Press Room

Today the Massachusetts Legislature gave municipalities around the Commonwealth a critical tool to make improvements to local transportation infrastructure by overwhelmingly passing a final bill to authorize Chapter 90 road funding.

The legislation includes a total of $375 million in bond authorization. Every city and town in the Commonwealth would receive a share of $200 million in funding to be used on maintenance and construction of roads and bridges. Separately, $150 million would be allocated equally to six programs targeting specific transportation infrastructure, including $25 million for roads and bridges to cities and towns through the rural roads program.

“Today the Legislature acted to give our cities and towns the financial tools they need to improve the infrastructure residents use to get to work, school and home every day,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “I’m proud that this funding will go to continuing to build a 21^st century infrastructure in our Commonwealth and make investments in transit-forward and emissions-reducing projects. I’m thankful to Chair Rodrigues and Senator Crighton for their work, and to Speaker Mariano and Chair Michlewitz for their partnership.”

“Providing funding for critical infrastructure projects through investments in the Commonwealth’s public transportation, roads, and bridges is one of the most important responsibilities that we have as members of the Legislature,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I’m proud of the support for regional infrastructure that this legislation provides, and of the funding that it allocates for the purchasing of electric vehicles by transit authorities. I want to thank Chairman Straus and my colleagues in the House for prioritizing this vital legislation, as well as Senate President Spilka and our partners in the Senate for their hard work and collaboration.”

“I’m pleased the legislature passed this Chapter 90 funding, where $375 million will be dedicated to improving our overall transportation infrastructure, so vitally important to the state’s economy. This legislation addresses many outstanding issues in keeping the Commonwealth’s roadways, bridges, and public transportation system in peak operating condition, and will also greatly improve our municipal roadways, local streetscapes, and make substantial enhancements to our mass transit system,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, (D-Westport) Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

“These critical funds will ensure that our transportation needs are addressed all across the Commonwealth” said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “I want to thank the Speaker, Chairs Straus and our colleagues in the Senate for the hard work they put into this legislation, and for continuing to prioritize our transportation system”. 

“This legislation secures critical funding to our municipalities for the roads, bridges, and sidewalks that residents utilize each and every day,” said Senator Brendan P. Crighton (D-Lynn), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation “Regardless of where you live or how you get around, this funding will address infrastructure needs to improve travel, enhance safety, and bolster our economy.”

“The timely passage of this responsive legislation for Fiscal Year 25 demonstrates the Legislature’s continued commitment to fund our local transportation projects,” said Representative Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation. “With the renewed investment in funding rural towns and other infrastructure grant programs, our communities across the Commonwealth will be better positioned to meet their unique transportation needs, and I am pleased to support these investments.”

Of the $375 million in total authorizations, the legislation would allocate $25 million to each of the following programs that target specific infrastructure areas:

• Municipal Pavement Program, which focuses on the improvement of municipally owned state numbered routes.
• Municipal Small Bridge Program, which provides financial support to cities and towns for small bridge replacement, preservation, and rehabilitation projects.
• Complete Streets Funding Program, which provides funding to municipalities for streets that provide safe and accessible options for all travel modes such as walking, biking, transit, and vehicles.
• Municipal Bus Enhancement Program, which provides grant funding to build out infrastructure related to mass transit by bus.
• Mass Transit Access Grant Program, which provides grants for design and construction improvements to access commuter rail stations or other mass transit stations, such as parking lots, drop-off and pick-up zones, bike storage infrastructure, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
• Municipal/RTA EV Grant Program, which provides grants to Regional Transit Authorities and municipalities for the purchase of electric vehicles and related charging equipment.

Having passed both branches of the Legislature, the bill will now be sent to the Governor’s desk for her signature.