Massachusetts House Passes Chapter 90 Funding

BOSTON - Representative David P. Linsky (D-Natick) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House in passing a bill authorizing $4.58 billion in bonding for an expanded Chapter 90 program, which provides municipalities with funding for transportation-related improvements, including road and bridge repairs. Similar to last year, the bill includes a one-year authorization of $300 million for the Chapter 90 Program. Within the $4.58 billion is the reauthorization of $3.18 billion in funding for several popular and well utilized programs included in the 2022 transportation bond bill, including the Municipal Pavement Program and Shared Streets. The bill specifically includes $1,407,787.45 for the Town of Natick and $$758,701.11 for the Town of Wayland.

“Securing transportation infrastructure funding is one of the most essential investments we in the Legislature make every year as it allows us to keep our roads, bridges, and our communities as a whole safe,” said Representative Linsky. “I am deeply proud of the support the House has been able to provide our municipalities with, and I want to thank Speaker Mariano and Chairman Arciero for their hard work on this legislation. I look forward to seeing the impact of these funds on our towns and their ability not only to invest in our transportation infrastructure today, but also to prepare for the transportation infrastructure needs of tomorrow.”

The legislation authorizes $300 million in bonding for the Chapter 90 Program and additional programs.

The one-year authorization in Chapter 90 Program funding includes:

• $200 million will be distributed to all municipalities based on the standard Chapter 90 Program distribution formula.

• $100 million will be distributed to all municipalities based solely on road mileage.

Additional programs to support various transportation-related projects, totaling $1.1 billion include:

• $500 million for the Lifecycle Asset Management Program (LAMP) which aids non-federally funded roads and targets the pavement and bridges that are in the worst condition in the Commonwealth.

• $200 for capital projects to support housing development, including stormwater management, culverts, and bike and pedestrian improvements.

• $200 million for a new accelerated deferred maintenance and modernization program for infrastructure under the care and control of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

• $200 million for the MBTA for the procurement of electrically powered locomotives.

The legislation also reauthorizes $3.18 billion in funding for several programs included in the 2022 Transportation Bond Bill such as:

• $2.3 billion for projects on interstates and other federally aided highways.

• $800 million for improvements to non-federally aided roadways and bridges.

• $65 million for the Municipal Pavement Program for engineering, permitting, design, and climate change adaptation on municipal ways.

• $12 million for grants for the Shared Streets Program for improvements and projects to municipal streets to create additional capacity for pedestrians and cyclists.

Having passed the House of Representatives 155-0, the bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

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