MMA urges Transportation Committee to support two-year Chapter 90 bill and seeks timely passage

The Honorable William Straus, House Chair
The Honorable Brendan Crighton, Senate Chair
Joint Committee on Transportation
State House, Boston

Delivered electronically

Dear Chair Straus, Chair Crighton, and Distinguished Members of the Committee,

On behalf of cities and towns across the Commonwealth, we write today to express our strong support for H. 4283, An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges. Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on this indispensable legislation.

We appreciate Governor Healey’s prompt filing of H. 4283, and for the Joint Committee’s swift attention to the bill. The sooner this funding moves through the legislative process, the easier it is for municipalities to make full use of the construction season. The Governor’s proposal for a two-year authorization would also provide a tremendous help to cities and towns to better plan and program these funds.

From the Berkshires to Cape Cod, the Chapter 90 program is helping to ensure our infrastructure is safe, resilient and accessible. Chapter 90 isn’t just about filling potholes, it is an essential funding source to support cities and towns to maintain over 30,000 miles of roads and bridges. As you know, our roadways are fundamental infrastructure critical to support our economy and ensure our residents are well-connected to work, loved ones, engagement, and support.

Analysis of the MMA’s most recent biennial Chapter 90 Survey estimated that cities and towns needed approximately $715 million for fiscal 2024 alone to ensure that local roads and bridges are maintained in a state of good repair. We calculate a decrease in purchasing power of over 65% since 2012. With tightly capped property taxes and limited ability to raise revenues or borrow at the local level, communities do not have the resources needed to adequately bring their roads into a state of good repair and maintain them at that level. This is why the Chapter 90 program is so critical for municipalities and the Commonwealth.

Cities and towns are deeply grateful for the direct investments in municipal roads and bridges made by the Legislature through the fiscal 2024 budget and last year’s transportation bond bill. Together, this sizable group of investments is helping to offset the significant reduction in purchasing power that communities continue to face. We strongly encourage the Committee to build on these recent investments in the upcoming year.

From Provincetown to Williamstown, the investments you have made in municipal roads and bridges are making a difference in every community in the Commonwealth.

We appreciate the Committee’s consideration of this important legislation and urge timely passage of the two-year authorization reflected in H. 4283. If you have any questions or desire further information, please do not hesitate to have your office contact me or MMA Legislative Analyst Adrienne Núñez at anunez@mma.org at any time.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in ensuring the wellbeing of the Commonwealth’s cities and towns.

Sincerely,

Adam Chapdelaine
MMA Executive Director and CEO