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Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Officials from around the Commonwealth are applauding one of Gov. Charlie Baker’s first actions in office: the immediate release of $100 million in Chapter 90 bond authorizations for fiscal 2015 that had been withheld by the previous administration.
“Bravo to [Gov. Baker] for keeping his promise to issue $100 million in additional Chapter 90 [funding],” Arlington Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine tweeted on Jan. 9, the day of the announcement. “We’ll put it to good use in Arlington.”
Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll tweeted a picture of her city’s award letter for an additional $430,000, saying, “Watch out potholes, here we come!”
Natick Selectmen Chair and former MMA President Josh Ostroff told the Milford Daily News, “I think our roadways and sidewalks will be the better for this funding.”
In a letter sent on Jan. 9, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation informed officials in every city and town of the release of the funds, meaning that municipalities will receive the full $300 million in Chapter 90 funding that was authorized for fiscal 2015 – a record level of funding.
In a statement, Gov. Baker said, “I am pleased that one of the first acts of this administration is to fulfill our commitment to ensure local governments have access to the infrastructure funds they have been promised for transportation upgrades. The release of these funds represents a step toward creating better jobs and building stronger communities in Massachusetts.”
The release amounts to a 50 percent increase in Chapter 90 funding for every city and town this year.
“The MMA applauds Gov. Baker for releasing $100 million in Chapter 90 funds to repair, maintain and rebuild local roads,” said MMA Executive Director Geoff Beckwith. “He is demonstrating his determination to forge a powerful state-local partnership to improve our economy, enhance public safety, and build stronger communities.”
In a letter to the Berkshire Eagle newspaper published Jan. 14, Becket Select Board Chair William Elovirta, who also serves as treasurer of the Massachusetts Highway Association, wrote, “Last Thursday, Gov. Charles Baker, hours after being sworn in, kept a campaign promise [to release the Chapter 90 funds]. … Thank you for keeping your promise.”
Hopkinton Public Works Director John Westerling told the Milford Daily News, “Christmas comes a few weeks later for us. We’ll absolutely put that money to good use.”
Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini told the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune that Baker’s action increases this year’s Chapter 90 funding for Haverhill road repairs from $1.5 million to $2.25 million.
Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz said his city’s additional allocation of $503,621 will go into an account that funds street repaving and sidewalk building. The Public Works Department has a prioritized list of paving projects it performs every year. Narkewicz said he is hopeful the city can use the additional funding to address the backlog of priority projects.
Amherst Town Manager John Musante told the Springfield Republican that the additional $420,115 would enable his town to repair more neighborhood streets.
A $300 million Chapter 90 authorization for fiscal 2015 was included in a $13 billion transportation bond bill enacted last year. Decisions about how much funding to actually release are made by the governor’s office, however, and the Patrick administration decided to release just $200 million.
At the 2014 MMA Annual Meeting last January, then-candidate Baker famously declared that he would release the full $300 million “before I take my jacket off on my first day,” a statement that was met with loud applause from the hundreds of local officials in the audience.
The MMA is currently compiling the results from an updated local road funding needs survey, which will be used to document the need for a $300 million annual authorization for Chapter 90 in a multi-year bill.
Chapter 90 reimburses cities and towns for costs incurred for eligible transportation projects. Each community’s share of funding is predetermined by a formula that includes factors such as population, road miles and employment.