Jones, Crighton Secure $3 Million For Lynnfield Initiatives

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and State Senator Brendan P. Crighton (D-Lynn) have secured $3 million in targeted funding for the Town of Lynnfield as part of an $11.3 billion transportation infrastructure bond bill that contains funding for hundreds of local, state and regional projects across Massachusetts.

House Bill 5151, An Act relative to Massachusetts’ transportation resources and climate, also known as the MassTRAC bill, was enacted in the House and Senate on July 31 and is now on Governor Charlie Baker’s desk for his review. The bill builds on legislation originally filed by Governor Baker on March 17 to take advantage of the funding opportunities contained in the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) signed last November.

Local earmarks for Lynnfield secured by the Town’s legislative delegation include:

• $2 million for the Summer Street restoration project, which will include the installation of bike lanes, as well as ADA-compliant sidewalks, ramps and crossings; and
• $1 million for an environmental study and stormwater plan for Pillings Pond, including the purchase and installation of upgraded catch basins in roadways around the pond to trap pollutants and sedimentation

Representative Jones and Senator Crighton noted that the two earmarks for Lynnfield represent preliminary approval for these projects and indicated there is currently no firm timeline for when this funding will be released to the Town. Because these projects would be supported through bond appropriations rather than cash, they must still be worked under the state’s annual borrowing cap and will take some time to come to fruition.

“While this is only the start of what will likely be a lengthy, multi-year approval process, the inclusion of these projects in the MassTRAC bill helps to highlight some of Lynnfield’s most critical transportation and environmental needs,” said Representative Jones. “I will continue to work closely with Senator Crighton to advocate on the Town’s behalf and do everything we can to ensure that these projects can move forward with state funding assistance as expeditiously as possible.”

“I am pleased that we were able to support earmarks for these important Lynnfield specific projects in this bond bill,” said Senator Crighton. “I appreciate Rep. Jones’ continued partnership in addressing the Town’s crucial transportation needs.”

Governor Baker has until August 10 to sign the MassTRAC bill into law.