AASHTO Journal, 22 March 2013
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is one step closer to implementing a new transportation investment plan first set forth by Gov. Deval Patrick earlier this year​, after Patrick filed a transportation bond bill last week to both authorize and fund his proposal.
The plan, “The Way Forward,” outlines a decade-long plan to invest in transportation, namely maintaining and modernizing Massachusetts’ system in order to grow the state’s economy and create jobs. The plan invests $13.7 billion over 10 years “to address a backlog of deferred maintenance and strategically improve our transportation system to reduce congestion on roads, curb delays and minimize crowding on trains and buses, and improve customer service,” according to the Governor’s office. Patrick’s plan also maintains the funding of current investments highlighted in the Fiscal Year 2013-2017 Capital Investment Plan, which brings the total of transportation investment over the 10-year period to about $19 billion. The transportation bond bill filed by Patrick last week will be funded “by existing revenues and additional revenues through passage of tax reform.”
“These investments will create the jobs and opportunity today that will build a stronger Commonwealth for tomorrow,” said Patrick in a statement. “A modern, safe, equitable 21st Century transportation system is what our citizens want and our Commonwealth needs to unlock economic growth in every region of the Commonwealth.”
The plan provides $4.6 billion for state-funded highway maintenance and construction, while $4.4 billion would go to regional rail projects. About $3.4 billion ($300 million per year) is tapped to go to towns and cities for local road and bridge projects, amounting to a 50 percent increase above current levels. Money is also identified for subway and bus systems, projects eligible for federal reimbursement, regional transit, and information technology projects.
Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard Davey applauded Patrick’s plan.
“The Governor and Lieutenant Governor from the very beginning have focused on reversing the previous inadequate maintenance of our roads, bridges, and rails through commitments such as the Accelerated Bridge Program, and the bond bill supports the next critical steps in maintaining and improving transportation for decades to come,” said Davey in a statement.
Additional information on Patrick’s transportation plan, “The Way Forward,” is available here.