Published: 6/7/2019 9:40:30 PM
Modified: 6/7/2019 9:40:17 PM
BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill Friday financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges, and authorizing $200 million in Chapter 90 transportation funds to support all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts.
“Chapter 90 funding provides cities and towns with critical resources to carry out important projects like highway construction and road paving to improve local infrastructure in communities across Massachusetts,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We thank the Legislature for working with our administration to pass this bill and continue our support for local officials this construction season.”
Actual distributions approved by the governor include those to the following area towns:
Athol — $508,214
Barre — $430,535
Erving — $85,702
New Salem — $146,733
Orange — $412,336
Petersham — $251,354
Phillipston — $189,780
Royalston — $282,680
Templeton — $333,029
Warwick — $223,387
Wendell — $188,668
Winchendon —$450,917
“Investing in local infrastructure helps improve travel for residents and connect them to economic opportunities,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. “Providing consistent Chapter 90 funding is one of the many ways in which our administration continues to serve as a reliable partner to all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth.”
“As the Governor’s Commission on the Future of Transportation in the Commonwealth report pointed out, transportation needs, challenges and solutions vary across the state, so it is appropriate that communities have Chapter 90 funds to use on their specific priorities,”said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack. “That is also why the Administration’s additional transportation funding programs are so vital, such as the Municipal Small Bridge Program, Complete Streets Funding Program and Safe Routes to School.”
Chapter 90 reimburses cities and towns for costs incurred for eligible transportation projects. Cities and towns must submit receipts to the MassDOT Highway Division district in which they are located which verifies that the expenditures qualify for reimbursement under Chapter 90. The Highway Districts in turn submit these receipts to the Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Department which facilitates the reimbursements to cities and towns.
Since taking office in 2015, and including the FY20 signed bill, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded a total of $1.14 billion through the Chapter 90 formula, including $100 million on its first day in office.