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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4811 FILED ON: 1/22/2024
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
STATE HOUSE · BOSTON, MA 02133
(617) 725-4000
MAURA T. HEALEY
GOVERNOR
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
January 22, 2024
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives,
I am filing for your consideration a bill entitled “An Act Financing Improvements to
Municipal Roads and Bridges.”
This bill authorizes the Commonwealth to borrow $400 million over the next two fiscal
years -- $200 million per year -- to fund improvements to municipally owned roads and
bridges through Chapter 90 grants. These grants reach each of our 351 cities and towns
directly, continuing the strong tradition of partnership between the state and local
communities. I am seeking a two-year authorization to provide cities and towns with
sufficient time to put the funds to work given the planning and coordination required to get
these critical projects completed.
In addition to this legislation, you will see in our forthcoming Fiscal Year 2025 budget
proposal a recommendation to use $100 million in Fiscal Year 2025 from Fair Share surtax
revenue to supplement this bond authorization, as well as an additional $24 million in
operating funds form Fair Share to specifically aid road and bridge work in rural
communities.
Our administration has also directed MassDOT and the Executive Office for
Administration and Finance to assemble a working group of state and local officials to review
Chapter 90 administration and recommend ways to reduce the complexity and burdens of
applying for and receiving these vital transportation funds. 2 of 2
Swift passage of this legislation will ensure that Massachusetts’ roads and bridges can
be kept in or moved toward a state of good repair. I appreciate the Legislature’s attention to
enact this piece of legislation.
Respectfully submitted,
Maura T. Healey,
Governor 1 of 3
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
finance improvements to the commonwealth’s transportation system, therefore it is hereby
declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
convenience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. To provide for a program of transportation development and
2improvements, the sums set forth in section 2 for the several purposes, and subject to the
3conditions specified in this act, are hereby made available, subject to the laws regulating the
4disbursement of public funds. The sums made available in this act shall be in addition to any
5amounts previously appropriated or made available for these purposes.
6 SECTION 2.
7 MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
8 Highway Division
9 6122-2127 For the construction and reconstruction of municipal ways as described in
10clause (b) of the second paragraph of section 4 of chapter 6C of the General Laws; provided, that 2 of 3
11a city or town shall comply with the procedures established by the Massachusetts Department of
12Transportation; provided further, that a city or town may expend, without further appropriation,
13for these projects amounts not in excess of the amount provided to the city or town under this
14item upon preliminary notice of such amount, which shall be provided by the department to the
15city or town not later than March 1 of each year; and provided further, that the commonwealth
16shall reimburse a city or town under this item, subject to the availability of funds as provided in
17section 9G of chapter 29 of the General Laws, within 30 days after receipt by the department of a
18request for reimbursement from the city or town, which request shall include certification by the
19city or town that actual expenses have been incurred on projects eligible for reimbursement
20under this item and that the work has been completed to the satisfaction of the city or town
21according to the specifications of the project and in compliance with applicable laws and
22procedures established by the department...................................................................$400,000,000
23 SECTION 3. To meet the expenditures necessary in carrying out section 2, the state
24treasurer shall, upon request of the governor, issue and sell bonds of the commonwealth in an
25amount to be specified by the governor from time to time but not exceeding, in the aggregate,
26$400,000,000. All bonds issued by the commonwealth as aforesaid shall be designated on their
27face, Commonwealth Transportation Improvement Act of 2025, and shall be issued for a
28maximum term of years, not exceeding 30 years, as the governor may recommend to the general
29court under section 3 of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution. All such bonds
30shall be payable not later than June 30, 2059, pursuant to said section 3 of said Article LXII. All
31interest and payments on account of principal on these obligations shall be payable from the
32General Fund or the Commonwealth Transportation Fund. Notwithstanding any other general or 3 of 3
33special law to the contrary, bonds issued under this section and interest thereon shall be general
34obligations of the commonwealth.