City Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 23, 1870
Framingham and Lowell Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 9, 1870
Asbury Grove Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 30, 1870
Lancaster Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 1, 1870
Hopkinton Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 22, 1870
Shawmut Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 10, 1871
Middlesex Central Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 10, 1871
Nashua, Acton and Boston Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 4, 1871
Mount Tom and Easthampton Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 5, 1871
Ashburnham Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 5, 1872
Lowell and Andover Railroad Company [1872] incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 27, 1872
Old Colony Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 6, 1872
Union Freight Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
August 6, 1872
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
January 30, 1873
West Amesbury Branch Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 11, 1873
Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 11, 1873
New Bedford Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 21, 1873
Ware River Railroad incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 15, 1873
The New York and New England Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
October 22, 1873
Grafton Centre Railroad Company incorporates under the general laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 5, 1874
Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad is chartered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
November 19, 1874
Fall River Railroad Company [1874] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
January 6, 1875
Springfield and New London Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 24, 1875
North Brookfield Railroad incorporates under the general laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
September 26, 1876
Rhode Island and Massachusetts Railroad Company [Massachusetts] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 13, 1878
The Ashburnham Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 6, 1878
The Springfield and Northeastern Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 8, 1878
Spencer Railroad Company incorporates under the general laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 26, 1879
Ocean Terminal Railroad Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 2, 1880
Nantasket Beach Railroad Company [1880] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
September 2, 1880
The Hull and Nantasket Beach Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
October 4, 1880
Boston, Hingham and Hull Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
1881
Nantucket Railroad [1881] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 2, 1881
Nantasket Beach Railroad Company [1881] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 31, 1881
Lowell and Framingham Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 22, 1881
Chelsea Beach Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 23, 1882
Providence, Webster and Springfield Railroad incorporates under the general laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 21, 1882
Milford, Franklin and Providence Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 23, 1883
Central Massachusetts Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 15, 1883
Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
December 28, 1886
Hoosac Tunnel and Wilmington Railroad Company incorporates under the general laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 1, 1887
Commonwealth of Massachusetts property of Troy and Greenfield Railroad Company sold to Fitchburg Railroad Company.
February 25, 1887
Chatham Railroad Company incorporates under the general laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 20, 1890
Plymouth and Middleborough Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
January 7, 1891
Commonwealth of Massachusetts property of Southern Vermont Rail Road Company sold to Fitchburg Railroad Company.
October 1, 1891
Brookline and Pepperell Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 5, 1895
The New England Railroad Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 9, 1896
Boston Terminal Company incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
July 24, 1896
Chester and Becket Railroad incorporates under the general laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 23, 1905
Berkshire Railroad Company [1905] incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 1, 1907
Nashua and Acton Railroad incorporates by special act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
1910
Hampden Railroad incorporates by special act in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 26, 1912
Massachusetts Northeastern Street Railway Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 18, 1913
Fall Mountain Electric Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
January 6, 1919
Fore River Railroad Corporation incorporates under the general laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
November 15, 1924
Boston and Maine Transportation Company incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
1947
Metropolitan Transit Authority is created by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
August 3, 1964
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is created by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
December 30, 1975
Massachusetts Central Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
1976
Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority created under the general laws in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
August 8, 1977
Quaboag Transfer, Inc. incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
December 9, 1980
Filter V and M Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 28, 1981
Cape Cod and Hyannis Railroad, Inc. incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 4, 1982
Bay Colony Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 5, 1984
Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum, Inc. incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
1985
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is created by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
March 20, 1986
Fore River Railway Company, Inc. incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 9, 1986
Housatonic Railroad Company, Inc. incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 9, 1989
Cape Cod Railroad Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
August 12, 1991
Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum, Inc. incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
November 12, 1998
Cape Cod Central Railroad, Inc. incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
May 24, 2001
Fore River Transportation Corporation incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
June 12, 2002
Coltsville Terminal Company, Inc. incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
April 13, 2004
East Brookfield and Spencer Railroad, LLC incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 3, 2006
PCPRR, LLC incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
February 9, 2006
Cape Rail, Inc. incorporates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
November 1, 2009
Massachusetts Department of Transportation is created.