HOUSE APPROVES $200 MILLION FOR LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                        Contact: Natalie Higgins, 978-602-3772      
March 29, 2017
House Approves $200 million for Local Infrastructure Needs

BOSTON – Representative Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster) joined her colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass legislation that authorizes $200 million for Chapter 90 funding to help municipalities complete road, bridge and infrastructure improvement projects.
The bill also appropriates $70 million to replace the Registry of Motor Vehicle’s information technology infrastructure.

“Leominster will be receiving more than $1,000,000 in Chapter 90 funding for FY18,” said Higgins, “I hear from Leominster residents regularly about roads in their neighborhoods that need maintenance and I am glad that this will give the city the resources it needs to make those improvements.” 

“Chapter 90 funds are essential to providing stability and spurring economic growth in Massachusetts,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) said. “That growth starts on the local level. I am pleased we were able to take action on this bill before April to support safety and efficiency in our municipalities.”

“The House of Representatives voted to support $200 million of Chapter 90 funding for our cities and towns,” said Representative Brian S. Dempsey (D-Haverhill), Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means. “Today’s vote will ensure that local transportation projects will continue to move forward as the busy construction season gets under way. These funds are a vital source of local aid and demonstrate the House’s ongoing commitment to deliver needed resources to our partners at the municipal level.”

“This funding is instrumental to cities and towns seeking to make repairs and updates to their infrastructure,” said Representative William Straus (D–Mattapoisett), Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation. “The winter weather is especially tough on roads, and The Legislature’s $200M appropriation will allow municipalities added funds this construction season for repairs that are most needed.”

This legislation complements a 2016 transportation law focused on highways, small bridges and a municipal grant program. That bill authorized $750 million for both federal-aid interstate and non-interstate highway projects, and $50 million for a new program to repair small bridges.
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