MMA urges quick action on Ch. 90

With the Chapter 90 authorizations from the most recent state transportation bond nearly exhausted, the MMA is urging the governor and Legislature to make new authorizations an early priority in the new legislative session and to increase the authorization amount and the annual allocation.

The Chapter 90 program funds the repair and maintenance of local roads and bridges. The state funds the program by issuing bonds and generally notifies each community of its Chapter 90 allocation by April 1 each year.

Gov. Deval Patrick has been telling local officials that he would propose $200 million for the Chapter 90 program in fiscal 2012. The governor is expected to file a bill by the beginning of March.

With only $45 million in bond authorizations remaining from the 2008 transportation bond, a new authorization is needed quickly in order to meet the April 1 deadline. Local officials have reported high road-construction needs since 2008, particularly this year due to the unusually severe winter.

At a Feb. 22 hearing of the House and Senate Ways and Means committees, the MMA urged legislators to take quick action on transportation bond legislation.

In fiscal 2011, the state distributed $155 million in Chapter 90 funds to cities and towns, which maintain 90 percent of the roadways in Massachusetts. In fiscal 2010, communities received $150 million.

Based on its survey of municipalities last fall, the MMA estimates that the actual need for Chapter 90 is at least $300 million a year, meaning that the cost of maintaining essential infrastructure far outstrips the current authorization.

At the MMA Annual Meeting, members unanimously endorsed a resolution on transportation finance calling for passage of a three-year Chapter 90 bond authorization, allocating $300 million per year, in time to meet the statutory April 1 deadline to notify communities of their annual allocation.

The April 1 notification date was put into state law at the MMA’s urging because communities need time to plan and make maximum use of the funds during the full construction season. In the past, late notification led to unnecessary and costly delays in projects.