Governor Healy unveils $8 billion transportation proposal, shifts Chapter 90 to mileage-based formula

At a visit to Conway in Franklin County, Governor Healy said the administration will propose an $8 billion transportation funding plan that would use existing surtax revenue and borrowing to increase municipal road aid and resilience investments for rural communities.

The governor framed the proposal as a way to address longstanding underinvestment, saying the plan would boost Chapter 90 municipal aid by $100 million annually and direct those additional dollars with a mileage-based formula so towns with many road miles get larger shares. "We intend to go further, through a game changing transportation funding plan," the governor said, adding the proposal would let the state “spend $8,000,000,000 over 10 years on transportation and do that statewide.”

Why it matters: Chapter 90 is the primary state program that pays cities and towns for road and bridge work. Local officials and regional planners said the shift from population-based to mileage-based distribution could markedly increase funding for rural municipalities that maintain long road networks but have small resident populations.

Key details of the proposal and local reaction

- Funding mechanics: The…