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Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Gov. Charlie Baker announces the filing of a $9.7 billion infrastructure bond bill in Worcester on March 17. (Photo courtesy Joshua Qualls/Governor’s Press Office)
The Baker-Polito administration today announced the filing of an infrastructure bond bill that would support the investment of $9.7 billion in the Commonwealth’s roads, bridges, railways, transit agencies and environmental infrastructure.
In addition to investments in transportation and environmental infrastructure, the administration said the bill, called “An Act Relative to Massachusetts’s Transportation Resources and Climate,” or MassTRAC, would provide required state matching funds to compete for and leverage federal formula and discretionary investments provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enacted last November.
“Building upon the [Bipartisan Infrastructure Law], this legislation will make a meaningful difference in the acceleration of projects that are set to receive federal funding,” Gov. Charlie Baker said at a press event held in Worcester.
The legislation includes $6.2 billion to support core federal formula programs for highway, transit and environmental projects to increase infrastructure investments with a focus on climate change mitigation, resiliency, equity, and safety for all users, particularly cyclists and pedestrians.
The bill would boost ongoing efforts by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to invest in and modernize the state’s transportation system, and includes $3.5 billion in potential state matching resources to support the aggressive pursuit of new and existing federal discretionary and competitive grant programs available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito pointed out that the bill includes $55 million “to support investments in cities and towns to promote bicycle and pedestrian safety and invigorate our downtown community public spaces through several grant programs” including Complete Streets, Municipal Small Bridge, Municipal Pavement, and Shared Streets and Spaces.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides said the bill would “enable the Commonwealth to make significant investments in zero-emission vehicle programs and infrastructure” and further the administration’s efforts to decarbonize the state’s transportation system.
The bill includes provisions to enable the MassDOT and the MBTA to use certain project procurement and delivery tools that could speed the implementation of federally funded projects, as well as regular project delivery.
• See administration press release for more details