READING, MA — The town is slated to receive nearly $900,000 in state funding for local road and bridge work under a newly approved transportation bond bill in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
According to state officials, Reading is expected to receive $898,350 through the Chapter 90 program, a long-standing state aid program that helps municipalities pay for road, bridge and sidewalk maintenance.
The funding is included in House Bill 5375, a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure measure that received preliminary approval on April 15 with a unanimous 155-0 vote. The bill authorizes $300 million statewide for Chapter 90 funding.
House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. and state Rep. Richard M. Haggerty both supported the bill and highlighted the importance of Chapter 90 funds for local infrastructure planning.
“Cities and towns across the state rely on their annual Chapter 90 appropriation for maintaining a robust transportation infrastructure,” Jones said in a statement. “This funding will enable Reading officials to better plan and prioritize local road and bridge projects and carry out needed repairs.”
Haggerty noted the funding plays a key role in maintaining safe and accessible roadways.
“This funding, which is a primary source for paving our local roads, helps Reading maintain safer streets, better sidewalks and a transportation system that works for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike,” he said in a statement.
The bill now heads to the Massachusetts Senate for consideration. If approved, it will then require the governor’s signature before the funding is finalized.
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