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Mass. governor announces $1.2 billion roads-and-bridges investment, raises Chapter 90 funding
Summary
Governor Maura Healey and municipal leaders announced a $1.2 billion transportation investment in Gardner that increases Chapter 90 local-aid funding and adds programs for culverts, small bridges and congestion relief as part of an $8 billion transportation plan.
Governor Maura Healey announced a $1.2 billion investment in roads and bridges in Massachusetts at a Dec. 17 event in Gardner, saying the funding boosts local road aid and expands programs for culvert replacement, small-bridge improvements and congestion relief.
The announcement matters because it increases direct state aid to municipalities and funds projects that local officials say are needed to maintain safety and connectivity across the Commonwealth.
"Local Roads, the chapter 90 program, has been a long standing priority of the MMA," said Adam Chaplin, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, noting municipal leaders from across the state joined the announcement. Healey said the package "authorizes $1,200,000,000 for infrastructure that our residents, our economy, our quality of life depend on." She added the investment is part of an $8,000,000,000 transportation funding plan to improve roads and bridges statewide.
Officials said the package raises Chapter 90 funding from $200,000,000 to $300,000,000 and increases the State Department of Transportation's paving and bridge programs. The announcement also included new targeted programs for culvert replacement, small-bridge improvements and a congestion-relief program, officials said. Adam Chaplin specifically thanked the governor, the administration's team "at A and F," MassDOT and the legislature for arranging the funding and financing to implement the plan.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll emphasized public-safety and economic benefits, saying the investments "mean that we make roads smoother, commutes faster, and communities safer." Driscoll closed the event by urging the bill-signing step, saying, "Let's get this bill signed." The governor and municipal representatives framed the measure as a partnership between state and local governments to address aging infrastructure across Massachusetts.
Officials did not provide a bill number or statute citation at the event. The announcement did state the Chapter 90 increase and the $1.2 billion authorization; other implementation details, including project lists, timelines and exact funding sources beyond references to state bonding and MassDOT programs, were not specified at the event.
The administration said the funding is intended to allow municipalities to begin roadway investments promptly, but details about when specific projects will be funded, when work will begin, and whether additional approvals will be required were not provided at the Gardner event. Municipal leaders present said the increase in Chapter 90 and the additional programs would help local efforts to address flooding risks and traffic congestion, matters they described as priorities for day-to-day safety and economic activity.
