Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker recently testified before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Transportation about An Act Authorizing and Accelerating Transportation Investment.
The administration’s proposed legislation would invest in $18 billion in additional capital authorization for building and modernizing the state’s transportation system.
A growing population and economy have placed constrains on the current transportation system, Baker said.
Funding would be used to meet the state’s anticipated transportation needs for the next five years. In addition, the bill would address barriers to innovation, allowing the state to accelerate projects; accelerate initiatives already underway to modernize the transportation system; reduce the impact of greenhouse gases and improve the resiliency of transportation networks; propose new tools to manage regional and local traffic congestion; and invest $500 million in municipal partners that develop transportation systems.
The bill provides the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) with $10 billion for highway construction projects, pavement, and bridge repairs, especially in eastern and central Massachusetts.
The administration has proposed the Next Generation Bridge Financing Program that would support $1.25 billion in new bridge construction. If the bill becomes law, the percentage of bridges in poor condition would drop from approximately 17 percent in 2014 to 10 percent in 2026, Baker said.
In addition, funding would allow the state to have more than 60 percent of its non-interstate pavement in good condition by 2023.
Chapter 90 funds would receive another installment of $200 million annually under the bill.
The bill would award $100 million to improve state numbered, but locally owned, roads, and award $50 million to local bottleneck programs.
The administration has committed to addressing the 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions that are produced by the transportation sector and will participate in the Transportation and Climate Initiative with 13 other Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States, and Washington, D.C.
“The financing incorporated in this legislation is unprecedented and historic, and it will be applied in ways that strategically benefit the people, businesses, institutions and communities of this great state,” Baker said. “It adds almost 100,000 seats to our public transportation system and will dramatically improve its reach and reliability. It doubles down on our highly effective large and small bridge initiatives. It fits with our efforts to enhance housing production, density and transit-oriented development, and provides a path forward to fund additional transit initiatives in resiliency and strategic expansion.”
The governor also reminded the committee that the MassDOT will mark its 10th anniversary next month and has had numerous accomplishments including the completion of the first Accelerated Bridge Program, the completion of All Electronic Tolling, and the development and launch of the municipal small bridge program.
The South Coast Rail project will be completed by 2023 and will connect Fall River and New Bedford to Boston. Also by 2023, the entire fleet of Orange and Red line cars will be replaced.
Also joining Baker in testimony was Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) General Manager Steve Poftak, and MBTA Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.