MMA, municipal officials testify at Chapter 90 hearing

Municipal roads, bridges and culverts took center stage on April 10 during a Joint Committee on Transportation hearing on Gov. Maura Healey’s proposed transportation bond bill.

An MMA panel focused on the significance of the governor’s five-year bill, highlighting the importance of increasing the annual Chapter 90 authorization to $300 million, how the funding would benefit all communities in the Commonwealth, and how the proposed multi-year authorization could provide a stabilizing force for municipalities during uncertain times — all factors that have been key priorities for the MMA.

Local leaders also expressed support for a provision in the bill that would authorize $200 million for a culvert and small bridge program. The testimony emphasized the estimated 17,000 culverts under municipal care and the considerable needs associated with repairs and upgrades intended to improve resilience and manage the impacts of increased precipitation and extreme weather events brought on by climate change.

Testifying in strong support of the bond bill was an MMA-led panel including MMA Executive Director Adam Chapdelaine, Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson, Carlisle Town Manager Ryan McLane, Yarmouth Public Works Director Jeff Colby, and Becket Town Administrator Kathe Warden. They were joined by many other local officials testifying in-person and virtually.

In her own testimony, Gov. Healey underlined the importance of a multi-year authorization for the Chapter 90 program as the Commonwealth weathers uncertainty brought on by federal policy changes.

Based on recommendations put forward by the Transportation Funding Task Force and the Chapter 90 Advisory Group, the governor’s bill would authorize a total of $1.5 billion for the Chapter 90 road and bridge program ($300 million per year for five years). The bill calls for distributing $200 million per year based on the traditional Chapter 90 formula (based on road miles, population and employment), and $100 million based on road miles alone.

The bill would also authorize funding for Massachusetts Department of Transportation asset management and safety initiatives, as well as $200 million for culverts and small bridges.

The MMA has been advocating for increasing the base funding for the Chapter 90 program for many years, as the program’s buying power has been eroded by inflation.

In addition to the push for additional road, bridge and culvert support through the governor’s bill, the MMA has been advocating for supplemental investments, such as in a surplus surtax supplemental budget that is currently being debated by the Legislature.