State Awards Waltham More In Road, Transportation Funding

WALTHAM, MA — The state on Wednesday announced an additional $40 million in Fiscal Year 2019 funding for road construction and transportation improvements in several municipalities, bringing the total funding to $1.9 million for Waltham.

"This funding represents our continued commitment to supporting communities as they address the maintenance and modernization of local roads, which are a critical part of the Commonwealth's transportation network," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement about the additional round of funding.

Included in the funding is an additional $321,807 for Waltham. The city previously received $1,609,034 in the original round of funding. The grand total for FY 2019 for Waltham? $1,930,841.

"That's great news that the Governor has given us a little more money this year," said City Council President Diane LeBlanc. "Perhaps the governor has been spending some time driving on our streets."

It's no secret the city has a few streets that could use work. In an ongoing effort to address those needs, last year Waltham approved a Transportation Master Plan to identify existing transportation issues, develop strategies to address transportation issues, and to recommend specific solutions and an action plan for realistic future transportation improvements and initiatives within the city.

The city has been working its way through the plan. The mayor has not come to the City Council with any long term capital requests around the total master plan, said LeBlanc.

"But we see efforts in various locations being made to advance pieces of it. There's definitely some movement in some priority areas. Hopefully we're going to keep chipping away at those improvements," she said.

Traffic Engineering Department did not immediately respond to request for comment.

To help give you a sense of how far $322,000 could go in Waltham, this week the city council approved the mayor request to reallocate $189,189.06 left-over Chapter 90 funds to be added to the existing funds to award the low bid contract for the paving of a portion Harrington Road that totals $277,972.50.

The money comes from Chapter 90 infrastructure funds, which has given $900 million to communities since the Baker-Polito administration took office in 2015, according to a state press release. Chapter 90 funding is determined by a formula that includes population, road miles and employment and is open to all communities in Massachusetts.

Chapter 90 funds are spent at the discretion of the mayor.

Photo by Renee Shiavone/Patch Staff