Better roads, bridges, sidewalks, and commutes are on their way to the Commonwealth, all in the hope of creating safer, sustainable, and more accessible transportation and infrastructure. The Massachusetts House has unanimously approved a transportation bill that would improve roads and infrastructure across the state via the state’s Chapter 90 grants. The bill currently awaits Senate approval before it will officially be written into law.
Who is Funding the Improvements?
All funds are allotted through the state’s Chapter 90 grant program - a state-wide reimbursement program that pays cities back for work performed on pre-approved projects. On a base level, these projects must actively preserve or improve capital projects or their longevity. The formula used to determine what the state, or more specifically, the Department of Transportation will cover, depends on the number of residents in a municipality, the extent of repairs needed, and the length of the road, bridge, or other structure targeted for improvement. From the standpoint of Massachusetts’ municipalities, Chapter 90 projects are typically 100% reimbursable – making them an important source of local aid for much needed repairs
How Are Funds Allocated?
Nearly $300 million in funds will be funneled through the Department of Transportation to cities and towns for a significant increase in projects over the course of the next fiscal year:
· $95 million will go toward Massachusetts’s municipal small bridge program, focused on repairing or constructing new bridges that are not reimbursable from other government funding sources .
· Another $50 million will be awarded to the mass transit fund, double the initially proposed amount of $25 million.
· $25 million will go directly to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation
· $25 million will go towards traffic congestion issues, particularly in densely populated areas
· $25 million will be funneled into electric vehicle infrastructure, including charging stations for the ever-growing line of electric cars.
· $25 million is committed to transit infrastructure that supports pre-existing major transit, including adding additional bus stops and lanes.
· The remaining funding is held for local municipalities that need help with projects that would make it easier for residents to use the already established transit options and stations.
Who Does it Help?
In addition to better roadways, bridges, and transportation for residents, including workers and commuters, this program is also expected to promote equity, especially when accessing public transit, heavily travelled routes, and other major traffic corridors. Adding connections will expand the transportation network to reach residents previously excluded and easing the burden on families sending their children to school or decreasing commute times to high-paying jobs if they do not access to a car or cannot drive.
Keep your eye out in the coming weeks for more information from this as the Senate debates. If you’re curious about how this new transportation bill may affect you, check out: https://landline.media/massachusetts-house-approves-boost-to-local-road-bridge-funds/ and https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/07/02/massachusetts-senate-passes-300-million-transportation-infrastructure-bill/ for more details.