Administration announces $13M in Fair Share funds for transportation

The Healey-Driscoll administration today announced that it is delivering more than $13 million for 14 projects to support local transportation infrastructure and other needs.

According to the administration, the awards come from revenue generated by the Fair Share Amendment and are matching funds for projects and initiatives eligible for federal discretionary grants offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The matching funds are part of a total of $476.5 million in Fair Share dollars that were made available for transportation investments in the fiscal 2024 state budget.

“When we empower city and town leaders to address their unique infrastructure needs, we are helping them achieve a better quality of life for their residents,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a prepared statement, adding that the funded projects “will help make our state’s transportation network safer and more robust — and our municipalities more interconnected.”

Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt said local leaders “are knowledgeable and proactive when it comes to improving the transportation infrastructure their constituents rely on.”

The Fair Share Amendment, which was passed by the state’s voters in November 2022 and took effect on Jan. 1, 2023, adds a surtax on annual personal incomes over $1 million, with the resulting revenue dedicated to transportation and education programs.

The projects receiving Fair Share funds announced today include:
• Lynnway Multimodal Corridor in Lynn: $6.75 million for multimodal and safety enhancements
• Inland Route, various municipalities in central Massachusetts: $3 million to support track, signal, grade crossing and bridge improvements
• Springfield Area Track Reconfiguration: $1.75 million for preliminary work for track, signal and infrastructure improvements around Springfield Union Station
• Demonstration grant in Brockton: $47,120 for the planning and implementation of a systemic safety pilot at three intersections

A number of regional planning agencies are receiving Fair Share funds for comprehensive safety action plans, which will cover multiple regions throughout Massachusetts, including:
• Greater Boston: $540,109
• Hampden and Hampshire counties: $250,000
• Southeastern Massachusetts, including Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton: $220,000
• North central Massachusetts, including Leominster: $187,500
• Worcester County: $120,000
• Franklin County, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket: $115,000
• Northeast Massachusetts, including Lowell: $93,808
• Southeastern Massachusetts, including Brockton: $80,000
• Cape Cod: $60,000
• Berkshire County: $49,649

Safety action plans use a data-based approach to improve roadway safety for all users.

The $476.5 million of Fair Share funds included in the fiscal 2024 state budget for transportation support a variety of projects and initiatives in addition to matches for federal discretionary grants awards. Fair Share line items fund bridge construction, preservation, and repair, and supplemental aid for municipalities for local road and bridge maintenance. For transit, Fair Share funds support MBTA capital investments, the exploration of means-tested fares for the MBTA, operating assistance for ferry service, and regional transit authority improvements.