Framingham Could Get $1.9M For Infrastructure

Framingham could receive nearly $1.9 million toward fixing potholes, repairing bridges, and other infrastructure issues.

The funds - $1,895,115.64 (anyone want the 64 cents?) - would come as part of a $200 million package for Chapter 90 funding unanimously approved last Wednesday by the House of Representatives, including Framingham Reps. Chris Walsh, Jack Lewis, and Carmine Gentile.

The bill still needs to clear the Senate and receive the governor's signature.

“I was happy that one of my first votes in the State House was to support Chapter 90 funds for Framingham and Ashland,” said Lewis. “My colleagues and I are committed to ensuring that our local municipalities have the resources necessary to meet their infrastructure needs.”

The House bill maintained Gov. Charlie Baker's recommended funding level, which municipal officials have said is not sufficient to bring 30,000 miles of local roads into a state of good repair. Introducing the bill, Transportation Committee Chairman Rep. William Straus said the local officials who testified before the Transportation Committee and the House Bonding Committee "did a very good job identifying a much bigger need than we can meet today."

The Legislature passes a Chapter 90 bill each year, and local public works officials are usually anxious to advance projects given the limited construction season in Massachusetts.

Materials from the State House News Service's Colin A. Young was used in this report

Photo by JoshuaDavisPhotography via Flickr