COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS SENATE
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 02133

Senator Joan B. Lovely
State Senator
2nd Essex District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 10, 2017

FY2018 Chapter 90 Bill Funding Authorized by Senate

(Boston) – Last week, the Senate approved the FY2018 Chapter 90 bill to allow for the financing of local road repairs. This bill provides $200 million this year in appropriations for communities across the Commonwealth.

“I’m sure every North Shore driver can point to a few roads on their commute or in their neighborhood that need improvement,” said Senator Lovely. “This funding will enable cities and towns to make those necessary repairs sooner rather than later.”

In the Second Essex District, the bill provides over $4.34 million dollars to cities and towns.

Communities within the Second Essex district are expected to receive the following apportionments based on the Senate version of the bill:

  • Beverly – $1,054,939;
  • Danvers – $907,670;
  • Peabody – $1,253,068;
  • Salem – $857,685;
  • Topsfield – $269,755

In a change this year, working with city and town officials, the Senate bill included a 2-year funding cycle for a total authorization of $400 million, $200 million annually. The bill, S2047, also included $30 million in bonds to invest in regional transit authorities and transportation options for the elderly and disabled residents along with $60 million for technology upgrades at the RMV.

Due to differences in the House and Senate versions, a conference committee has been formed.

“I believe the 2-year financing plan of road infrastructure improvements contained in the Senate bill will allow for communities to have more time to better plan projects,” added Senator Lovely. “I hope conference committee deliberations result in maintaining the 2-year financing plan and deliberations conclude as swiftly as possible in order to release this important money to cities and towns.”

The Chapter 90 program was enacted in 1973 and allows municipalities to be reimbursed for local transportation improvement projects and capital improvement projects for highway construction. According to the Department of Transportation (MassDOT), funding is calculated using a weighted average of a city or town’s population, employment, and total mileage of roads.

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