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Agency seeks $2 million for District 8 Springfield 6‑bay garage; statewide maintenance line cut
Summary
The Agency of Transportation told the House Transportation Committee it requested $2 million for a six‑bay garage at the Springfield complex (District 8) and has reduced the proposed statewide maintenance appropriation to zero, shifting routine maintenance funding to bureaus' operational budgets.
Dana Morris and Brad McAvoy told the House Transportation Committee on Feb. 7 that the Agency of Transportation's Transportation Buildings program includes a proposed six‑bay maintenance garage at the Springfield complex and a change to statewide maintenance funding.
Morris said Transportation Buildings appears in section 13 of the white book and that Mr. McAvoy manages the program. For state fiscal 2025, the agency requested $2,000,000 for District 8 (Springfield) acreage and $825,000 for statewide maintenance. Morris said the agency later reduced the statewide maintenance appropriation to $0 and will instead look to each division and bureau operational budgets to cover maintenance needs such as heating-system repairs and small replacements normally charged to the Transportation Buildings program.
On the Springfield proposal, Morris said the current complex is shared by the maintenance division and the bridge crew; the bridge crew currently operates from a mobile job trailer that is not sustainable. The proposed six‑bay garage would sit on existing property and would house district maintenance staff and the bridge crew, allowing the bridge crew to move out of the trailer and keep equipment previously housed in the old building. "There are 4 trucks that would operate out of this facility. We're currently only able to staff 2 trucks there or hold 2 trucks there," Morris said, describing current operational constraints.
The agency presented a site graphic showing the existing building and a proposed location for the six‑bay garage on the same parcel. Morris said Transportation Buildings prioritizes projects based on asset life cycle expectancy and operating needs and provided a five‑year outlook that may shift if urgent repairs (for example, failing doors at a shop) arise. She cited two salt sheds replaced this year because of significant deterioration and said the agency has about 40 smaller structures statewide that are assessed for condition and timing of replacement or enhancement. The Lunenburg project is expected to be re‑bid after a prior unsuccessful attempt.
During questions Representative Thompson asked about a $300,000 increase in professional development; Morris explained that the increase reflects a federal allocation centralized into the division for recruitment, retention and allowable training activities, and that the program rose from $250,000 to $500,000 in federal funds allocated centrally. Another member asked whether capital-bill funds would be used; Morris said the agency would normally use Transportation Building or Transportation Fund resources and would not typically rely on the capital bill for these facility investments.
Morris said projects will advance to bid only after funding is secured and that timing in the five‑year plan is contingent on receiving appropriations. The agency asked committee members for questions and to review project details in the white book.
