COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS SENATE
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 02133

Senator Joan B. Lovely
State Senator
2nd Essex District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 11, 2018

Senate Approves $600 Million in Funding for Local Road Projects over Next Three Years

(Boston) – Today, the Senate approved the Chapter 90 bill to allow for the financing of local road repairs. This bill provides $200 million annually in appropriations over the next 3 years 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 $4.324 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: $1,046,960
  • Danvers: $905,139
  • Peabody: $1,252,654
  • Salem: $853,262
  • Topsfield: $266,720

In a change this year, working with city and town officials, the Senate bill included a 3-year funding cycle for a total authorization of $600 million, $200 million annually. It also reduces the term of the bond from 30 years to 20 years when compared to the House version of the bill, which is expected to save approximately $50 million. The bill will now be reconciled with a version passed by the House of Representatives, before moving to the Governor for final approval.

“I believe the 3-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 the final version will result in maintaining the 3-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.

###