Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced this week that $45 million in supplemental funding included in the fiscal 2025 state budget for road and bridge repair and construction is now available to communities.
Apportionments have been distributed to the Chapter 90 balances of each city and town based on the traditional Chapter 90 formula and are available for reimbursement to communities upon project completion. The funding must be spent according to Chapter 90 rules and procedures, with no spending deadline.
The supplemental aid is funded by revenue from the “Fair Share” surtax on incomes over $1 million.
Chapter 90 for FY26
The Joint Committee on Transportation has scheduled a hearing on April 10 on a fiscal 2026 transportation bond bill filed by Gov. Maura Healey that proposes a $1.5 billion, five-year authorization for the Chapter 90 program.
The bill would authorize $300 million per year for the local road and bridge program, with $200 million distributed based on the traditional Chapter 90 formula and $100 million distributed based on road miles.
The governor’s proposal would provide a historic investment in the Chapter 90 program, which communities rely on for maintaining 30,000 miles of municipal roads and hundreds of bridges in a state of good repair.
The transportation bond bill also proposes authorizations for MassDOT safety and congestion and asset management initiatives, as well as $200 million for culverts and small bridges.
The governor’s Chapter 90 proposal is a key part of a $8 billion transportation funding plan that would leverage Fair Share surtax funding to invest in roads, bridges, culverts, regional transit, various state initiatives and the MBTA. The investments would be funded through the transportation bond bill, the fiscal 2026 state budget, and a fiscal 2025 supplemental budget.