At hearings, MMA calls for Chapter 90 increase

At legislative committee hearings this month, the MMA testified in support of a funding increase for the Chapter 90 local road program to $300 million per year in a multi-year bill.
 
Gov. Charlie Baker filed a transportation bond bill in February that includes $200 million for the Chapter 90 program. The bill would make a technical change to remove a requirement that an appropriation be made by the local legislative body in order to use Chapter 90 funds. The bill also has $70 million for upgrades to the Registry of Motor Vehicles information technology system.
 
At a March 6 public hearing before the Joint Committee on Transportation, MMA Executive Director Geoff Beckwith spoke about the importance of Chapter 90 to cities and towns. He said the MMA’s 2014 Chapter 90 survey found that cities and towns need $639 million annually to keep 30,000 miles of local roads in a state of good repair, the industry standard.
 
Also testifying as a part of the MMA panel were Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant, Mount Washington Selectman Jim Lovejoy, and Franklin Public Works Director Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi.
 
The panel discussed the importance of a multi-year bill, which would allow communities to plan ahead and use funds more efficiently, and the need for quick action so that cities and towns receive funds by April 1 each year and avoid construction cost increases caused by delays.
 
The MMA also presented its case at a hearing before the House Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets on March 21.
 
Through the Chapter 90 program, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation reimburses cities and towns for costs incurred for eligible transportation projects. Chapter 90 funding is distributed to cities and towns through a formula that takes into account population, road miles and employment.
 
MassDOT is in the process of updating its five-year capital investment plan, and the MMA submitted comments in March asking for an increase in Chapter 90 to $300 million annually. The administration funded Chapter 90 at $200 million per year in MassDOT’s five-year Capital Investment Plan for 2017-2022.